Agenda item

Jo Walker, Assistant Director of Growth at the City of Lincoln Council, provide the Lincoln Town Deal Board with an update on progress made in relation to Town Deal projects since Lincoln’s submission to the Government.

It was noted that significant progress had been made on some of the projects to date. To assist the next stage of the process in terms of the determination of projects, a project confirmation form and summary paperwork templates had been developed to assist in agreeing the final selection. Further information on the status of projects would now be captured in order that greater understanding could be placed upon deliverability, value for money and any specific conditions set out in the Heads of Terms to assist in considering which projects would be put forward to the next stage of the process. Opportunities for additional match funding or co-funding would also be taken into consideration, particularly in relation to other funding avenues and opportunities announced as part of the Government’s budget.

Given that the total funding requested equated to £25 million and fourteen of fifteen projects had been included with a £19 million allocation, this did leave a shortfall. Projects had already been streamlined, with significant consideration on outputs and matching funding opportunities having already taken place. It was agreed, therefore, that it would potentially be very difficult for the Board to facilitate delivery of all fourteen projects as part of the Town Deal funding allocation.

Lord Cormack, was of the opinion that the projects associated with the Drill Hall and Greyfriars were particularly important for Lincoln’s position as a centre of tourism in Lincolnshire and its status as a historic city. In respect of the Drill Hall, Lord Cormack said that there was no other public venue comparable in the city which should not be lost and instead must be improved and enhanced. Similarly, the Greyfriars was a significant historic part of the city. He declared an interest as President of Heritage Lincolnshire but stated that he would be disappointed to see these two projects disappear from the list as they preserved Lincoln and should be considered as priorities. Lord Cormack agreed, however, that some projects would need to be removed as £19 million, compared to the £25 million originally bid for, equated to nearly £1 million per project which, in terms of realistic deliverability, was not very much.

Mary Stuart, Chair of the Lincoln Town Deal Board, was pleased to see that progress had been made with projects to date but agreed that the next couple of months would be key in determining which would progress to the next stage, with the likelihood being that the number of projects for inclusion would need to be reduced.

Jacqui Bunce, NHS Lincolnshire, asked for further clarity in respect of the conditions that had been placed on projects. It was reported that conditions were set out in the Heads of Terms and related to five specific projects. The documentation included with the agenda pack for the meeting had incorrectly placed conditions on six projects as opposed to five, so a revised version of the Heads of Terms would be circulated in due course.

Liam Scully, representing Lincoln City Football Club, agreed with the comments that had been put forward but reminded the Board that consideration needed to be placed on the wider, holistic and local impact of the projects, their outputs and additional value they brought to Lincoln, rather than considering fourteen projects in isolation.

Mary Stuart agreed and stated that the next two months would consist of an interactive approach, reminding the Board that projects needed to be considered in the context of the Investment Plan as a strategy for Lincoln. She added that the Board needed to ensure that this investment in Lincoln was used as effectively as possible, making the absolute most of it for the whole city.

Charlotte Goy, representing Visit Lincoln, agreed with the comments expressed regarding connectivity in respect of the projects and declared an interest in her involvement in those projects associated with the visitor economy.

Leo Scott-Smith, Vice-Chair of the Lincoln Town Deal Board, highlighted that some projects had already started and may be reliant on the Town Deal funding but could actually be at risk of being pulled from the programme. He added, however, that those projects which had already secured matched funding, for example, meant that there was more likelihood of them being delivered.

Mary Stuart agreed that having secured matched funding at this stage could be advantageous and that deliverability, certainly from the Government’s perspective, was important. She said that the Board had a difficult task ahead of it to take into consideration and balance all of these issues but added that other funding mechanisms could be explored to deliver the outcomes of some projects, with support able to be put in place should projects not be selected as part of the next stage of the Town Deal Programme.

Kate Ellis, Strategic Director of Major Developments at the City of Lincoln Council, cited the fifteenth project that was not included in the offer from Government as an example. This was a ‘green’ project focussed on achieving zero carbon and a range of funding opportunities were available to support it outside of the Town Deal fund.

The update was noted.