Decision details

To consider East Sussex County Council entering into legal agreements for Rother and Hastings Levelling Up Partnership projects.

38.1     The Leader and Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

38.2     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the Levelling Up Partnership (LUP) funding being awarded to both Hastings and Rother which includes funds allocated to East Sussex County Council led projects, subject to approval and confirmation from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC);

(2) Agree the proposal for East Sussex County Council to be the Accountable Body for County Council led projects and for any external led projects;

(3) Subject to approval and confirmation from DLUHC, agree that East Sussex County Council enters into any required legal agreements with Government in respect of the Hastings and Rother LUPs; and

(4) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services where appropriate, to agree the terms of such legal agreements and to take any other actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report.

REASONS

38.3     The Government’s Levelling Up Partnerships will bring benefits to Rother and Hastings through 2024/25.

38.4     Although working to a tight programme, with further details still emerging, the opportunity for the County Council to access LUP funding has provided an avenue for delivering priority projects for the county that otherwise either might not have been able to proceed or would have required direct County Council spending at a time when resources are stretched.