Issue - meetings

Cabinet considered the report on the Future High Street Fund. The aim of the Future High Street Fund was to renew and reshape high streets with the inclusion of other uses to drive increases in footfall. The Council was successful in a bid that included the development of a creative workspace in Ramsgate town centre. Unfortunately, due to challenging circumstances a number of buildings the Council had considered, and Cabinet had given authority to purchase, had either been bought or leased by third parties or landlords had become unresponsive.

Since then the Council had been working hard to identify new sites in order to be able deliver this project, and one had been identified that also supported delivery of the Levelling Up Fund project.

Councillor Albon and Councillor Austin spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Pugh proposed, Councillor David Saunders seconded and Cabinet agreed:

1.  To Authorise the Director of Regeneration to include the Levelling Up Fund monies for the ‘Access to Opportunities’ (town centre) project to be included within the Future High Street Fund project for delivery. The funding allocated is approximately £250,000;

2.  To give delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration, in consultation with the Interim Director of Property, to complete negotiations for the purchase of a town centre property within the approximately £1.31m externally funded budget. The funding allocated will need to deliver the purchase of the asset, and refurbishment in order to meet the outputs of the Future High Street Fund and the Levelling Up Fund project.