Decision details

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Evelyn Archer and Abbott Bryning)

The Corporate Director (Regeneration) submitted a report providing an update on both the management arrangements and key projects within the Lancaster District Economic Vision.  It provided background to the strategic context for the Vision and funding arrangements, including the potential for regeneration funds to be delegated to the Council. The report recommended the means by which the Council might manage the development of the Vision projects and also proposed the means by which the range of projects within the Vision might be reviewed and adapted over time.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment were set out in the report as follows:

The Officer preferred option was option 2. This approach offered many benefits in terms of strategic programme management and ensuring that local priorities were fully recognised.  In terms of risk, the Council had robust systems in place to identify and manage risks at both project and programme level.  There was no additional risk created by accepting the Accountable Body role for a delegated fund although there was the opportunity for more local controls, which might slightly reduce risk.

It was moved by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Abbott Bryning:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.” 

By way of an amendment to recommendation 5, which was accepted as a friendly amendment by the mover and seconder of the original proposition, it was proposed by Councillor Jon Barry and seconded by Councillor Shirley Burns:-

“That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be asked to bring to Cabinet for approval programmes of activity relating to the Lancaster District’s Economic Vision instead of approval on a project by project basis to be the basis of negotiations with the NWDA for future delegation of funding.”

By way of amendment to recommendation 4, it was proposed by Councillor Jon Barry and seconded by Councillor Jane Fletcher:-

“That Cabinet approves the proposed strategic framework for the Economic Vision, as set out under the strategic aims in the Lancaster Sustainable Community Strategy document as a basis for attracting external funding and managing delivery and performance.”

After hearing the debate, Councillor Jon Barry as proposer, withdrew the proposed amendment to recommendation 4 with the permission of his seconder, Councillor Jane Fletcher, and the meeting.

Members then voted as follows.

Resolved:

(8 Members (Councillors Archer, Blamire, Bryning, Burns, Charles, Gilbert, Kerr and Mace) voted for and 2 Members (Councillors Barry and Fletcher) abstained from voting):

(1)         That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) is granted continuing authorisation to proceed with project development and feasibility work for currently identified Vision projects, including bidding for funds, subject to the availability of existing resources and/or external funding.

(2)         That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) is authorised to undertake investigation and development of new Vision projects requiring Council support, subject to the availability of resources and/or external funding, in order to determine their relevance and suitability to bid for funding support and gain formal Council endorsement as part of normal decision making processes.

(3)         That the Corporate Director is authorised to submit an application to North West Development Agency for further management costs to support the management and development of the Lancaster District Economic Vision for the financial years 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.

(4)         That Cabinet approves the proposed strategic programme framework for the Economic Vision, as outlined in this report, as a basis for attracting external funding and managing delivery and performance.

(5)         That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be asked to bring to Cabinet for approval programmes of activity relating to the Lancaster District’s Economic Vision instead of approval on a project by project basis to be the basis of negotiations with the NWDA for future delegation of funding.

(6)         That the Head of Financial Services be authorised to update the General Fund Capital Programme and the General Fund Revenue Budget as required, subject to there being no net impact on the Council’s budgets.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Corporate Director (Regeneration).

Head of Economic Development and Tourism.

Head of Financial Services.

Reason for making the decision:

This approach offered many benefits in terms of strategic programme management and ensuring that local priorities were fully recognised.  In terms of risk, the Council had robust systems in place to identify and manage risks at both project and programme level.  There was no additional risk created by accepting the Accountable Body role for a delegated fund although there was the opportunity for more local controls, which might slightly reduce risk.