Decision details

On the 21st May 2021 Cabinet approved a report of the Portfolio Holder for Business and Economic Growth seeking approval to work with Essex County Council to submit a bid to the Government’s ‘Levelling Up Fund’ (LUF). This report authorised the following delegation: the Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Place can utilise funds already set aside within the Council’s budget for Clacton Town Centre projects and associated business case development to joint-fund any necessary further technical work required in support of the Levelling Up Fund bid. The responsibility for the LUF bids has since transferred to Economic Growth team.
During September 2021 the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DHLUC) provided a £125k LUF Capacity Fund to all Local Authorities in England most in need of levelling up investment. This capacity funding was provided with the primary intention of supporting the relevant local authorities to develop their bids for later rounds of the Fund.
On 31st May 2022 Cabinet received a report requesting their approval to submit two LUF bids in round two of the fund resulting in the Economic Growth Team utilising £53k of the Capacity Fund to secure consultants to strengthen the bid. These two bids were successful with one being for Clacton and the other Dovercourt/Harwich.
So that the projects have a dedicated resource to ensure that the deliverables are met within the timeline set by DHLUC, recruitment to a Fixed Term Capital Programme Assistant Director is required. While recruitment commences an Interim Agency Capital Programme Manager will be commissioned to ensure there remains the capacity in the team to deliver the key priorities and projects currently on the Council’s agenda.
On the 23rd March 2021 guidance was sought from Central Government, that the remaining budget could be spent on mobilisation resource to get the projects up and running. Confirmation has been received that this is acceptable under the terms of the Capacity Funding.
A competitive process has taken place in partnership with Essex County Council to secure an Agency Capital Programme Manager. Appropriate candidates were selected and interviewed and it is proposed to offer an Interim Capital Programme Manager contract through Vivid Resource for a temporary period to bridge the gap until the Fixed Term Capital Programme Assistant Director is in post to ensure the programme for delivery progresses.

To allocate the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Capacity Fund to secure the resources required to mobilise and deliver the projects within the successful bids.

Support for this has been given by Cllr Giancarlo Guglielmi, Deputy Leader and Richard Barrett, Section 151 Officer.

Option 1 - As above
Option 2 - Not to procure an interim Capital Programme Manager and risk project slippage
Option 3 - Identify other budgets to support the resources required.