Agenda item

Report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

The Cabinet Member with the Leisure and Local Environment Portfolio introduced the report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the release of capital funding for advanced design fees allocated in the Medium Term Financial Plan Capital Programme, to bring forward regeneration projects and prepare sites for development; a highway Maintenance programme utilising funding allocated by the Department for Transport in November 2018; the development of a business case for Darlington Northern Link Road, utilising funding secured from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA); the development of a business case for Darlington Station, utilising any funding allocated from the TVCA to the Council; and seeking approval to bid for funding from the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund and the National Productivity Investment Fund, subject to the criteria of those funds, and to submit an Expression of Interest to the Future High Streets fund, and any other Town Centre Regeneration funds, arising from the announcements in the Autumn Budget statement November 2018.

The submitted report stated that the release of funding would enable the Council to deliver a number of its economic ambitions; greater investment in maintaining the highway had been identified as a key priority for local people; that bids for any additional funding would likely to be short notice; and outlined the financial and legal implications.

Discussion ensued on the availability of additional funding through the Tees Valley Combined Authority; the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Investment Plan; the involvement of the Town Centre Board in the submission of any Expressions of Interest for Town Centre funding; and the involvement of the Park East and Park West Wards in any proposals involving the Town Centre.

RESOLVED – (a)  That the release of the £150,000 for Advanced Design Fees to bring forward regeneration projects and to carry out necessary preparatory work on those development sites, as detailed in the submitted report, be approved.

(b)  That the additional £770,000 funding awarded by the Department for Transport for highways maintenance, as detailed in the submitted report, be released.

(c)  That the funding received from the Tees Valley Combined Authority for the business case development work for the Darlington Northern Link Road, as detailed in the submitted report, be released, and it be noted that the total amount of funding received so far was £1,215,000, which included a further £250,000 that had just recently been allocated by TVCA.

(d)  That any funding received from TVCA for the business case development work for Darlington Station, be released, following agreement on how the fund would be jointly managed between the Council and TVCA.

(e)  That a bid for funding from the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund and the National Productivity Investment Fund, be submitted, subject to the criteria of those funds, and that the funding be subsequently be released.

(f)  That an Expression of Interest be submitted to the Future High Streets fund and any other Town Centre Regeneration funds arising from the announcements in the Autumn Budget statement November 2018.

Delegations

(g)  That the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, be authorised to agree the programme of maintenance work with the Portfolio Holder for Transport.

(h)  That the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be authorised to agree the programme of Advanced Design work with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Regeneration.

(i)  That the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be authorised to agree the content of any bid to the Department for Transport for Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund and the National Productivity Investment Fund in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Transport.

(j)  That, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Regeneration,the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be authorised to agree the content of any Expression of Interest to the Future High Streets fund and any other Town Centre Regeneration funds arising from the announcements in the Autumn Budget Statement November 2018.

REASONS – (a)  The Advanced Design Fees will enable progress to be made on bringing forward regeneration projects and sites for development.  The release of funding will enable some focussed development work on Town Centre Regeneration to enable the Council to respond to a funding announcement from Government that has a tight deadline for return.

(b)  The maintenance funding needs to be allocated to the highways maintenance programme and used by 31 March 2019.

(c)  The next stage is to further develop the Outline Business Case for the Darlington Northern Link Road to ensure the case can be made for the scheme in future National Funding Programmes.

(d)  A Strategic Outline Business Case for Darlington Station has been submitted to Government. Further work is now required to develop an Outline Business Case to progress the scheme through the Government gateways to build the case for the scheme to enter future National Funding Programmes.

(e)  To ensure that the timescales can be met when the funding criteria and process are released by the Department for Transport for both bidding for and defraying the funding.

(f)  To enable an Expression of Interest to the Future High Streets fund and any other Town Centre Regeneration funds to be submitted.