Town Deal Board meeting papers 12 June 2023
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Town Deal Board record of meeting 12th June 2023
Time: 11am
Venue: Hybrid (Microsoft Teams and Council Chamber, Town Hall)
Membership
Councillors C Smith, T Wainwright, Council Officers S Oxtoby (Chief Executive), I Robertson (Major Projects & Development Director), K Blakemore (Strategic Director), P Boyce (Strategic Director), K Sly (Finance Director), D Barker (Culture, Heritage & Design Manager), C Dyble (Head of Communications & Marketing), D Glason (Director of Planning and Growth), S Best (Head of Inward Investment), T Williams (Communications Manager), T Read (Project Manager), S Cosham (Project Coordinator, Minute Taker)
Henry Cator (Cator & Co) (Chairman), B Stone (Norfolk County Council), B Williamson (Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust), S Rhoden (Norfolk County Council), D Candon (Bradwell Parish Council), H Birchell (Norfolk County Council), H Hill (Brandon Lewis MP Office), H Sturzaker (Civic Society of Great Yarmouth), J Barnard (Greyfriars Project Management), J Mackintosh (Out There Arts), J Munson (New Anglia LEP), M Whitney (Ellandi), K Moore (Environment Agency), L Hogg (Voluntary Norfolk), L Bevan (Visit Great Yarmouth), N Fairbank (Norfolk Chamber of Commerce), S Gray (EEEGR), S Rimmer (East Coast College), C Richards (East Norfolk Sixth Form), J Jay (Jays UK Ltd), J Mathers (Homes England), J Nix (Department for Work & Pensions), L Bowater (UEA), M Whitney (Ellandi), P Wells (Senior Parliamentary Assistant), R Bush (EEEGR), S Coghlan (Homes England), T Staff (Barclays), B Hogston (NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board), Rachel Hunt (NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board), Inspector Gareth Evans (Norfolk Constabulary), P Mace (Norfolk County Council).
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from S Oxtoby, S Coglan, D Candon, L Hogg, B Williamson, C Richards, J Nix, P Boyce, R Hunt.
2. Declarations of Interest
You have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter to be discussed if it relates to something on your Register of Interests form. You must declare the interest and leave the room while the matter is dealt with.
You have a Personal Interest in a matter to be discussed if it affects:
- your wellbeing or financial position
- that of your family or close friends
- that of a club or society in which you have a management role
- that of another public body of which you are a member to a greater extent than others in your ward.
You must declare a personal interest but can speak and vote on the matter.
Whenever you declare an interest, you must say why the interest arises, so that it can be included in the minutes
S Rimmer declared interest for East Coast College regarding University Centre project.
3. Minutes of the 11 April 2023
The Minutes from the 11 April 2023 were AGREED as accurate, following amendment of numbering, and approved by the Chairman.
No matters were raised from the previous minutes.
Actions and Decisions from previous meeting updated as follows:
• Project Variation Request: This will be addressed within the wider agenda below.
H Sturzaker requested the minutes are circulated sooner for information and actions and also that abbreviated names are provided more fully.
Chairman welcomed GYBC's newest Executive Director, Natasha Hayes to the Board. Natasha has replaced Kate Blakemore and will be Senior Responsible Officer on a number of projects.
4. Project and Programme Updates
Project 1: O&M Campus: Iain Robertson, Project Sponsor, updated the Board a main contractor has been appointed (Tilbury Douglas); Planning consent for phase 1 infrastructure has been achieved. The project has been shortlisted for an LGC Award (Economic Support category) and won (8th June). Vattenfall have selected Great Yarmouth as their O&M base following competitive tender process. Some programme adjustments are being reviewed given delays related to Environmental Condition discharges.
C Smith praised the hard work of David Glason, Roberta Wilner (NCC) and Simon Best who ensured a joint win for GYBC and Norfolk County Council at the LGC Awards.
Business Incubator:David Glason updated the Board RIBA Stage 2 has been completed. Ground investigations have been completed and the planning application is well advanced for submission expected September 2023. Further funding opportunities are being explored. The South Denes Development masterplan working group has been established and first meeting held.
Project 2: North Quay Inc capital improvements to rail station: Iain Robertson, Project Sponsor, updated the Board Sharpe Pritchard have been appointed to tender a development partner; Lambert Smith Hampton appointed to provide consultancy support for regeneration projects on site and particularly areas of viability and land assembly. Greyfriars Project Management appointed to manage project coordination and governance. Meanwhile NP Law are engaged on the CPO aspects and proceeding to repossess Vauxhall Bridge highway land. Workstreams on land assembly strategy and development strategy are underway.
Project 3: GY University and Learning Centre: Natasha Hayes, Project Sponsor updated the Board that planning consent has been granted for change of use. RIBA 4 design is underway; furniture fittings and equipment procurement is underway. A contractor is being appointed via SCAPE framework; bids are expected July. The comprehensive public consultation has been completed resulting in some very useful feedback on community expectations about building use, resulting in the name of building launched - The Place.
P Wells reported to Board he had recently visited the building and praised the project team work to date. The state of the building is impressive and encouraged other Board members to visit as well. Any interest to be directed to N Hayes.
Project 4: Restoration and Commercial Repurposing of Winter Gardens: Iain Robertson, project sponsor, updated the Board Stage 3 has commenced with Design and planning application processes underway. MWG have considered internal design features and material pallets, which have been passed to Historic England for feedback. Activity Plan engagement activities underway and generating positivity for the proposals. Procurement of the operator is programmed for Q1 2024. Submission of the Development Stage application to National Lottery is on track for August. Midterm Review with National Lottery held in May was very positive, providing clear focus for development stage documentation.
Project 5: Restoration and Repurposing Historic Buildings: Natasha Hayes, project sponsor, updated the Board Grant funding agreement has been signed with Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust. The restoration of 160 King Street has been completed. Northwest Tower contractors are on site with a 20-week delivery programme agreed. St John's Church change of use being explored.
Project 6: Restoration and Adaptation of Icehouse: Natasha Hayes, project sponsor, updated the Board grant funding agreement issued to Out There Arts. Confirmed the building has been acquired to commence works. Independent quantity surveyor final report has been received and project risk significantly reduced with National Lottery Heritage Fund grant award secured.
J MacKintosh confirmed Lottery stage 1 bid covered QS report, stage 2 bid has been submitted - estimated funding announcement expected September 2023. Procurement of Contractor being prepared with outline interest from 3 Contractors received during pre-tender process. Procurement tender will launch very soon. Works will begin on packages 1-2 or 1-3 by end of 2023.
Project 8: Selective enhancement of Wayfinding and Connectivity: Natasha Hayes, project sponsor, updated the Board the project remains in design phase. Trail route under review to ensure sculptures identified will connect seafront/town centre. Presentation will be brought to next Town Centre Members Working Group for approval of locations. Marketplace sculpture will be separately funded but ensure remains part of overall trail route.
J Mackintosh asked who the cultural advisor appointed were and cautioned placing sculptures in open spaces as it can detriment event space usage: T Read confirmed The Art Council and Royal Society of Sculptors have been assigned as cultural advisors.
Project 8: Wayfinding (Town Wall): Natasha Hayes updated the Board the project is within Design Phase. Town Wall repairs at Market Place have been completed under the Heritage Action Zone scheme. Conservation plan has been completed; option appraisal commissioned to be completed.
Project 10: Smart Digital and Enhanced Connectivity: Karen Sly, project sponsor, updated the Board further scoping being completed. Considering town wi-fi and parking sensor options to formulate a robust project proposal for MWG and Board approval.
All reports were NOTED by the Board.
5. Town Deal financial status report and project prioritisation
Presentation given by Tracey Read, the Monitoring Evaluation report is submitted every six months to Town Deal Fund. The project updates are reflected within the report. The Project Adjustment Request is not within this report given the period the report represents the PAR will be included within the next Monitoring Evaluation report.
Submission of the report was APPROVED by Board.
6. Project Adjustment Request (PAR)
Simon Best updated Board of the PAR, liaison with Town Deal Fund representatives have been positive. No new Government money is available, and the mechanism presented to the Board comprised de-allocation from the Incubator facility under Intervention No.1 and re-allocation to the Winter Gardens, the University Centre and wider South Denes energy cluster masterplanning. Council officers have re-engaged with Amion Consulting and working through some of the complexities around capital/revenue swaps and hope to have the documentation ready for submission by the end of the month or early July - this will not be brought back to Board in advance, as the approval to submit PAR was given in April.
7. Levelling up taskforce
Simon Best briefed the Board on the purpose of the Taskforce. A delegation will engage with GYBC to review progress to date, likely to review Levelling Up, Town Deal and FHSF projects together as a package. It's very keen to engage in 'open reflection' with leaders, officers and stakeholders on local challenges/barriers and how funding's playing into that. The delegation will include deputy directors at DLUHC and Mike Todman, Great Yarmouth's Government handler for Future High Streets, Levelling Up Fund and Town Deal. The plan for the visit includes a scene-setter on the geographical and economic context, with a summary of the challenges, barriers, opportunities, key projects etc., an informal roundtable led by the Taskforce and a tour of key locations associated with our Future High Streets, Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund projects. .
J Munson asked whether any TDB Member will be involved or support the delegation visit - S Best confirmed that SO has reached out to key Partners/Members to participate within the visit. The agenda of visit will be shared for information.
Confirmed the 12th July 2023 is the anticipated date for the visit.
8. Any other business
None was declared.
9. Date of next meeting
The next meeting was confirmed as 30th October at 1pm.
Meeting closed at 11:31am
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