Background:
In the Growth Deal announcements in July 2014 (Round One), January 2015 (Round Two), and February 2017 (Round Three) the Government allocated £570 million from the Local Growth Fund to capital projects across the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) area.
As the end of the Growth Deal (March 2021) approaches, a number of projects throughout the SELEP region have experienced difficulty with delivery. To date, £33.396m of funding has been returned to SELEP for reallocation to projects which have demonstrated they can be delivered by March 2021. Through this process, an allocation has been made available for the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS). This scheme is being delivered by external partners (The University of Kent and Canterbury Christchurch University).
KCC will transfer the LGF funding to the third parties for the delivery of the scheme. A Legal agreement has been prepared between KCC and the Universities which will transfer all the LGF spend and project management responsibility to them. This includes updating Kent County Council monthly on project progress and spend; as well as completing the post scheme monitoring required by SELEP.
The KMMS will be delivered in line with the current governance arrangements under the Local Growth Fund (KCC and SELEP). Therefore, the scheme will carry out necessary consultation and equality impact assessments as part of the scheme progression.
The business case for the first phase of the Kent and Medway Medical School (£4m) was approved at SELEP Accountability Board on 15th November 2019. The second phase (a further £4m) does not require funding until 2020/21 and therefore will be considered by SELEP Accountability Board on 15th May 2020.
Before the legal agreement can be finalised for KMMS, a key decision is required. The LGF cannot be drawn down until the Key Decision is in place.
· Options –
The options considered for the KMMS are set out in the business case document which can be accessed here:
Kent and Medway Medical School (pages 33-37)
https://www.southeastlep.com/app/uploads/2000/01/KMMS-Full-Business-Case.pdf
· How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’
The scheme has a strong fit with all three objectives. The state-of-the-art Medical School will provide enhanced training and academic opportunities for young people and mature students in Kent. In addition, it will attract and retain medical students into Kent to fill the GP gap which is currently prevalent within the County; giving all residents of Kent (and particularly older and vulnerable residents) a better opportunity to stay healthy and live independently.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Canterbury City North; Canterbury City South; Canterbury North; Canterbury South;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 05/03/2020
This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.
Reason for urgency:
The reason for urgency is due to the need to draw down the LGF funding before the end of March, with the key decision requirement for facilitating this only being identified at a later stage in the project. KCC itself is making no direct financial contribution to the scheme as part of this decision and any costs incurred in facilitating the LGF drawn down and transfer will be recouped – details will be available in the relevant reports.
Decision due: Not before 17th Mar 2020 by Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Reason: Implementation of the relevant contracts and legal agreements are required by the end of March 2020 under the terms of the Local Growth Fund arrangements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Lead director: Simon Jones
Department: Growth, Environment & Transport
Contact: Tim Read, Head of Highway Transport 03000 410236 Email: tim.read@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
Consultation has been carried out by the Universities during the development of the KMMS scheme. No consultation has been completed by KCC as this is a third-party scheme to which KCC is not making a financial contribution.
Financial implications: The scheme is fully externally funded with no cost to KCC. The match funding for the scheme is being provided by the Universities as set out in the business case. KCC costs in developing the legal agreement with the Universities and administering the LGF will be recouped in full as set out in the Legal Agreement (Clause 19).
Legal implications: None as both third parties will sign up to the approved legal agreement prior to any funding being transferred.
Equalities implications: Equalities implications - An EQIA is being developed by the Universities as set out in their business case and this will be submitted to KCC prior to the LGF being drawn down. Data Protection implications - None