Agenda item

UK Community Renewal Fund

Summary:

 

 

 

 

Options considered:

This report outlines opportunities presented to North Norfolk through the Government’s new UK Community Renewal and Levelling Up programmes and outlines how the Council might seek to position itself to take advantage of theseopportunities.

 

It is considered that these new funding programmes present opportunities to secure external funding for the District to support the Council’s Corporate Plan objectives through the Council acting in its community leadership role. Alternatively, the Council could leave it to other local stakeholders to develop project proposals but it is believed that this might not realise the full benefits of a more co- ordinated approach proposed by the Council as outlined in thereport.

Conclusions:

The Council should seek to adopt a strategic leadership role in seeking to co-ordinate the development of a programme of projects at North Walsham and Fakenham for submission to Government under the UK Community Renewal and, as appropriate, the Levelling Up Fund programmes

Recommendations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for Recommendations:

Cabinet is ask to:-

 

·      note the opportunities presented to North Norfolk by the new UK Community Renewal and Levelling Upprogrammes

·      endorse the proposals made that a programme of complementary projects be developed in respect of the future planned growth of North Walsham and Fakenham as sustainable locations for future housing and business development at scale supported by provision of key transport, health, education community and green infrastructure and submitted to the County Council as lead body for endorsement and onward submission to theGovernment

·      to agree that in developing any proposals the Council establishes a Strategic Stakeholder Board and Steering Groups for North Walsham and Fakenham to support project development and oversee programmedelivery

 

To realise opportunities to secure UK Government fundinginto NorthNorfolk tosupport investmentin projects which meet priorities outlined in the Council’s Corporate Plan as they relate toprovision of housing, economic growth, environment and climate change.

 

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr Sarah Butikofer, Leader of the Council

Ward(s) affected All

 

 

Contact Officer, telephone number and email:

Steve Blatch, Chief Executive

Email:- steve.blatch@north-norfolk.gov.uk Tel:- 01263 516232

 

 

Decision:

DECISION

RESOLVED

 

To agree that in developing any proposals, the Council establishes a Strategic Stakeholder Board and Steering Groups for North Walsham and Fakenham to support project development and oversee programmedelivery

 

Reason for the decision:

 

To realise opportunities to secure UK Government fundinginto NorthNorfolk tosupport investmentin projects which meet priorities outlined in the Council’s Corporate Plan as they relate toprovision of housing, economic growth, environment and climate change

 

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced this item. He said that the Government had announced  two new funding programmes were announced - the UK Community Renewal Fund and the Levelling Up Fund, which were now being promoted as a fore-runner of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to be launched in 2022. North Norfolk was one of 100 priority areas able to submit proposals forfunding through the UK Community Renewal Fund. Four areas in Norfolk were eligible to bid for funding from an overall ‘pot’ of £220m. Projects with a value of up to £3 million could be supported per area, with 90% of the funding for revenue spend and spend to be incurred by 31st March2022. Locally in Norfolk, the programme will be led by the CountyCouncil, with bids for project funding to be submitted by lead authorities by 18th June 2021.

 

The Chairman said that it was important that NNDC seized this opportunity and work with the County Council and local MPs on this project. He added that it was a long-term project that would get the preparatory work underway in the growth towns of Fakenham and North Walsham, increasing the opportunity of future funding from other streams such as the ‘Levelling Up’ fund.

 

The Chief Executive said that this was a big opportunity for the Council. Many other eligible authorities already had strategic boards in place as they had been involved previously in similar schemes such as the Future High Streets fund. NNDC did not have anything similar in place and there was therefore a recommendation to establish a  Strategic Stakeholder Board and Steering Groups for North Walsham and Fakenham to support project development and oversee programmedelivery. These should be established as a matter of priority so that key partners were aware of the opportunities and could endorse proposals before the submission was put to the County Council in May 2021. He went onto say that North Walsham and Fakenham had been identified for strategic growth within the Council’s Local Plan. The Council’s funding bid would seek to build upon proposals for new housing and economic growth to be accommodated at scale at these locations through new Urban Extensions supported by good quality community infrastructure – including new link roads, health and education facilities, leisure and green infrastructure and business investment / employment opportunities, which would also support the extensive rural hinterlands to both towns.

 

Cllr R Kershaw, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, thanked the Chief Executive for the speed in which he had pulled the report together.

 

Cllr C Cushing said that, as a local member for Fakenham, he welcomed the proposals. He asked the Chief Executive for more information on the Strategic Board and the Steering Groups, specifically who would be appointed to them and their roles and the deadline for when they would be up and running. The Chief Executive replied that the Strategic Board would operate at a district-wide level. It would involve lead members from the political groups, the two MPs and representatives from the economic, business , environmental and education sectors. It would have a maximum of 24 representatives. Regarding the steering groups, he said that representatives would be drawn from the town councils, chambers of trade, education and voluntary sector. They would also be of a similar size. The District Council would provide administrative and secretariat support. It was hoped to establish them imminently, if the recommendations were supported.

 

Cllr Cushing sought clarification on where the steering group would report to. The Chief Executive replied that they would report to the Strategic Board.

 

The Chairman said that he would expect local members for each town to be involved with the steering groups. He would expect them to be informed and consulted as work on the funding bids progressed.

 

It was proposed by Cllr R Kershaw, seconded by Cllr J Toye and

 

RESOLVED

 

To agree that in developing any proposals, the Council establishes a Strategic Stakeholder Board and Steering Groups for North Walsham and Fakenham to support project development and oversee programmedelivery

 

Reason for the decision:

 

To realise opportunities to secure UK Government fundinginto NorthNorfolk tosupport investmentin projects which meet priorities outlined in the Council’s Corporate Plan as they relate toprovision of housing, economic growth, environment and climate change

 

Supporting documents: