Decision details

Levelling up Fund - Margate Digital

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Thanet has the opportunity to bid into the Government’s Levelling Up Fund as it is a Priority One area and with two parliamentary constituencies is able to submit two bids. 

 

This submission of a bid to the Levelling Up Fund for Margate is strongly aligned to the  Margate Town Deal, and builds on the proposal for education, skills and employment pathway opportunities in the Margate Town Investment Plan.

 

This funding will support the delivery of a state of the art digital skills and training provision in the town centre which will undoubtedly support the whole district's economic recovery and levelling up of its communities, both in terms of training opportunities and pathways, as well as increasing footfall in the high street.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed the following:

 

1.  To approve submission of a Levelling Up Bid to the 18 June, 2021 deadline;

2. 
To delegate authority to Chief Executive and the Leader, for final sign-off of the Levelling up Bid;

3. 
That the Council will not make a financial contribution in any form within the 10% financial contribution encouraged in the prospectus, and this will be contributed by EKC Group.

Reasons for the decision:

To enable the submission of a Levelling Up Bid for Margate.

Alternative options considered:

·  There are very few funding programs that allow for capital investment for regeneration. If submitted to this round it will enable delivery alongside the Margate Town Deal, Intervention 1: Scaling Margate’s Creative Production and Skills. This project could take a long time to bring to fruition without the ability to bid for this funding;

 

·  More than one bid can be submitted as it is covered by two MP constituency areas. The Cabinet has approved a bid to be submitted for Ramsgate, and this project is delivered in partnership with EKC Group and has the full backing of the local Member of Parliament.

Urgent item?: Yes

Publication date: 18/06/2021

Date of decision: 17/06/2021

Decided at meeting: 17/06/2021 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: