To confirm the area of the Clacton Town Board and thereby the Government Plan for Neighbourhoods area for Clacton shall be the area set out in the attachment and to authorise this being communicated to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by the deadline set by MHCLG of 4 July 2025.

The Clacton Town Board, under the previously titled ‘Long Term Plan for Towns’ had agreed (on 24 May 2024, Minute 16(a) refers) to its area/boundaries being those set out in the attachment to this decision.  Upon the programme being restyled “Plan for Neighbourhoods’ the Board was requested to again identify its boundary/area. 

This was considered at the  Board  meeting on 20 March 2025 (Minute 59 refers) and it was agreed that it was sensible to expand the area of the Board to encapsulate growth areas for Clacton including the mixed use development areas identified in the Local Plan to 2033 of Hartley Gardens, Rouses Farm and Cooks Green Farm (north of the Clacton Shopping Village).  The rationale for the change was that, in the lifetime of the ultimate Regeneration Plan for Clacton, these areas would be developed out and would be integral parts of the town.  The changed emphasis of the Government programme meant this felt a better fit also.  Government was advised of the requested change in area/boundary by the 26 April deadline. 

On Friday 27 June Government Officials advised that the boundary change had NOT been approved.  Government officials then gave the Board until 4 July 2025, to confirm the original boundary and that the speedy payment of the next element of the Capacity Funding (which has already been reported to the Board and intended spending allocations considered), was dependent upon this. 

Consideration was given to pursuing the wishes of the Board, as expressed on 20 March 2025, to expand the area of the Board to the areas referred to in the reasons for decision section.  However, this was discounted on the basis that this revision to the boundary may be possible at some point over the next few years and dialogue with MHCLG officials could identify the basis for the expanded area being rejected.  This could inform a future proposal. 

Not complying with the deadline of 4 July 2025 to confirm the boundary originally adopted (under the Long-Term Plan for Towns programme) was also considered and discounted in view of the impact on the capacity funding provision.