Agenda and minutes

1.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2020. 

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

2.1       Cllr Rupert Simmons declared a personal interest as a Director of Sea Change Sussex.

2.1       Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

4.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) Approve loan funding to the value of £1.75m to White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures Ltd to fund the delivery of the Observer Building Hastings (Phase 1) project, subject to the approval by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) Accountability Board;

(2)  Approve loan funding to the value of £1.75m to Rother District Council to fund the delivery of the Barnhorn Green Commercial and Healthcare Development project (Phase 1), subject to the approval by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) Accountability Board;

(3) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and the Chief Finance Officer to agree the terms of, and enter into, the tripartite loan agreement with SELEP Ltd. and Essex County Council as the Accountable Body for SELEP Ltd., necessary to secure the funding;

(4) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and the Chief Finance Officer to agree the terms of, and enter into the loan agreements, with White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures Ltd in relation to the £1.75m loan funding for the Observer Building and Rother District Council in relation to the £1.75m loan funding for the Barnhorn Green Commercial and Health Development; and

(5) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and the Chief Finance Officer to approve the terms of any agreements and to take all other necessary actions in respect of recommendations 1 and 2 above.

Reasons

4.3       The development of the Observer Building in Hastings is vital to safeguard and develop the mixed use building in the town centre supporting the local area through addressing both social and economic difficulties. The Barnhorn Green commercial and health development project in west Bexhill is key to unlocking housing growth, jobs and primary healthcare expansion. Delivery of the surgery will also unlock and enable over 700 other dwellings in the immediate area. The availability of loan funding from the SELEP’s Growing Places Fund will enable the delivery of the first phases of both these developments.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

5.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) Approve entering into the updated Service Level Agreement with South East LEP Limited (SELEP Ltd.) and Essex County Council (ECC) as the Accountable Body for the SELEP to fund the delivery of the Local Growth Fund (LGF) programme in East Sussex; and

(2)  Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and the Chief Finance Officer to agree the terms of, and enter into the Service Level Agreement, and to take all other necessary actions in respect of the recommendation 1 of this report.

Reasons

5.3       Following the incorporation of SELEP as a limited company in March 2020, there is a requirement to update the previous Service Level Agreement between Essex County Council, as the SELEP’s Accountable Body, and the County Council to now also include SELEP Ltd. In addition, entering into the updated Service Level Agreement will give greater assurance to Government that the Local Growth Fund (LGF) monies approved by the LEP’s Accountability Board to specific LGF projects is contractually committed. In turn, this will support the LEP’s case for receipt of the final third of their LGF monies for 2020/21, and thereby enable East Sussex to continue delivering its LGF funded infrastructure projects to support the local economy.