Decision details

A decision is required for the inclusion of a new capital scheme for works totalling £750k and funded by MHCLG Towns Fund grant. The project is to align with Further Guidance provided by MHCLG in June 2020. Thanet District Council is in receipt of this funding by MHCLG, and this now needs to be included within the Council’s Capital Programme.

The capital works for 51-57 High Street, Margate (former M&S) that are scheduled as part of the project include;

1.  Replacing the roof, ensuring the building is watertight, protecting it from further deterioration;

2.  Stripping out of the internal materials and fittings which will enable both the access to the ACM’s that require removal but also enable the vision of the building to be more clearly defined in line with any repurposing of the high street and town centre.

The aim is for the building to be included in a portfolio of assets as part of the new Creative Land Trust that is proposed within the Town Investment Plan submitted on 11 December 2020 for the Margate Town Deal.

The buildings involved are included in a Joint Venture with Homes England. If these works are not undertaken, the building will continue to deteriorate, and we are obliged as part of the current Joint Venture agreement  to ensure the building is maintained. This Decision Notice will be subject to a side letter being received by Homes England permitting the capital works in accordance with the terms and conditions within the Joint Venture agreement.

This capital project fits strategically with the Council’s corporate priorities and values by:

• Supporting inward investment;
• Promoting sustainability and growth of local enterprise;
• These works will help to sustain and grow the creative sector in Thanet, providing opportunity for economic recovery and contributing to the delivery of the Margate Town Deal and the levelling up agenda.

Delivery of this capital project will lead to reduced repairs bills through water ingress to the structure and mitigating ACM management, representing potential revenue savings for the Council.

To approve the inclusion of the above externally funded capital scheme into the Capital Programme.

Council would normally approve an expansion to the overall budget of the capital programme as the decision is outside the Budget Framework (Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, Rule 3).

However due to the timeframe required an urgent decision is required in order to enable procurement to start in early January 2021. In accordance with Rule 4, an urgent decision can be taken by an appropriate member of Cabinet, or an officer if it is not practicable to convene a meeting of Council and the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Panel agrees that the decision is urgent. Following the decision, a full report will go to the next available meeting of Council.

This relates to external funding for a capital project in Margate, linked to the Town Deal allocation and guidance. The project relating to 51-57 High Street has been chosen because a.) it delivers against the objectives of the Towns Fund, and b.) it is an asset within Council ownership and can therefore be delivered within required timescales.

This project is externally funded, with set criteria and restrictions, and therefore cannot be made available for other projects within the existing Capital Programme.