The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services provided an update in relation to Neptune Development’s Phase 2 proposals for the regeneration of the New Brighton seafront, which would provide a new supermarket, cinema, budget hotel, outdoor lido, associated leisure and restaurant offer and public realm improvements (including major improvements to the seafront promenade), which in turn would create over 700 new jobs within the local economy. He commented that the first phase, which involved the construction of the Floral Pavilion complex, had been completed in December 2008 and he provided information in relation planning matters and to the funding position for the phase 2 works, including the offer of a grant from the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) and its implications to the Council.

Resolved –

(1)  That having considered the content of the report of the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services, the offer of grant assistance from the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) be accepted.

(2)  That the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management be authorised to negotiate and conclude agreements with the NWDA as provider of grant funding.

(3)  That the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management be authorised to negotiate and conclude a funding agreement between the Council and the developer in relation to the grant awarded to implement the infrastructure and public realm improvements within the Phase 2 development.