Decision details

Referral from Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee: Town Deal - Acceptance of Funding

Decision Maker: Policy and Resources Committee

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Council had been invited to enter into a Town Deal for Birkenhead, up to a value of £25,000,000, to deliver capital regeneration projects. This report asks the committee to accept the grant and delegate a number of decisions to the Director of Regeneration and Place to commencing activity to develop and deliver the Town Deal programme.

Decision:

Resolved – That,

 

(1)  the content of the report and the announcement from Government regarding the Town Deal funding award in relation to Birkenhead, be noted;

 

(2)  the re-profiling of the funding allocation for projects as set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report, be noted;

 

(3)  the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to accept the offer and funding from DLUHC, via a grant made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003;

 

(4)  the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to progress delivery of the Town Deal Programme, in line with the Section 31 Grant and the Town Investment Plan, and to implement a change control process (if required);

 

(5)  the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to allocate the Town Deal predevelopment funding of £1,250,000 (5% of the total award) on receipt;

 

(6)  the Director of Resources, as S151 Officer, be authorised to review and approve business cases, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place, and submit the results to DLUHC in order to release the remaining funds; and

 

(7)  the Director of Law and Governance be authorised, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place and the Director of Resources, to enter into any necessary agreements or other legal documentation to implement the above recommendations.

 

 

Reasons for the decision:

A Town Deal for Birkenhead will enable access to significant funding to support the regeneration of Birkenhead.

 

The Birkenhead Town Deal Board have identified a number of interventions that will help the regeneration of Birkenhead. These interventions were included in the Town Investment Plan which was approved by DLUHC and resulted in a grant funding offer. The funding provides the Council with the opportunity to support the projects identified by the Board and help to regenerate Birkenhead.

 

At its meeting on 26th January 2021 the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee approved the Town Investment Plan and its submission to DLUHC for the funding. The Committee also delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Chair and Committee Spokespersons, to accept the Heads of Terms. The Heads of Terms were accepted on 5 August 2021.

 

The Heads of Terms reflect the proposals set out in the Town Investment Plan and how the funding can be allocated.

Publication date: 02/12/2021

Date of decision: 01/12/2021

Decided at meeting: 01/12/2021 - Policy and Resources Committee

Effective from: 08/12/2021

Accompanying Documents: