Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

14.2     RESOLVED to (1) Subject to the project receiving approval by the SE LEP Accountability Board:

a.         approve East Sussex County Council acting as local accountable body for the Housing Coastal Communities Intervention Project;

b.         approve grant funding to the value of £666,000 to Hastings Borough Council to fund the delivery of the East Sussex element of the Coastal Communities Housing Intervention Project; and

(2) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve the terms of any legal agreements and to take all other necessary actions in respect of resolutions 1a and 1b above.

Reasons

14.3     The St Leonards area has been a strategic priority for Hastings Borough Council (HBC) for many years reflecting the high level of deprivation in the area, associated with poor housing conditions, particularly linked to: high levels of private renting; a large population of people on benefit; a wide range of social needs; and high levels of anti-social behaviour and crime.

14.4     The Hastings Coastal Communities Intervention Project and its stated components will build on previous Local Growth Fund, Growing Places Fund and other County Council and HBC strategic investments, to reinvigorate the local economy, help address the broken housing market in the area and encourage greater levels of private sector investment.