Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That Cabinet;

a)    Noted the activity made to date, timescales and next steps for the Levelling Up Fund applications.

b)    Delegated Authority to the Executive Director of Place, Economy and Environment in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth and approved the final two bids being made to the LUF round two, subject to any Council funding contribution also being in place before submission.

c)    Recommended to Council Subject that, subject to the business case, and the capital and revenue implications stemming from it, being endorsed by the Chief Finance Officer and the relevant portfolio holders, that it approves the additional £21m.

REASONS RESOLVED:

The recommendation was made to enable West Northamptonshire Council to make 2 submissions of up to £20m (up to £40m in total) of Government funding to improve infrastructure across the area for the communities that the council serves.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

To not approve the submission of bids into the LUF. This would mean that the council would miss out on the opportunity to receive funding from round two of the LUF. There is no guarantee that there will be a third round of LUF and this would mean that WNC would receive no grant funding.

At the Chair’s invitation councillors made the following comments on the report which had been previously circulated.

• It was noted that none of the projects listed had been mentioned on the left behind list.
• Concern was raised about the St James Mill Road project; this work had been taken on by WNC.
• It was queried why a timetable had not been shared so that residents could raise queries.
• Regeneration of the Weston Favell Hub was one of the projects mentioned, would this be a complete regeneration?  It was important to ensure that the hub was accessible for all residents.
• It was noted that councillors were not listed as stakeholders.
• Levelling up should be about equality and increasing the wellbeing of residents.
• There had been no mention of Trilogy which works in conjunction with the Weston Favell medical centre.

Councillor Daniel Lister then presented the report and the recommendations to members. It was advised that any projects not taken forward at this time would continue to be monitored, and that WNC was would always engage with key partners.

The Executive Director for Place & Economy advised that the report would also go to full council, and that the government had issued specific criteria which had been difficult to meet.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet.

a)    Noted the activity made to date, timescales, and next steps for the Levelling Up Fund applications.

b)   Delegated Authority to the Executive Director of Place, Economy and Environment in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth and approved the final two bids being made to the LUF round two, subject to any Council funding contribution also being in place before submission.

c)    Recommended to Council Subject that, subject to the business case, and the capital and revenue implications stemming from it, being endorsed by the Chief Finance Officer and the relevant portfolio holders, that it approves the additional £21m.