Issue - meetings

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

1. That the Tunbridge Wells Investment Plan be approved.
2. That delegated responsibility be given to the Head of Economic Development in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Tunbridge Wells Town and Local Areas to make any necessary minor changes to the Tunbridge Wells Investment Plan prior to submission, for the purpose of presentation or improving clarity be approved.
3. That the Terms of Reference for the Local Partnership Group be approved.
4. That delegated responsibility be given to the Head of Economic Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Tunbridge Wells Town and Local Areas to agree projects either as

-       Grants to public or private organisations

-       Commissioning third party organisations

-       Procurement of service provision

-       In-house provision, be approved.

5. That authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to complete all legal formalities, agreements, deeds and other documents as are necessary and/or incidents to the recommendations be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Borough to benefit from funding from Central Government that would allow the Council to invest in the borough over the next two and half years. 

Councillor Ben Chapelard provided a short summary on the discussion that took place at the Cabinet Advisory Board and then introduced David Candlin, Head of Economic Development and Property who presented the report as set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       A huge list of projects had been submitted.  This had required a lot of work by the team.  A final list had been submitted that would enable Members to determine which ones would be included in the Partnership’s Focus on Five. 

RESOLVED:

1. That the Tunbridge Wells Investment Plan be approved.
2. That delegated responsibility be given to the Head of Economic Development in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Tunbridge Wells Town and Local Areas to make any necessary minor changes to the Tunbridge Wells Investment Plan prior to submission, for the purpose of presentation or improving clarity be approved.
3. That the Terms of Reference for the Local Partnership Group be approved.
4. That delegated responsibility be given to the Head of Economic Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Tunbridge Wells Town and Local Areas to agree projects either as

-       Grants to public or private organisations

-       Commissioning third party organisations

-       Procurement of service provision

-       In-house provision, be approved.

5. That authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to complete all legal formalities, agreements, deeds and other documents as are necessary and/or incidents to the recommendations be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Borough to benefit from funding from Central Government that would allow the Council to invest in the borough over the next two and half years. 

David Candlin, Head of Economic Development and Property presented his report as per the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

              i.        It was advised that community led and based applications for projects were welcomed at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), project ideas and proposals had been sought from Members, Parish and Town Councils and other stakeholders, and a significant number had been received.

             ii.        Project proposals received had been developed to meet the various key criteria of UKSPF and the themes identified by Government.

            iii.        Cabinet had selected the proposed interventions to meet the priorities set out in the focus on five.

           iv.        Thanks were given to David Candlin, Hilary Smith and James Read in Economic Development for the production of the report.

             v.        In terms of the timescale; it was acknowledged that it was a short time table from April to end of July however, subject to the approval of the Investment Plans by TWBC, the Investment Plan was scheduled to be submitted by the 1 August.

           vi.        The Government indicated that Investment Plans were scheduled to be signed off from October and a memorandum of understanding provided between the Government and TWBC for the money and interventions to be addressed.

          vii.        It was advised that between now and October there was a focus on putting processes in place so that at the point where the Government gave approval, some of the projects that had been loosely identified in the investment plan could be implemented.

         viii.        The Government had not issued all guidance and therefore there was a need for flexibility.

1.    That the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report be supported.