Issue - meetings

Cabinet discussed the report on the Margate Town Deal, project grants to third parties. The discussion confirmed that £22million had been allocated from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that will be delivered by third parties.

The Margate Town Investment Plan included all those projects that would be delivered under this grant, and officers had been working with the Town Deal Board and delivery partners to progress the Green Book compliant business cases, in order to draw down the funding.  The business case for the Creative Land Trust was completed last year and central government has awarded the funding for that project.

Trustees were currently being interviewed, and the Charity Commission has awarded the Trust with Charity status. This was an incredibly exciting time for the creative industries in Thanet, and the project brings with it significant opportunities for economic growth for the area. A capital sum of £6m was allocated to the development of the Creative Land Trust, with up to £900,000 in revenue to support participation and engagement for people in the district to engage with the creative sector, with a particular focus on building capacity and providing employment pathways.

Three more business case summary documents had since been submitted to central government which included the Coastal Wellbeing Intervention. As part of this programme of projects GRASS Cliftonville CIC was intending to deliver a project at the Oval Bandstand and Gardens.

In July 2021 the Council transferred the Oval Bandstand to GRASS Cliftonville CIC. GRASS Cliftonville CIC had developed a robust five year strategy, which set out a clear commercial strategy to ensure that the new Cliftonville Pavilion was financially self funding on a sustainable basis. The Town Deal Funding would enable the delivery of improved facilities and help to unlock other funding.

In order to enable the Creative Land Trust and GRASS Cliftonville CIC to deliver, Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations in the officer report.

Councillor Yates spoke under Council Procedure 20.1.

Councillor Pugh proposed, Councillor Jill Bayford seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To approve the payment of Grants to third parties to deliver the agreed Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities funded projects. These grant payments are:

·  £6,000,000 capital grant to the Margate Creative Land Trust to deliver the outcomes identified in the Margate Town Investment Plan;

·  Up to £900,000 revenue funding for Participation and Engagement as part of the Scaling Margate's Creative and Production Intervention, and delivery of the Creative Land Trust;

·  £500,000 capital grant to GRASS for the Oval Bandstand and Gardens project;

2.  That each grant agreement is signed as a Deed, by the Director of Law and Democracy and Director of Finance and S151 Officer, and is witnessed by a Member of the Council.