Agenda item

To consider a proposal to make investment in up to four areas of public realm within Spalding Town Centre (report of the Assistant Director for Strategic Growth and Development enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director for Strategic Development, which detailed a proposal to make investment in up to four areas of public realm within Spalding Town Centre.

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Planning, the Assistant Director for Strategic Development provided a summary of the proposals.

The four identified areas for improvement were:  Hall Place; Double Street; Swan Street/New Road; and Red Lion Street.  The need for the project had been identified through the Spalding Town Centre Improvement Plan Steering Group, which consisted of members and partners with an interest in the town.  Councillor Grocock, the member lead for the Spalding Town Centre Improvement Plan, had identified the project as a priority for the programme.

The proposed funding strategy for which approval was sought, as detailed more fully in section 2.13 of the report, was as follows:

·       A £46,000 contribution from the Town Centre Improvement Plan budget for Spalding;

·       A £32,000 contribution from the remaining unallocated s106 funds available from the Springfields s106 agreement;

·       A re-allocation of £57,000 in Springfields s106 funds;

·       A £147,035 contribution from s106 funds available from the Holland Park s106 agreement.

The following points were raised:

·       Members welcomed the proposals within the report and noted that the improvements to Spalding Town Centre had been needed for some time.  However, investment was also required for other towns within South Holland, and a better relationship with Parish Councils was needed to assist in accessing funding.  Members were reminded that the recently awarded UKSPF funding would provide the opportunity for Parish Councils to bid for monies, and that they would shortly be able to attend a briefing which would explain how they could do this.

·       Members raised the importance of all relevant groups working together on the subject of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) – the issues of town improvement and TROs were linked and one could not be done without the other.

·       The importance of proceeding promptly with the town centre improvements was highlighted. The funding provided a finite amount of money and inflationary rises would only make goods and services more expensive going forward.  It was also important to ensure that improvements were undertaken in a strategic and joined-up manner.

DECISION:

1)    That the proposals contained within the report in respect of the ambition to make improvements to four areas of public realm within Spalding Town Centre be approved;

2)    That the funding strategy as set out within the report, including the reassignment of £57,000 in s106 funds as historically agreed in 2014 for investment in Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens, be endorsed for the proposed public realm project; and

3)    That the capital project of £282,935 and associated funding strategy be included in the Council’s proposed 2023/24 capital budget, to be presented to Full Council on 2 March 2023.

(Other options considered:

·       To do nothing – Under this option, the proposal to create a budget to make improvements to up to four areas of existing public realm in Spalding Town Centre would not proceed;

Reasons for decision:

·       To progress plans to make improvements to up to four areas of existing public realm in Spalding Town Centre).