Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED that:

1)    An extra column be added to the output table to demonstrate what outputs were expected to have been achieved by a specific point within the programme to enable tracking.

2)    The results of the recent audit review be circulated to Board members after presentation to Audit Committee.

3)    The Secretariate be tasked with the circulation of an email to Members for volunteers to create an entrepreneurial and strategy-based focus group.

4)    The next meeting of the Board, scheduled for 6 June 2025, would take place at the Barbican, if open and operational. Officers be tasked with making the necessary arrangements.

Liam Scully, Chair of the Lincoln Town Deal Board, opened the meeting and warmly welcomed members before a brief round of introductions.

Victoria Poulson, Democratic Services Officer, confirmed that apologies for absence had been received from:

• Angela Andrews
• Jacqui Bunce
• Tom Dannatt
• Ibrahim Elias
• Hamish Falconer MP
• James Foster
• Julian Free
• Laura Freer
• Nicole Hilton
• Chris Kirkwood
• Ursula Lidbetter
• Edward Strange
• Councillor Naomi Tweddle
• Nick Worboys

Will Mason and Councillor Joshua Wells were in attendance as substitutes.

The Democratic Services Officer confirmed the quorum of 6 members.

Liam Scully declared a Personal Interest with regard to the agenda items titled ‘Investment Sub-Committee Update’ and ‘Towns Deal Programme Update’.

Reason: He was a trustee of Lincoln City Foundation and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln City Football Club.

Simon Kirk, Assistant Director - Growth & Development, declared a Personal Interest with regard to the agenda item titled ‘Towns Deal Programme Update’.

Reason: He was a trustee of Lincoln City Foundation.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Lincoln Town Deal Board, held on 18 October 2024, be approved as a true record.

Gill Wilson, Growth Strategy Funding Manager confirmed that:

1)    Projects continued to be reviewed on a quarterly basis and the recent audit offered assurance further to confirmation of satisfaction with the processes that were in place

2)    The website had recently been reviewed, and some changes were made. Issues had been identified with links to documents which would be changed

3)    The invitation to Members for expressions of interest for a working group to be formed had not yet been actioned. The secretariate had looked into the youth leadership proposal which would be covered later in the meeting

RESOLVED that there were no outstanding actions or resolutions.

Liam Scully, Chair of the Lincoln Town Deal Board:

a)    provided the Board with a brief update following the most recent meeting of the Investment Sub-Committee, held on 18 February 2025. During consideration of the update, the following points were noted: -

·       Members had received a progress update on the allocation of uncommitted funding, a programme risk update and a progress update on UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF)

·       The contents of discussions held during the most recent meeting of the Investment Sub-Committee would be further discussed during the course of proceedings for consideration by all Board members.

b)    welcomed comments and questions from Members of the Board.

RESOLVED that the content of the update be noted with thanks.

Gill Wilson, Growth Strategy Funding Manager:

a)    provided the Board with a presentation on the programme/progress status and risk as of 30 September 2024. During consideration of the report, the following points were noted: -

·       The construction phase had been completed across five projects by September 2024; the Drill, HEAT, Store of Stories, Lincoln Central Market and LCFC Community Hub which represented an estimated cost of £15M, of which £9.113M was Town Fund supported

·       The Barbican, Sincil Bank Environmental improvements and Greyfriars were reported on site, with a total investment value of £9.829M and Town Deal Grant of £5.238M. Completion was expected in 2025

·       The Lincoln Connected Project and Lincoln Be Smarter Project were continuing with delivery and reported as continuing to the end of the programme. The projects had a total value of £4.23M and Town Deal support to the value of £2.77M

·       It was reported that Town Board had agreed the delivery and completion of Tentercroft and Wigford Way feasibility studies be aligned with the City Centre Masterplan programme and that Town Board were informed by the Project Lead in March of the formal withdrawal of the LSIP project from the programme

·       The expenditure as reported was within the acceptable tolerances against original approved financial profiles

·       Key outputs/outcomes highlighted included:

o   The programme had delivered 107 temporary full-time jobs, 31 full time permanent jobs and safeguarded 2 permanent jobs

o   Supported 87 enterprises with both non-financial and grant support

o   Delivered 4 new community/public facilities, two of which involved the restoration of 2 heritage buildings, one of which was derelict and one that included green retrofitting

o   Increased capacity for training purposes, improved the amount and quality of office space provision and repurposed over 300m2 of floorspace

o   Over 30,000 visitors per quarter to the new community food supermarket, which was estimated to support over 1800 children at risk of food poverty per annum

·       Risk assessments were reported to DHCLG as part of the return for both programme and individual projects. Risks were rated using a scoring matrix of between 1-24, on a pre-mitigated and mitigated basis

·       The top three programme risks reported were:

o   The risk of underspend as a result of LSIP being withdrawn from the programme. The risk was mitigated through reallocation of funds across the programme to projects with deliverability strength

o   The ability for projects to properly resource project reporting/monitoring and evaluation risk. The risk was mitigated through quarterly monitoring reporting and meetings with projects as required

o   The risk of programme slippage risk was mitigated through quarterly project monitoring & increased review meetings with projects as needed

·       A full description of the current status of all projects was included within the restricted progress report however key progress highlights since September 2024 included:

o   The Barbican construction phase was practically complete. A new Director was appointed in December 2024 and tenancies were currently being secured.  An opening event was being planned for May/June 2025

o   Greyfriars continued to progress with the refurbishment and consideration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Simon Kirk, Assistant Director - Growth & Development:

a)    provided the Board with a verbal update on the Lincoln Central Market Project. During consideration of the report, the following points were noted: -

·       It was approximately ten months since the Cornhill Market opened

·       It was positive to look back on what was in place before as there was a need for the market to be brought up to a standard of regeneration in keeping with the history of the area

·       The outlook and view of what the market looked and felt like came primarily from residents and what they wanted to see

·       The presence of a Fishmongers and Butchers was common within a Market however there had been struggles in securing both. The Market was not on its own with those struggles and the old idea around a market had changed

·       Residents’ view of a market was not in keeping with the modern view of a market. The data that was available demonstrated the decline of traditional markets which were now approached more as a food and beverage outlook.

·       Occupancy of the market had been the subject of press. Two traders moved out during October 2024. One trader moved into their own shop which was positive as the market was a hub for growth. Occupancy remained the same during November and December 2024.

·       During January and February 2025, three traders moved out with one of these opening a larger shop, which was expected, given the harsh trading conditions; many of which were experienced by businesses on the High Street.

·       There was a decline in High Street footfall and in the level of occupancy since the Market opened. A number of business support workshops had taken place with traders and the City of Lincoln Council (CoLC) had helped with small business rates relief, a marketing workshop, paid advertisement on social media, professional photography, and inclusion in the national small business Saturday campaign, along with rent-free periods in order that traders be supported to succeed

·       There would be an intense period of intervention over the coming six months. The business plan was worked on in 2019 and approved in 2021. The world was now a very different place due to macro factors and consideration was being given to how it could made to fit over the next 3-5 years.

The Chair offered thanks to Simon Kirk for the presentation and welcomed comments and questions. Members of the Board discussed the content of the update in further detail and the following questions and comments emerged:

Comment: The building was fantastic and collaborative work with traders within the building had taken place. The Market had a community feel to it. Business support and some business approaches needed to be altered. There was a programme of activity, over the coming years that demonstrated the commitment to the Market’s success.

Comment: Thanks were given to Simon Kirk for the presentation. What lessons had been learnt? Was the footfall local people or tourists? The businesses inside the Market  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

Kate Ellis, Major Development Director:

a)    provided the Board with a verbal report on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme overview. During consideration of the report, the following points were noted: -

·       In October 2024, Central Government announced a one-year UKSPF programme for 2025/26

·       Lincoln was now part of the Greater Lincolnshire Authority (GLA), and a mayor would be elected in May 2025. As such, the allocation for UKSPF had been tweaked and would be given to the GLA and the devolved authority would distribute

·       GLA had retained funding for business support and for skills and distributed the remaining amount to the remaining local authorities. Lincoln received £880K, a mixture of capital and revenue funding

·       A draft programme submission was required 2 weeks after announcement was made on 14 February 2025

·       Any comments received from Members by Friday 21 March 2025 would be included in the report presented to the Executive.

b)    welcomed comments and questions from Members of the Board.

Comment: There appeared to be no opportunities for supporting local businesses.

Response: Business allocation had been put into supporting the Greater Lincolnshire wide growth hub. The programme would be coordinated as a wider region.

Comment:  The process had worked previously. Appreciation offered for the opportunity.

Response: Attempts had been made to retain the principles that had previously been established.

RESOLVED that the verbal report on the UKSPF programme overview be noted with thanks.

RESOLVED that the order of business be amended to allow the agenda item entitled ‘Governance - Youth Board Member Proposal’ to be considered as the next agenda item.

Gill Wilson, Growth Strategy Funding Manager:

a)    provided the Board with a verbal update on the investigation of the appointment of a youth representative on the Board.  During consideration of the update, the following points were noted: -

·       The scheme had been piloted and run out of Boston and involved a youth member being appointed to the board who would be mentored through a youth leadership programme

·       The youth would attend Board meetings and receive papers in which a youth view could be offered to the Board, if necessary

·       The Secretariat had engaged in discussions with Lincoln College who confirmed their agreement for their youth Council to be approached should the Board proceed

·       The view of the Board was sought, and Members were asked to consider both the value the proposal could bring and if the proposal was achievable

The Chair offered his thanks to Gill Wilson and welcomed comments, views and questions from Members of the Board. As a result of discussions between Members, the following points were made: -

Comment: If a youth member was to be appointed at a late stage of the programme, would they be able to feedback on issues? If they shared great ideas, could the Board act upon them?

Response: It was likely that should the proposal be agreed, appointment would take place at the time of the new academic year, September 2025.

Supplementary Response: The idea was fantastic but potentially too late into the programme.

Comment: The challenge the Board faced was that the monitoring and evaluation phase consisted largely of spreadsheets. The Board had a responsibility, and the political landscape was changing. The Board needed to have an understanding of what it wanted to evolve into and as such, the topic of bringing real value to the City of Lincoln was a much broader topic. It was felt that the Board needed something new to focus on, such as the City Centre Masterplan. At that point, it would be critical to have a more diverse mindset.

Response: Irrespective of what Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) looked like in the future, there was undoubtably a role for a Lincoln based, focussed view of what the city required in order to move forward. Given where the Board was in terms of monitoring and evaluation and having the City Centre Masterplan to do, influence was important.

Comment: There was scope to work with Members of the team to shape proposals.

RESOLVED that the verbal update on the investigation of the appointment of a youth representative on the Board be noted with thanks.

Be Lincoln - March 2025

Kirsty Cheetham, Senior Communications Officer:

a)    provided the Board with a Communications Update presentation. During consideration of the update, the following points were noted: -

·       Barbican Creative Hub’s renovation was drawing to a close. The next steps were to release the Creatives in Residence at the hub and organise a launch event for after the pre-election period

·       Lincoln Lights event brough joy to the city, as Threshold Studios hosted another vibrant event under the Lincoln Connected project. The event was a big success with a busy city centre on both nights

·       Highway improvements to Sincil Bank were on target to finish in March 2025. Additional works to update the area’s aesthetic would be carried out once the highways works were complete in March, including the installation of planters, planting trees and shrubs, and improved gateway signage

·       Greyfriars construction continued with the appointment of a Visitor and Operations Manager for the project

·       Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre would soft-launch in the spring. A video with Simon Nicoll of Alive Church was created to explain the transformations and how they benefitted the local community

·       A series of videos with Moorland Community Centre had launched and focused on the works, the impact on local resident’s lives, and the activities that had been produced with UKSPF funding

·       City of Lincoln Council commissioned 3 sessions of Climate Literacy training at Mosaic. They were fully accredited CPD courses in Carbon Literacy which supported the city’s goal of becoming net zero. A video was created to showcase the importance of the course and what local businesses had learnt

·       A video with Ermine Library had been filmed with interviews of members and residents. An Ermine newsletter would also be released ahead of the pre-election period

·       Community Grcery Vouchers - UKSPF Funding was allocated to the Lincoln Community Grocery Store to supply vouchers supporting tenants in the city, including those in temporary accommodation

·       Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) Training - UKSPF had supported the fit out and set up of the workshop and training centre for Heating and Plumbing Engineers within the construction sector, to up-skill and get qualified in fitting and supplying ASHPs commercially and residentially

·       EV Training Academy and Workshop - UKSPF supported the fit out of a new EV Training Academy and workshop

(The Board were played a video entitled ‘Community Film Screening Video’ which demonstrated work that had taken place with media students from the University of Lincoln in January 2025. The video was a good opportunity for students to showcase their work).

The Chair thanked Kirsty Cheetham for the update and welcomed comments and questions.

RESOLVED that the communications update be noted with thanks.

Liam Scully, Chair of the Lincoln Town Deal Board:

a)    presented Members with a verbal summary of the Boards forward plan which detailed items of business to be considered at future meetings.

b)    welcomed comments and questions from Members of the Board.

RESOLVED that:

1)    The next meeting of the Board, scheduled for 6 June 2025, would take place at the Barbican, if open and operational. Officers be tasked with making the necessary arrangements.

2)    The contents of the forward plan be noted with thanks.

RESOLVED that there were no other items of business to be considered.

Date of Next meeting: Friday 6^th June 2025 (10:00)

Date of Next Meeting: Friday 6 June 2025 (10:00)

You are asked to resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item(s) because it is likely that if members of the press or public were present, there would be disclosure of ‘exempt information’.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) of business because it is likely that if members 11 of the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Growth Strategy and Funding Manager updated the Board on the progress of projects and current risks associated with projects identified.

RESOLVED that the content of the update be noted, including those identified as amber RAG ratings.

Liam Scully, Chair of the Lincoln Town Deal Board offered his thanks to the Growth Strategy and Funding Manager for all her hard work and contributions to the Lincoln Town Deal Programme and Members wished her well for her upcoming retirement.