Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director in relation to the recent progress of the Southport Town Deal, the Town Deal Board and the Town Investment Plan of which will be submitted to Government at the end of October 2020.

The report set out that Southport was one of the 100 towns across the country invited to bid for £25 million in funding as part of the Government’s Town Fund.  Further guidance received included the opportunity to pursue up to £50 million of funding and that this would be subject to greater level of scrutiny.

In order to secure a share of the funding and in line with the guidance, a Town Deal Board was established with the responsibility of developing and agreeing an evidenced based Town Investment Plan; developing a clear programme of interventions and coordinating resources and influencing stakeholders.

The report also set out Membership details of the Town Deal Board, the Consultation and Engagement processes undertaken and the Town Investment Plan Approval Process. 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, Councillor Atkinson thanked the Town Deal Board Members for all their hard work, commitment, passion and vision and paid tribute to the sterling work of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board, Mr Rob Fletcher and Mr Andrew Booth.   

Councillor Atkinson also paid tribute to the hard work of Sefton Officers and emphasised how their commitment had played a pivotal role in driving the bid forward.

The need for Government Funding to be made available to all Town Centres across the Borough was also highlighted.

Decision Made:      That:

(1)           the work undertaken by the Town Deal Board, be noted;

(2)           Sefton Council will undertake the role of Accountable Body for the submission of the Bid at the end of October 2020; for negotiation of Heads of Terms; agreement of the Town Deal and the administration of grant funding thereafter, be agreed;

(3)           the submission of a Town Deal bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the end of October 2020, in accordance with the Town Deal bid process, be agreed;

(4)           the Head of Terms and the Town Deal, and in turn the formalisation of the role of Accountable Body, will require Cabinet and Council approval during the twelve-month period following submission, be noted; and

(5)           the Executive Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills be granted delegated authority for the finalisation of the bid and Town Investment Plan, for submission at the end of October 2020 on behalf of the Town Deal Board.

Reasons for the Decisions:

Southport is one of 100 towns identified as potential recipients of Town Deal funding, for which a bid submission and Town Investment Plan (TIP) is required.  The process requires leadership of a Town Deal Board, with a private sector Chair, but the Council is required to undertake the role of Accountable Body for the bid (which in the case of Southport will be submitted at the end of October), and for the subsequent negotiation of Heads of Terms, agreement of the Town Deal, and to be the organisation through which funding will flow.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The alternative of not undertaking the role of Accountable Body for the bid, or not submitting a Town Deal bid, is rejected given the significance of the funding opportunity, the quality and quantity of project opportunities emerging, and the importance of such funding to the economic recovery in Southport given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the town and its economy.