Decision details

To consider the proposal to enter into a third party back to back legal agreement between KCC and Dartford Borough Council to deal with the current arrangements between KCC, SELEP and HCA covering accountability, responsibility, risk/programme management and reporting requirements which fall to KCC as accountable body.

Financial implications: if approved there would be no direct implications on the County Council as all current accountabilities, responsibilities, reporting arrangements and risk would be delegated to the Borough Council under a third party legal agreement.  It is further proposed that the monies held by KCC within the STIP fund are released to the Borough Council by way of a grant arrangement, again subject to an appropriate legal agreement between the two authorities.  KCC officers will have an active role on both the Project Board and Steering Group and as such monies will be retained within the STIP fund to cover the baseline resource requirements.

Legal implications: the STIP fund contained monies from s106 agreements, a grant for the Homes and Communities Agency and allocations from successful LGF bids.  Legal agreements are currently in place between KCC, HCA and SELEP covering the accountability, responsibility, risk/programme management and reporting requirements that fall to KCC as the accountable body.  Funds applicable to Dartford Town Centre comprise £7.7m grant from HCA which is held by KCC and a further £4.3m from LGF which will require a further business case to secure the allocation.  It is proposed that these matters are fully covered by way of a third party, back to back, legal agreement between the two authorities.

Equalities implications: none.

As Cabinet Member for Economic Development, I agree to delegate authority tothe Corporate Director Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director Finance and Procurement, to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme.