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Details

Status:
Implemented
Business Item
Review of Place-Based Initiatives
Ref.
ES/0823
Is a Key Decision:
Yes
Decision Type:
Committee
Decision Maker:
Cabinet
Date of Decision
Tue 13 Jul 2021
Show on Forward Plan
Yes
Description
Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Development, and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities, Leisure and Tourism
Matter for Decision (to consider...)
Current funding agreements with all ESC funded place-based initiatives are due to expire in December 2021 and this report will set out options and recommendations for the Council’s future approach to place-based working.
Service Area
Economic Development & Regeneration
Service Area 2
Not Applicable
Contact for Background Papers:
Richard Best
Background Papers:
Equality Impact Assessment
Is Decision District Wide
No
Decision Made
1. That the continuation of funding for Lowestoft Rising for a further three years from New Homes Bonus at a total cost of £60,000 or £20,000 per annum be approved. 
2. That the implementation of option 4 i.e. establish a small team of East Suffolk Council Change Managers to be deployed where there are short or medium-term needs identified be approved. 
3. That the extension of East Suffolk Council’s financial support for Leiston Together by one year until December 2022 be approved. 
4. That a budget of £421k over two years from January 2022 to deliver option 4, provide an operational budget for this option and to cover the extension to the Leiston Together funding agreement be approved.
5. That this budget be funded from the Business Rates Equalisation Reserve, with this reserve being subsequently replenished from additional funds arising from the Suffolk Business Rates Pool in respect of the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders’ pot.
Reason for Decision
The implementation of option 4 will provide much greater flexibility for the Council in supporting local economic and community enabling priorities across the whole District. It will result in the creation of a small team of agile Change Managers who can be deployed to support multiple locally identified priorities in multiple locations with a particular focus on the District’s market towns. It will also strongly complement existing community and economic development programmes which are currently being delivered and need additional capacity but at different stages and for different periods of time. 

The additional investment would enable staff to be deployed when specific needs are identified by the Council and local partners, including through the Community Partnerships and the Council’s Town Development Programmes. The Team would work with the partnerships and these programmes to enable delivery of a wide range of projects for example the development of a business association, local business support programmes,  enhanced digital connectivity, supporting external funding bids,  tourism campaign, shop front refurbishment programme, dementia friendly town campaign or smart tech pilot. The ultimate aim being that the towns have a more sustainable and vibrant economy that builds on existing strengths which enables an enhanced quality of life for the local community. 

The twelve-month extension of the Leiston Together funding agreement will allow the effective delivery of a number of outstanding enabling actions that have been locally identified as priorities for development, including implementation of the CLT Plan. It will also provide local capacity to support the partnership in its response to the anticipated impacts of the proposed Sizewell C development at a critical phase of the programme i.e. the transition from planning to delivery.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Continue to fund Leiston Together at the current level (it having already been agreed by Cabinet that Felixstowe Forward would end in December 2021 given the new Felixstowe BID, Felixstowe Peninsular Community Partnership and Visit Felixstowe). This option would cost approximately £38,000 per annum.

Draw up an evidence-based list of target locations for an expanded Place Based Initiative programme for the next three years. This option would cost approximately £135,000 per annum for 3 Change Managers and £91,000 for 2 Change Managers.

Make a pot of funding available and ask the 12 Towns to submit a funding proposal – potentially funding up to 4 towns per year with match-funding to be provided by the Town Council. This option would cost approximately £120,000 per annum

Move away from the PBI model and instead fund Town Centre Managers. This option would cost approximately £150,000 per annum for 3 Town Centre Managers per annum.

Cease funding all Place Based Initiatives in East Suffolk on 31st December 2021 / 31st March 2021. This option would cost nothing.

 
Any Declarations of Interest Declared
None 
Any Dispensation Granted
None 

Decision Criteria

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Wards

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Topics

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Overview and Scrutiny

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Decision History

Date & Time CreatedUser Full NameStatus DescriptionDetails
12
 Page 1 of 2, items 1 to 10 of 14.
22/06/2021 10:00:28Karen CookBusiness Item Created 
22/06/2021 10:00:28Karen CookCommittee AddedCabinet
22/06/2021 10:00:28Karen CookMeeting Added13/07/2021 6:30PM
22/06/2021 10:00:48 General Details EditedReference Number Generated (ES/0823)
22/06/2021 10:00:48Karen CookStatus ChangedDecision Scheduled [1]
01/07/2021 11:51:28Matt MakinGeneral Details Edited 
01/07/2021 12:01:17Matt MakinReport AddedDocument ID 11764: ES-0823 Review of Place-Based Initiatives
01/07/2021 14:37:04Matt MakinGeneral Details Edited 
05/07/2021 10:49:32Matt MakinStatus ChangedDecision Proposed [2]
14/07/2021 11:27:03Karen CookStatus ChangedDecision Subject To Call In [3]

Approval/Comments

No history found.