Agenda item

(A report by Michelle Sacks, Deputy Chief Executive & Monitoring Officer)

 

Report to Follow

The Deputy Chief Executive (Places) presented the update report on the Towns Fund and the allocated accelerated grant funding of £750,000.  It would be delivered through the mechanism of the Towns Fund to support the delivery of capital projects in the financial year 2020/21 that meet the Towns Fund Intervention Framework and would have the greatest immediate impact to aid economic recovery.

The Town Board had been advised of the Accelerated Funding opportunity and how it could link to the emerging themes of the Boston Town Deal, with a number of potential project interventions having met the criteria set out by the MHCLG and tabled for committee deliberation.

Prior to addressing each project the Deputy Chief Executive (Places) referred committee to the appended FAQs within the report and advised a recurring question had been asked seeking confirmation if the funds were spent on projects did the cost come directly off the £25mil.  They did not the funds came directly off the £750,000.

One advantage was the spend by 31^st March 2020 which resulted in a number of good ideas came forward initially, one of which was a redundancy support hub for a collection of organisations, to support residents as the impacts of Covid-19 increased.  Whilst it had been considered, it was revenue based and therefore had not been put forward.

Another idea further up the coast had been a single project with full investment of the £75,.000 although it was a long-term venture.  It had already been agreed it was important that the community could see the benefits of any investment to them, and that the best approach was to use capital funding to plug existing projects to allow them to come forward and complete, along with funding bespoke projects relevant to a town centre to raise the profile of the town. 

 

Addressing the submissions for consideration committee were advised as follows:

 

Haven High Academy -  3G Pitch Development Project.

Funding requested: £120,000

The cost for a full size flood 3G pitch was in the region of £750,000 (including professional fees and contingency).  The school would be using part of their capital reserves towards the project, but would also be seeking other funding to contribute to the partnership funding required. The school hoped to apply to the Football Foundation for a large contribution towards the cost of the pitch, but need to explore all other funding opportunities.

The reason for seeking support for the project was it would benefit not only students but residents across the borough as well.  With a lack of 3G pitches within the borough, compared to other districts the facility would increase the offer of sports based events for all ages within the community, increasing and promoting health and lifestyle.  It would support good partnership working through the town board academy key.  2 letters had been received in support of the project: one from the Lincolnshire Football Association and one from the Football Foundation.

 

Boston College Digital, Transport and Logistics Academy –

Funding requested: £182,976

The Academy was due for completion for November 2020, Boston College's Digital, Transport and Logistics Academy (the DTLA) proposed to introduce new courses that would provide skills training for Lincolnshire's established logistics and transportation industry with a focus on digital innovation and technologies for the future. The DTLA’s facilities will include a transport workshop, computer rooms, a network and hardware computer room and a student break-out space. This will continue to build upon the success of the Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology centre (EMAT).

The logistics and transport industry provide approximately 40,000 jobs in the South East of Lincolnshire and is a key area of focus, together with the Port of Boston, in the emerging Boston Town Investment Plan.  Whilst many of the logistics facilities were based in South Holland many of the workers lived within Boston Borough.

As part of the work of the Town Deal Board, there is ongoing consultation with the logistics industry and the Port of Boston. This valuable engagement includes working with employers to map the current and future provision to meet skills needs, both locally and nationally, to ensure that the facilities implemented and courses delivered are relevant to the employment opportunities available and enable industries to continue to grow and develop.    As a result of the engagement, Boston College had identified the essential equipment required and this will accelerate the support for skills and employment not just for our young people but also adult learners, many who may need to retrain as a consequence of the impact of Covid19 on the employment market. The acquisition of the equipment and services would enable the full completion of the DTLA. The DTLA project is GLLEP funded and destined to support the skills acquisition within the key sector of ports and logistics.  With the impact of Covid-19 and increased redundancies re training/alternative options of working would be a priority.

 

Boston Town Heritage Projects

Funding requested: £277,700.

The Boston Townscape Heritage Project will significantly enhance the eastern area of the town’s historic market place for the benefit of local businesses, the local community and visitors to the town. Boston’s rich and unique historic environment, dating from the medieval period to the 20^th century, would be explored, celebrated and conserved through a scheme of capital works and an innovative activity programme.

The project had been developed through a partnership between Boston Borough Council and Heritage Lincolnshire.  It aimed to build upon the momentum gained from recent heritage led regeneration initiatives in the town through a previous Historic England supported Partnership Scheme in Conservation Areas and would also work collaboratively with other local partners on activities relating to the Hanse League membership and Mayflower 2020.    To date it had successfully bid for match funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Lincolnshire County Council and is now putting forward a bid for match funding to the Accelerator Fund as part of the Boston Town Deal, to enable the capital elements of the project to be realised in full. 

The scheme area included the eastern boundary of the market place, Dolphin Lane and Pump Square and individual buildings eligible for grant funding have been identified.  Work already undertaken on the project by Heritage Lincolnshire and the Borough Council with local businesses, has resulted in the first three buildings within it, at a point that they ready to be renovated, subject to funding, and be completed by the end of this financial year (2020/21).    Lincolnshire County Council was in the process of developing its highway development project for the Lane to also be delivered this financial year

Three individual projects had bid for Accelerator Fund totalling £272,250.  The bid also included an amount for promotional materials and activity in support of the project totalling £5,450.  

16 Market Place:  The property had been granted listed building consent and planning permission. It had been out to tender and was currently awaiting a final tender return.

17 Market Place: Planning permissions had been granted, the tender process was also complete and the project was currently awaiting a grant offer so works could proceed on site.

8 Dolphin Lane:  Planning permissions had been granted and it was currently out to tender. Publicity and Promotion for all of the above to include the Accelerator Fund and the Boston Town Deal within the wider project funding partnership.

The projects would significantly improve the town centre with its historic offer of the market square and the lanes.  There had been a huge amount of positive feedback in respect of buildings already completed, complimenting the historic arena with being Hoppers in the market place and the improved street scene alongside the bridge. 

The heritage projects supported Boston as a travel destination for visitors and increased footfall for businesses in the town.

 

Experience Boston: Travel, Trade and Influence

Funding requested:  £80,000

With the wealth of assets as a quintessential and visually stunning Historic Market Town and Port Boston was uniquely poised to build on increased local, regional, national and international profile as a quality historic and cultural visitor destination, bringing all the wider benefits to local and visitor economies as well as driving increased opportunities for investment.  The project would enhance our cultural infrastructure to engage and share more effectively these stories as well as Boston’s historic trade and maritime associations, and the influence the town has had locally and internationally. Critically it will also orientate users to the wider retail offer of the town and give opportunity for fuller engagement with its businesses.  It would further develop physical interpretation and heritage resources that are focussed on the historic environment of the town and its culture. It will also importantly build on reinforcing the placebrand of the town and orientating people through mapping solutions to the cultural and retail opportunities the town has to offer.  There was significant opportunity to add to current public realm improvements within Boston, helping inform locals and visitors alike to Boston's rich Heritage. This builds on the placebrand, wayfinding and design toolkit developed in the successful HLF project 'Boston: Explore and Discover'. That project was the catalyst for a number of continuing improvements in both the public realm and the visual identity of the town. The project, through its physical legacy will continue to enhance the offer of the town both as a heritage destination and also as a place to live and work in. 

The successful 'Boston: Explore and Discover' project acted as a catalyst for continued improvement and the council has invested in the town and the public realm as well as embedding the placebrand throughout the town. The town is now ready for a second phase of investment to expand the interpretative schemes and maximise engagement with the town’s heritage and local and visitor economies.

 

PE21 Feasibility Funding

Funding requested:  £50K

The project had slowed due to Covid-19 and resources to facilitate it, but it was still a project and was seen as a project seen by partners as being key to the regeneration of the town centre.

Boston Borough Council commissioned AR Urbanism to undertake a master planning excise on a 10-acre under-utilised town centre location to maximise the economic potential working closely with both the public and private sectors. This catalyst place-led regeneration scheme looks to influence real economic benefits, health & well-being and social value opportunities for generations to come. There are specific sector opportunities identified within the PE21 masterplan that can harness more value added services include a new Well-being and Leisure facility, Transport Hub, hotel, work and learning provision as well as residential and extra care facilities.  

 

However, to test and underpin the interventions, recommendations and the viability of the PE21 Master plan and more recently market demand post Covid-19, a feasibility study needs commissioning to fully understand the sustainable and economic potential  the PE21 vision can deliver.    The report would consider current and projected future uses and market demands, which will ensure a more robust assessment on uses, values and deliverability to enable a better and clearer policy on approach and opportunity.

 

 

 

The Sanctuary, Restore Church:

Funds requested: £200,000

Restore Church was passionate about relationships and about the organisations and individuals that it connected with; as a consequence, the Church had a driving ambition to bring forward an exemplar project, The Sanctuary.   The Sanctuary would be an inclusive community hub that would have a focus on supporting homeless and vulnerable people in the broadest sense; it would provide a range of services and opportunities that supported people into accommodation, into training, into education and into work.  The project had identified a suitable premise for sale on the open market within the ‘PE21’ area and has begun discussion with the agent.

 

The project sought to provide, self-contained accommodation with support, emergency access accommodation to support the most vulnerable within the community.  A Community Café that offered training and volunteering opportunities as well as a revenue source to support the wider project. A Community Supermarket, that like the café, would offer training, skills development and practical opportunities to the community, residents of the accommodation, as well as providing food schemes to help individuals and families in need. A multi-agency space where support, training, advice and advocacy could be delivered. It would provide adaptive and inclusive spaces to be used by small social enterprises and clubs.  The total cost of the project had been assessed at just under £1.5 million (including contingency)

Of the total projected costs, we are seeking £200,000 from the Towns Fund towards the purchase cost of the identified premise; the purchase cost is £650,000. 

The remaining purchase costs will be funded by social investment from a provider with whom the Church have a strong existing relationship and through whose investment they have already purchased a number of supported housing units within the locality.   In partnership with Restore, the Council is leading a bid to MHCLG under its ‘Next Steps Accommodation Programme’ (NSAP), to support conversion of the asset to provide both long term and emergency accommodation.

 

Discussions with MHCLG were at an advanced stage with final bid submission due on 20 August 2020, with a fast turnaround expected.  Conversion costs not eligible under NSAP will be funded by social investment and ensure that The Sanctuary can become the inclusive community hub its business case intends it to be. 

 

Concluding the overall projects, the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) further advised members that the Sanctuary project would ‘level-up’ Boston.  The various projects all dovetailed with a golden thread running through them, linking them to support each other.

 

During the initial stages of the project a comparison had been undertaken with 10 similar size towns to Boston including Carlisle and Kings Lynn and what had emerged identified Boston as being the worst performer in respect of education.

 

Many people in the borough, including students of all ages, had the lowest aspirations against the other towns.  The project needed to keep the students of the town by encouraging enthusiasm in learning and in moving on from school or college, to work in the community.

 

The work undertaken on the project had identified that feedback and engagement with partners was key.  Historically Boston appeared to have worked in isolation with no connectivity with the various partners.  The ethos of the Town Deal by the Government was to use it as a platform:  the work undertaken with partners and future partnership projects coming forward demonstrated that the Council had used it as a platform to promote Boston.

 

Committee deliberation followed including the following which is collated for repetitive commenting:

 

Members praised the report and the projects noted therein.  There was strong support for the Haven High project with members agreeing the importance of increased sports activities for all residents, noting the benefits both physically and mentally for improving lifestyle.

One member questioned the notification of a 4G pitch advising that sporting bodies did not recognise 4G pitches.  A further member felt an increase in the option of activities should to be provided, to include Basketball and Hand Ball provisions for European residents.

 

Further all round support was tabled in respect of the college project, which members identified as being key in skills and connectivity for students.  A member suggested liaison with Metsawood who had contracted all their logistics and transport to Stobarts and who were enthusiastic about Boston. 

 

Addressing the Heritage project, members agreed that it was more important than ever to improve town centre properties.  Citing the loss of Oldrids department store, following on from the loss of Marks and Spencer, it was acknowledge that both visitors and residents would be walking past large boarded up shops to get access to the lanes, with the challenge of keeping shoppers in the town becoming harder, coming out of Covid-19.

 

Members were pleased with the feasibility study for PE21, agreeing it would be money well spent and it would provide a guardrail moving forward.

 

Referencing the Sanctuary project, committee unanimously agreed the need of such a project. 

 

 

They recognised it would address the root issues of those members of the public who needed help, across all ages, and would give them a semblance of normality in supporting them to get back into life.

The involvement of both Mr Stuart Hellon and Mr Andy Fisher was reassuring.  A member questioned which organisations were involved in the partnership and also how many units the site would provide.

 

Addressing the questions that had been raised, the Deputy Chief Executive(Place) advised that the pitch being sought was a 3G pitch which was the only officially recognised pitch:  4G pitches being officially regarded as new technology. Metsawood were already involved and both the college and Council had a good working relationship with them.  Metsawood and the college were working on idea to provide mentoring to secondary schools for resilience in the community.   Addressing the issue of empty shops, members were reminded of a fund agreed by Cabinet to allow the Council to work with the owners of buildings, which had closed due to Covid-19 and failed to re-open, to see how the buildings could be brought back into use.   The Sanctuary project was a collective of several key providers in the voluntary sector within the town, including Centrepoint Outreach, who had all come forward with ideas.  All sectors were challenged to think about the offer, to work together in achieving a level of support from the beginning of life to the end.  All age groups needed to be considered.  The number of units was not known but would be sourced and advised.

 

One member voiced very strong concerns about the need for further collaboration between communities living in Boston and the links to educational opportunities.

 

It is noted that the following members left the meeting ahead of the vote on this item:  Councillors Alison Austin, Anne Dorrian, Viven Edge and Brian Rush.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That BTAC noted and supported the following recommendations to be considered by Full Council on 10 August 2020 -

 

1.         Notes the sum of £750,000 Accelerated Grant funding to support capital projects that respond to immediate challenges and support the economic recovery of Boston, and its inclusion in the 2020/21 Capital Programme.

 

2.         Authorises the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) to confirm in writing to Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government by 14^th August 2020 of the project proposals and that they are in line with the Towns Fund intervention framework as set out in the Towns Fund further guidance.