Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources providing an update on the delivery of Maldon District’s UK Shared and Rural England Prosperity Fund allocations.

Appendix 1 to the report set out the projects being delivered via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) over the three-year period.  It was reported that through the Council’s partnership agreement with the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) a dedicated Officer had been recruited to support delivery and administration.  An outline programme had been developed, ensuring it met the requirements of the REPF guidance.  Members were advised that the UKSPF and REPF continued to present a significant opportunity for the District to support, through direct investment, the economy, businesses and communities.

The Chairperson introduced the report and deferred to the Lead Specialist Prosperity to present the detail advising that Members would discuss the UKSPF first.  The Officer referred to Appendix 1 and highlighted that where projects were not being progressed due to feasibility, funding would be reallocated to other existing projects within the approved investment plan.  She drew Members’ attention to the amount of funding committed to progression of projects and agreed costs for management and administration.

During the debate on the UKSPF that followed a number of questions were raised and the following information provided by Officers:

·                  The Burnham-on-Crouch pontoon project was progressing, and Members were informed that a new pontoon would be installed by the end of 2024.  The timelines for the project been made publicly available with a press release due to follow shortly.  The Director of Service Delivery agreed with the suggestion to provide a fact sheet on the pontoon to raise public awareness and suggested that this could highlight how although the replacement pontoon would be virtually identical to that destroyed, planning consent as well as approval from the Marine Management Organisation were required.

·                  The Director of Strategy and Resources highlighted the importance of the preventative health work the Council was doing through the UKSPF along with the wider work it carried out with the Mid Essex Alliance on reducing health inequalities.  He referred to the importance of the hospital and other infrastructure coming forward and how demand on NHS services could be reduced through improvements to the health of residents.

·                  In response to further questions regarding the Mid Essex Alliance (MEA) projects the Lead Specialist Prosperity reported that the Council’s new Health, Integration and Community Manager would be working with fellow officers across the MEA to deliver projects from the agreed action plan.

·                  Members were advised that an audit of the Maldon lower High Street had taken place.  Members of the Lower High Street Focus Group alongside Essex County Council officers had developed a list of priorities to improve this area as well as some other areas of the Maldon High Street.  The priority list along with related costings had been submitted and was currently being scrutinised by the High Street Focus Group who would then decide which projects would be brought forward.  Engagement with Highways would be taken where appropriate. 

·                  In response to a comment regarding a Motion brought forward and agreed by the Council, the Assistant Director – Planning and Implementation gave assurance that the Central Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Master Plan Policy would be coming forward to a future meeting of the Planning Policy Working Group for review.

·                  Work in respect of the Youth Council would restart once the Health, Integration and Community Manager had taken up post.

·                  In respect of funding received by the Council the Director of Strategy and Resources referred to and gave some background information regarding a project ‘Beat the Streets’ and the work to implement this scheme.  The Council had also received match funding through the Mid Essex Alliance for the new Health, Integration and Community Manager post to ensure the Council was looking at all of its services and their impact on health.  Members were advised that a press release had been issued regarding the ‘Beats the Streets’ project and the Chairperson then proceeded to read this out.  Thanks were given to the Officers that had secured the funding in relation to this project.

·                  It was confirmed that funding originally identified for gateway signage was now being directed to supporting the Men’s Shed due to the costs of construction and build having doubled since the investment plan was developed.  Officers would be reviewing other funding to deliver the gateway project and Members were advised the Council was happy to enter into discussions with any Town / Parish Council regarding match funding or co-funding delivery of the signage.

·                  The Strategy and Resources Committee at its meeting in July 2022 had agreed delegation of the development and delivery of the investment plan to the Corporate Leadership Team.

The debate moved to the REPF, the Lead Specialist Prosperity provided an update and advised that since publication of the report the programme delivery date had been confirmed for 15 February 2024.  Tickets to the launch event had sold out and although a waiting list was in operation the event would be recorded so it could be circulated to any that were unable to attend.  The Officer explained that under the REPF applications would come in from businesses and organisations within the District to deliver project that fall under the identified interventions and she gave examples of some of the areas where funding was available.  Members were advised that the funding was also available to Parish and Town Councils as long as the request met the relevant criteria.

There being no further discussion, the Chairperson moved the recommendation set out in the report which was seconded and then agreed by assent. Members congratulated Ms Cable, Lead Specialist Prosperity, for all her hard work on the UKSPF.

RESOLVED that the Committee acknowledges the update provided on Maldon District’s UK Shared and Rural England Prosperity fund allocations and continues to monitor the delivery.