Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which explains the projects for which grant funding is sought, sets out KCC’s role, outlines the process that will be followed to secure the funding and seeks the support of the Cabinet Committee for KCC to accept Government grant funding and transfer it to the respective delivery organisation, subject to approval of a full business case

(1)       Mr Dance (Cabinet Member for Economic Development) introduced the report which set out the projects for which grant funding was being sought, and asked the Cabinet Committee to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member on a proposed decision to accept grant funding.  He also said KCC had to have a robust project plan in place to deliver the LGF projects in Kent before Essex County Council, as the accountable body for the South East Local Economic Partnership, would agree to transfer funding to KCC.

(2)       Sarah Nurden (KMEP Strategic Programme Manager) outlined the four projects for which the funding was being sought.  She said funding from the LGF would be received in quarterly instalments, in advance, subject to the completion of a transport business case for each project and approval by the SELEP Accountability Board.

(3)       Resolved that the Cabinet Committee endorse the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development to:

(a)          Accept Government grant funding of £12.95m capital to deliver the following schemes:

·         Fort Halstead in Sevenoaks (£1.53m)

·         Kent & Medway Engineering, Design, Growth and Enterprise (EDGE) Hub (£6.12m)

·         Leigh Flood Storage Area and East Peckham– Unlocking Growth (£4.636m)

·         SELEP Coastal Communities – Housing Led Economic Regeneration in Cliftonville West/Margate Central (£0.666m);

(b)       Enter into agreements for the transfer of the Local Growth Fund to the respective delivery organisation for the three schemes; and

(c)        Delegate to the Director of Economic Development and Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement the authority to conclude arrangements to secure the recovery of administration costs associated with KCC’s management of the grant agreements.