Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

9.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

9.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) Approve grant funding to the total value of £11,179,793 to the following eight projects, subject to approval of each project’s business case by the SELEP Accountability Board:

(i)         grant funding to the value of £89,293 to South Downs National Park to fund the delivery of the ‘Charleston Access Road’ project;

(ii)        grant funding to the value of £250,000 to Lewes District Council to fund the delivery of the ‘Creative Hub Lewes’ project;

(iii)       grant funding to the value of £3,500,000 to East Sussex Energy Infrastructure & Development Ltd (trading as Sea Change Sussex) to fund the delivery of the ‘Fast Track Business Solutions for the Hastings Manufacturing Sector’ project;

(iv)       grant funding to the value of £1,713,000 to White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures Ltd to fund the delivery of the ‘Observer Building Hastings Phase 2’ project;

(v)        grant funding to the value of £1,600,000 to Eastbourne Borough Council to fund the delivery of the ‘Restoring the Glory of the Winter Garden’ project;

(vi)       grant funding to the value of £2,527,500 to Riding Sunbeams to fund the delivery of the ‘Riding Sunbeams Solar Railways’ project;

(vii)      grant funding to the value of £200,000 to University of Sussex to fund the delivery of the ‘Sussex Innovation Falmer Covid-Secure Adaptions’ project;

(viii)     grant funding to the value of £1,300,000 to Lewes District Council to fund the delivery of the ‘UTC Maritime and Sustainable Technology Hub’ project; and

(2)        Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (CET), in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to agree the terms of the grant agreements and take all other necessary actions as required to implement Recommendation 1 above.

Reasons

9.3       The eight projects highlighted in the report all help to support the objectives and priority areas of the Government’s new Getting Building Fund as well as the aims and ambitions of the East Sussex Economy Recovery Plan and the County Council’s core priorities. The county will receive more than £11 million of funding, supporting projects to create new jobs, new workspace, assist new learners and unlock additional funding through public/private sector contributions to drive economic growth across the region.