RESOLVED that Cabinet: -
(a) Approved delivery of the Coastal Communities Seafront Infrastructure Project as set out in the DHULC Levelling Up Funding award to BCP Council;
(b) Delegated authority to the Service Director for Commercial Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Operations to spend and deliver the £19.9m project; and
(c) Agree an update on delivery progress to Cabinet in September 2024
Voting: Unanimous
Portfolio Holder: Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities
Reasons
BCP Council has formally accepted the grant offer from DHULC. 100% externally funded, the programme delivers monetised benefits of £105,866,082 and a projected benefit to cost ratio of 4.65. Investments will reduce seafront maintenance (revenue pressure) and unlock commercial growth (revenue growth). In order to maintain progress on the project interventions, which have a funding requirement to complete by March 2025, approval is required by 6th September. Risk to approval delay will result in the programme timeline being unachievable and risk funding having to be returned to Government.