Agenda item

To receive a report on the Government launch of two new calls for project proposals that will help unlock economic growth in local areas. In the first call, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are invited to bid for a share of the third tranche of Local Growth Funding (LGF), worth £1.8 billion across England. In the second call, LEPs are invited to bid for a share of the Large Local Major Schemes funding, worth £475m across England.

1.            The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership’s Strategic Programme Manager, Mrs Nurden, introduced a report on the government launch of two new calls for project proposals that would help unlock economic growth in local areas. 

2.            In the first call, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were invited to bid for a share of the third Tranche of the Local Growth Fund, worth £1.8 billion across England.  Mrs Nurden advised that the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership met and endorsed the business cases for 21 Schemes.  The total value of the 21 schemes was in the region of £75 million. 1 of the 21 business cases has subsequently been withdrawn by the applicant (East Kent Spatial Development Company).

3.            In the second call, LEPs were invited to bid for a share of the Large Local Major Schemes (LLMS) funding, worth £475 across England. To bid for LLMS, LEPs are required to submit large scale transport business cases to the DfT, which are compliant with the Department’s business case development methodology (known as WebTAG). There are very few large scale projects with a WebTAG-compliant business case already developed, due to the high cost of undertaking this type of project development work and none at present in Kent and Medway. The DfT is therefore allocating some of the £475m to support LEPs in developing  WebTAG-compliant business cases. The Cabinet Committee noted that the KMEP, at its meeting on 14 June, endorsed the submission of a LLMS bid to develop a WebTAG-complaint business case for Junction 7 of the M2 (known locally as Brenley Corner).

4.            The Cabinet Committee was asked to endorse the proposed record of decision. This decision states that Kent County Council will endorse the bid submission, act as the accountable body for projects within its geographical boundaries and delegate authority to the section 151 Officer to sign a grant offer letter or equivalent.

5.            On concerns raised and questions asked; Mrs Nurden, Ms Mort, Mr Balfour and Mrs Cooper made the following responses:

Ÿ  Mr Balfour advised that he had discussed the rising costs of Ashford Spurs with the Minister for Transport, Mrs Claire Perry.  Ashford Spurs was a priority.

Ÿ  Mrs Cooper advised that KMEP, Ashford Borough Council and KCC were supporting the Ashford Spur project. 

Ÿ  Ms Mort assured Members that the projects for cycling and walking were included but were often hidden by their titles.  There were also bids for Ashford Town Centre and Dartford Town Centre for pedestrian improvements.  The Government had also announced access funds for walking and cycling.

Ÿ  Mrs Nurden advised that KMEP firmly supports the proposal for a new Lower Thames Crossing to the east of Gravesend and Tilbury. This will place additional traffic capacity demands on the M2. The narrative to accompany the bid submission would stress the need for investment in a package of measures on the strategic road network to support the new crossing, and the package includes reconfiguration of the Duke of York’s Roundabout on the M2 (1 of the 20 LGF bids).

Ÿ  A comment was made that much investment was required in local infrastructure to generate the desired economic growth.

6.            The Chairman asked Members to vote on the recommendation in the report the votes cast were as follows: 9 votes for, 2 against and 2 abstained.  The proposal was carried.

7.            RESOLVED that:-

(a)   the comments and responses to questions by Members be noted;

(b)    Ms Mort was given thanks for all her hard work carried out on the projects by Mr Balfour.

(c)    the Cabinet Committee endorsed, the proposed decision to be taken by the Leader of the Council for Kent County Council to:

•   Endorse the Local Growth Fund Round 3 (LGF3) and Large Local Major Scheme (LLMS) bid submissions to Government proposed by the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership & the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

• Act as the accountable body for projects within Kent County Council’s geographical boundaries that are selected by the Government to receive LGF3 and LLMS funding.

•   Delegate to the Section 151 Officer the authority to sign on KCC’s behalf a grant offer letter or equivalent, where this is required to draw down funds following business case approval