Cabinet Decisions

The successful Margate Town Deal Investment Plan includes a number of projects. Since the funding offer was made and the Heads of Terms were agreed, the Council has been working with stakeholders and project delivery partners to put together a series of Business Cases, which are compliant with HM Treasury guidance. Two of the projects being delivered by third parties include the Margate Creative Land Trust and the Oval Bandstand and Lawns project. 

Thanet District Council is the accountable body for the Margate Town Deal and it will grant fund third parties to deliver the projects as identified in the Business Case. An executive decision is required because the expenditure exceeds £250,000. 

The Council has a formal grant agreement which will be used when allocating funding to third parties, Cabinet is required to approve this allocation as a key decision.

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.

The successful Margate Levelling Up Fund project; Margate Digital will be delivered directly by a third party - EKC Group.  Thanet District Council is the accountable body for the Levelling Up funding programme and it will grant fund EKC Group to deliver the scheme as identified in the bid submitted to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. An executive decision is required because the expenditure exceeds £250,000. 

The Council has a formal grant agreement which will be used when allocating funding to third parties, Cabinet is required to approve this allocation as a key decision. 

The Levelling Up Fund bid for Margate was approved by Cabinet and had the full backing of the MP Sir Roger Gale.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To approve the use of Grants which exceed £250,000 to third parties to deliver the agreed Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities funded project:

·  £6,306,078 capital grant to the EKC Group, to deliver the Margate Digital project, identified in the Margate Levelling Up Funding bid;

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

The Council’s Corporate Statement for 2019-2023 sets out the direction of travel for the coming years. The assets identified below represent ageing property that require repair and capital investment but, should this be completed, it will not improve the return on income, or fulfil any operational requirements.

Cabinet agreed the following recommendations:

1.  To let the property via a commercial lease, detailed as option 1 in the cabinet report;

2.  To give delegated authority to the Director of Property, in consultation with the Principal Surveyor to market the premises and negotiate Heads of Terms for a lease

and;

3.  To give delegated authority to the Director of Law and Democracy to sign all documents necessary to give effect to the disposal.

Cabinet support was requested for the Leader of Council’s choice of nominee to be appointed to the Manston Skills and Employment (MSE) Board, an Executive outside body. At its meeting on 14 October 2021 Full Council agreed to add Manston Skills and Employment (MSE) Board to the list of Executive outside bodies and the number of Councillors to be appointed to it.

Cabinet agreed to nominate Councillor Reece Pugh to the Manston Skills and Employment (MSE) Board.