Issue - meetings

20/00083 - Local Growth Fund Round 3b Third Party Scheme - East Malling Advanced Technology Horticultural Zone

Meeting: 25/09/2020 - Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee (Item 240)

240 20/00083 - Local Growth Fund Round 3b Third Party Scheme - East Malling Advanced Technology Horticultural Zone pdf icon PDF 234 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mrs T Dean was present as the local Member for the Malling Central division.

 

1.            Mr Smith introduced the report and reassured the committee that there would be no adverse financial consequences for the County Council in the event of the project not delivering the desired outcomes.  He responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:-

 

a)    Members praised the pioneering research and development work undertaken at the East Malling research facility and noted its excellent reputation as a research pioneer and a leading international provider of agricultural training;

 

b)    asked by the local Member for clarification about the progress of planning permission for the new housing, which would finance the development, Mr Smith undertook to look into the latest situation and update the committee; and

 

c)    asked by the local Member about the possible negative impact of Britain leaving the European Union upon East Malling’s international lead in agricultural training, Mr Smith assured the committee that no negative impact had yet been seen. Monitoring would continue with the aim of identifying any future issues, and the committee would be kept abreast of these.

 

2.            The committee RESOLVED to endorse the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, to:

a)  approve the progression, via the County Council’s Local Growth Fund arrangements, for the East Malling Advanced Technology Horticultural Zone, allowing it to progress to the stages of development and delivery,

                        to facilitate this, to:

 i)  confirm that the County Council will act as the accountable body for the project;

 

            ii)   enter into a Local Growth Fund (LGF) funding agreement; and

 

iii)  enter into legal agreements with the relevant third parties delivering the schemes to transfer the conditions of the LGF spend and project management to them; and

 

b)    delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport, in consultation with the Corporate Directors of Finance and Strategic and Corporate Services, to enter into relevant legal agreements and take other actions necessary to implement the decision.