Issue - meetings

(A report by Maria Cotton, Service Director – Culture & Regeneration)

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Gilbert, presented a report by the Service Director – Culture & Regeneration, which set out proposals for the allocation and delivery of the £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund. The report explained that the fund was separate from the ten?year Pride in Place Programme and was intended to support quick, high?impact improvements across the Borough, with all funding required to be committed by March 2027.

During discussion, Members welcomed the involvement of students from Boston College in undertaking an audit of the town centre and noted that similar assessments would be carried out across borough high streets, supported by local councillors. The Leader expressed appreciation for the contribution of the students and their tutor, and welcomed the opportunity to involve younger people in shaping future priorities.

Members encouraged community groups, charities, social enterprises and parish councils to bid for funding and discussed access to the grants scheme. Clarification was provided on the concept of leverage and match funding, with Members advised that while match funding would be encouraged and could strengthen applications, it would not be a requirement and would not preclude projects from being supported. Due diligence arrangements were also confirmed.

The proposed governance arrangements were discussed, including the role of a Member panel to assess applications. Members were advised that the panel would be chaired by the Leader of the Council, supported by four additional elected Members. It was noted that funding allocations were themed but that flexibility could be considered where appropriate, with Cabinet to be updated if changes were required.

Clarification was provided on the distinction between the Pride in Place Programme and the Impact Fund, including the inclusion of town centre and high street revitalisation as a Government?defined theme rather than a restriction to Boston town alone. Members discussed communications arrangements and were advised that existing grant?delivery models would be used, supported by dedicated communications capacity.

Members noted that organisations would be able to submit more than one bid and that support would be available to applicants throughout the process. It was also confirmed that any uncommitted funding at the end of March 2027 would be returned to Government, although the intention was to commit funding swiftly to a mix of smaller and larger projects. Members emphasised the importance of maintaining positive communications around the funding and its impact on community ambition, pride and perception.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Mike Gilbert and seconded by Councillor Callum Butler.

Resolved:

1.     That the funding allocations and priority themes for the Pride in Place Impact Fund for Boston, as set out in Section 2 within the report, be agreed; and

2.     That authority be delegated to the Executive Director – Economic Development to approve all of the necessary delivery arrangements and the award of funding allocations to individual projects, in consultation with the Council’s Leader, Deputy Leader, and Section 151 Officer.