(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hanson)
Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning) to report on implementing the Morecambe Area Action Plan MAAP) and decide on specific expenditures by the City Council towards this from the established MAAP Implementation Reserve.
The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:
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Option 1:Authorise use of the Implementation Reserve as set out in this report |
Option 2:Decline to authorise use of the Reserve as set out. |
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Advantages |
Consistent with the MAAP and so assists regeneration. Makes clear what the council can and cannot do towards MAAP implementation up to March 2016 and so giving certainty to others. Specifically, the new bus and coach parking facilities should be in place for the 2015 season. |
None. |
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Disadvantages |
None |
Does not assist timely and joined up MAAP implementation. Shows no leadership and gives no certainty. Will not assist in securing external funding for further regeneration and increasing private sector investments into the future. |
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Risks |
Risks are as for MAAP implementation generally. This includes the residual risk that improving conditions for the private sector will not be matched by subsequent investment, however, this is unavoidable. The MAAP is an integrated spatial plan with many dependencies. There is a risk that unless sufficient activity is undertaken, the full benefits will not be achieved and other regeneration activity will be impaired. Furthermore, clearly there is funding risk attached to the actions planned post 2016. |
Will likely prejudice wider partnership working and impair regeneration. |
Option 1 is preferred as consistent with the needs for MAAP implementation and regeneration.
Councillor Hanson proposed, seconded by Councillor David Smith:-
“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”
Councillors then voted:-
Resolved unanimously:
(1) That the MAAP implementation activities as set out in the report be approved.
(2) That delegated authority be given to the Chief Officer (Resources) to allocate £110K from the MAAP Implementation Reserve and update the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme once profiling of expenditure is known between the 2014/15 and 2015/16 financial years.
(3) That officers be requested to seek to secure additional contributions for the MAAP implementation Reserve from external funding sources towards further implementation of the MAAP.
Note: Having left the meeting during discussion of this issue Councillor Barry did not vote on this item.
Officers responsible for effecting the decision:
Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning)
Chief Officer (Resources)
Reasons for making the decision:
The MAAP is part of the Local Plan which is part of the policy framework. The decision enables the use of limited Council financial resources and capacities to further the regeneration of central Morecambe and particularly its town centre, fitting to the MAAP.