Decision details

Community Regeneration are seeking approval to a range of provisional allocations in the 2014/15 Budget

(1) To APPROVE the following provisional items for inclusion within the 14/15 capital programme:

·  River Corridor Fund - £340k to include support towards:

- Minerva Rowing Club;

- Edge Protection at Widcombe;

- Riverside linkages through Pulteney Bridge to Cleveland Place;

·  Digital B&NES - £350k;

·  Midsomer Norton Business Centre - £125k; and

(2) To DELEGATE authority to the Strategic Director for Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development to draw down the funds.

The allocations reflect the Council’s corporate Vision and Objectives through promoting lively and active communities, and unique places with beautiful surroundings.  They follow thorough consultation through the Core Strategy process, Economic Strategy review, emerging Enterprise Area Masterplan, emerging Placemaking Plan and discussion with Members and key stakeholders. Robust governance and partnership working is in place for the three funds through respectively: Connecting Devon and Somerset/Local Enterprise Partnership; the Strategic River Group; and B&NES/Business West/Somer Valley Community Partnership.

The allocated funding could have been taken as a saving or reallocated to other projects. However this option was discounted due to corporate priorities, economic and regeneration imperatives, and existing Council resolutions as set out above.