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.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 05/04/2023
Decision due: 31 Mar 2023 by Assistant Director (Economic Growth & Leisure), Corporate Director (Economy & Place)
Contact: Barbara Pole, Economic Growth & Enterprise Manager 01255 686230 Email: bpole@tendringdc.gov.uk.