Transformational Projects & Regeneration Team - Large Scale Project Update Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 2 March 2023
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 2 March 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 2 MARCH 2023 TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS & REGENERATION TEAM – LARGE SCALE PROJECT UPDATE REPORT 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on progress of the large-scale, externally funded project work of the Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team, and to highlight key issues that may impact on the successful delivery of projects. 1.2 The last update report was considered by Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee in September 2022. 1.3 The Team is currently responsible for the delivery and or management of projects and or associated grants with a cumulative value of £36m. Projects are listed in Appendix A. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee consider, and note the current progress contained within the report.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 2 MARCH 2023 TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS & REGENERATION TEAM – LARGE SCALE PROJECT UPDATE REPORT 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report sets out the current position of the large-scale projects, which are currently being delivered by the Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team. 2.2 The Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team sits within the council’s Development and Economic Growth Service and works region-wide. The Team has a particular focus on ‘place’, heritage regeneration, the creative industries, renewables and Islands and works closely with communities, third sector organisations, town centre heritage building owners and businesses to realise positive change. 2.3 The Team’s work broadly includes the following areas of work: Drafting/submitting bids to secure external funding of various scale, such as the new Heritage and Place Programme previously referred to as the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) programmes; Development/delivery of regeneration projects with a particular emphasis or theme, such as the suite of measures to encourage shopping locally; Development/delivery of a number of place-based engagement projects, working in partnership with the community and key partners, leading to action plans, such as charrettes, and working with communities to realise these community ambitions; Development of the economic opportunities for Argyll and Bute across Film, Creative Industry and Renewable sectors, with the objective of securing income into the area and delivering local economic benefit, including support to community organisations working across these sectors; Support to third sector organisations involved in the delivery of their own individual economic regeneration projects, as well as support to third sector organisations delivering regeneration focused projects where council funding is involved and/or where projects align with council outcomes, such as Regeneration Capital Grant Funded (RCGF) project funding; Development and Administration of the Council’s, Strategic Events and Festivals Grant, 16 SEF grants awarded under SEF Round 4 (2022/23); and;
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Overseeing the delivery programme and financial administration of projects supported through funding from Scottish Government, such as Place Based Investment Fund (PBI) and Islands Programme as well as Crown Estate funding. 2.4 This paper also seeks to report on key issues that may impact on the current status of each project, such as any amendments to project scope or timeframe. 2.5 The large-scale projects currently in delivery, either directly by the Team or by a third party and where the team is responsible for managing the associated grant, are included within the table in Appendix A, and have a cumulative total value of £36m. The individual projects being taken forward under the PBI, CE and IP are not listed individually in Appendix A. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee consider, and note the current progress contained within the report. 4. DETAILS 4.1 The following sections summarise the progress associated with each of the large- scale projects that are currently in delivery and are either directly delivered by the team or the grant is managed by the Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team. The projects are listed in Appendix A. Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) Projects 4.2 The council currently is responsible for the delivery of four heritage-led regeneration schemes in progress. The total value of the four CARS schemes successfully secured by the council via a competitive process, represents in excess of £10m of investment into the built heritage of key towns, and is largely comprised of funding from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), with match funding from the council and private owners. 4.3 The CAR schemes operate as grant administration programmes that offer grant to property owners to help them repair and safeguard historic buildings. A significant number of building owners have, and continue to benefit from the funding, which has delivered a significant level of investment over the last ten years. 4.4 Due to the cost of repairing traditional buildings, many of these owners would have been unable to undertake the level of repairs required without grant assistance and their properties would have continued to deteriorate. Had deterioration continued, the council may well have had to step in to undertake emergency work to these buildings. CARS grants have also helped to safeguard
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existing businesses, and new businesses have opened as a consequence of the regeneration, helping to create jobs within the community. 4.5 Such investment has and continues to change the physical appearance of our key town centres for the better, making them more attractive places in which to live, learn, work and do business. Rothesay Townscape Heritage Phase 2 (2017 – Mar 2023) Project Status - GREEN Rothesay TH is a £3.2 m project in the last year of a five year programme. The partnership project is funded by NLHF (£1,888,500), HES (£500k), Argyll and Bute Council (£300k), HIE (£70,249), LEADER (£65,800) and Sustrans (£21,500) plus owners contribution. Project staff are fully funded for the project duration. Of the 5 priority building repair projects, 3 are complete, 1 due to complete in March 2023, and the final priority building project is now on site. 4 shopfront restorations have been completed, with another within planning stages. A series of window repair grants have also been provided for the restoration of traditional timber sash and case windows. The project seeks to facilitate traditional skills development and host events that celebrate the island’s heritage. To date a maintenance awareness raising event, community engagement event and 14 workshops have been held. In addition, a substantial amount of audience development analysis has been undertaken, resulting in recommendations to support the visitor market and enhance the end-to-end visitor experience. The potential for a WASPS style studio has been analysed, Rothesay Castle has been lit up in animation, and the pilot pop-up shop in the former Clydesdale Bank has successfully continued beyond the scope of the TH funding. Dunoon CARS (2017 – March 2023) Project Status - GREEN Dunoon CARS is a £1.95m project in its final year of delivery. A fully funded project officer is employed to deliver the project for its duration. The envelope restoration of 3 priority buildings and 22 shopfronts has been completed to date, with a further 1 priority project and several shopfront projects going to site in February 2023. The complementary scheme of skills development, in partnership with Dunoon Community Development Trust, CHARTS, Dunoon Grammar School and Tacit. Tacit was delivered successfully and the beach hut exhibition is due to be displayed along West Bay in April 2023. In addition to this, we are preparing to run several stonemasonry and metal painting workshops in March – July 2023. Helensburgh CARS – (2021 – Mar 2026) Project Status - GREEN Helensburgh CARS is a £1.74m project in the first of a five-year delivery period.
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The partnership project is funded by Argyll and Bute Council (£500k) and HES (£1.24m). A fully funded project officer is employed to deliver the project for its duration. CARS priority building status has been removed from the property at 5-7 East Clyde Street due to owner complexities. A new priority building has been identified within the Conservation Area 65-67 Sinclair Street Helensburgh and owners have been advised of the scheme. Two expressions of interest are being progressed for the smaller repair grant pot. One shopfront grant is now in contract and planning permission is being applied for. A Historic Building Recording event was held in Helensburgh on 29/30th September 2022. This was well attended with positive feedback. Further training events are also being planned to engage and maximise community benefits. An apprenticeship training for a young person is being explored. Lochgilphead CARS (2020 – March 2026) Project Status – GREEN Lochgilphead CARS is £1.8m partnership project with HES (£969,700) in its third year of delivery. The budget includes £200,000 of Place Based Investment funding to help fund priority building projects, enhancing project outcomes. The first priority building project is on site and funding has been approved for the second building. The budget for the second building includes additional Private Sector Housing Grant to cover an increase in costs due to inflation etc. Following lengthy discussions, the Owners Association for the third priority building (No. 2-4 Argyll Street) have appointed a Design Team to start with the development work for their project. One of the first tasks will be to update the Cost Plan to determine likely costs. A number of training and educational activities are being developed and delivered with partners including UHI Argyll, DYW and Lochgilphead High School. This includes, planning for the 2023 Traditional Skills Demo Day in June. Procurement processes are underway to appoint training providers to deliver a five-day traditional lead working course and an energy efficiency course that includes a national qualification. Hermitage Park, Parks for People (2016 –Dec 22) Project Status GREEN The £3.7m Parks for People project is in its final stages. The main project funders are NLHF (£2.3m) and Argyll and Bute Council (£380k), with the remainder coming from a range of other grant/in-kind funding. Capital delivery is now complete. The funding period supported by NLHF ended in December 2022 with the project now at a final reporting and evaluation stage.
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The focus continues to be on delivering the activity plan and finalising some smaller landscaping and planting projects. Green Flag Status was reconfirmed in July 2022 for the third consecutive year. The park will continue to be assessed annually in order to retain this status of excellence, and also as a condition of funding. Delivery of agreed outcomes in the activity plan has continued. A planned Park celebration event in September was cancelled as a mark of respect on the death of the Queen. It was rescheduled as a hallowe’en themed event on the 29th October which was attended by over 500 people. The Friends of Hermitage Park has happily been re-established with new office bearers elected, and they are working closely with Council staff to best serve the ongoing sustainability of the Park. A programme of additional planting through the Park is currently underway, being carried out by contractors procured by the Council. All planting plans have been approved by our funders the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and those plans which affect the War Memorial Garden were prepared in consultation with the Helensburgh Community Council and the Helensburgh branch of the British Legion. The University of the Highlands and Islands continue to use the Park as a venue for practical work and have advertised new modules to start in January which will bring positive benefits to the Park and increase the range of partners involved in the Park. During autumn and winter a series of horticulture and floristry classes were run in the community room - a total of 9 workshops were offered and all were fully booked, feedback was very positive. An outreach programme encouraging people to explore the heritage of the Park and the wider Helensburgh area through storytelling, narration and comic book art took place in October and November. This programme was delivered for us by Magic Torch Comics who engaged with people from various groups to generate a comic book which will become publicly available in January 2023. As not everyone can draw, and to stop this being a barrier to inclusion, participants worked with professional storytellers and artists who transformed their stories and research into the final comic. Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme (TBC) Policy and Resource Committee agreed on 16 June 2022 to support Expressions of Interests to be made to Historic Environment Scotland for the Heritage and Place Programme, and National Heritage Lottery Fund of the Grants for Heritage Programme to support the Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme. Expressions of Interest to both funds were successful, with invitations to apply for an initial Development Phase. Development Application to Historic Environment Scotland was submitted on 17 November 2022 seeking £40,000, and to the National Heritage Lottery Fund on 15 December 2022, also seeking £40,000. The council has sought £80,000 from both funding programmes, with £60,000 of council match funding to support a Development Phase at the total cost of £140,000. The outcome of both applications is anticipated by the end of March 2023, and if successful, for commencement of the Development Phase in April 2023.
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Tarbert / Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund Project Status – GREEN In its 2016/17 budget, Council allocated £3m from reserves to support regeneration and economic development in the settlements of Tarbert, Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig. 4.6 Following recommendations from, and discussions with, a number of local organisations, 6 projects were identified to proceed to Full Business Case (as ratified by Policy and Resources Committee on 19th October 2017). 4.7 To date, the following 4 projects are complete: Gleaner (Phase 1 only) - completed summer 2019. Tarbert Harbour – shore side facilities completed in May 2019, car park completed in March 2021. Barmore/Garvel Road junction improvements - completed February 2020. Colchester Square/Argyll Street, Lochgilphead – completed May 2021. Lochgilphead Front Green – completed August 2022. 4.8 Current projects are as follows: Ardrishaig North Public Realm Contractors P1 Solutions Limited commenced work on site in August 2022 and are expecting to complete during spring 2023, final works will be weather dependent. During the period of construction the north car park has been closed off together with the waterfront garden areas and now the footpath. Work is progressing well and there are currently no anticipated delays. Gleaner Phase 2 We continue to work with Scottish Canals with regards to this wider site, but do not yet have any further information to share. We expect this to be the only outstanding part of the Tarbert Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund as we enter the 2023/24 financial year. Regeneration Capital Grant Funding (RCGF) Project Status – GREEN Over the past seven years, a total of £8.96m RCGF funding has been secured from Scottish Government to support 15 projects across the area. A further 3 projects secured funding during 2022-23, as follows: Obair Ùr Thirodh – Tiree Community Business Hub (£565k), Kerrera Old School - Community Hub Final Phase (£285k), and Ulva Ferry Shore Facilities Building - Doras Caolas Ulbha (£603k) taking the total to circa £10million. Although RCGF can support community projects, the Fund is only open to local
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authorities, and as all 32 local authorities are eligible to apply, this makes for a highly competitive process. The team has responsibility for applying to RCGF each year and also managing the respective grant awards. The team is working to get grant agreements in place with the most recent grant beneficiaries as soon as possible. The council has received notification that two stage 2 bids were successful in the RCGF Round 10 2023/24 funding bids however grant contracts are still awaited and the RCGF projects will not commence until 1 April 2023 and although detailed below these have not yet been included in the table of projects at Appendix A : Aros Waterfront Development, Tobermory, Mull – outdoor activity hub, RCGF grant request £403,500 (total project cost £414,565) Nonhebel Light Industrial Park Expansion – RCGF grant request £654,000 (total project cost £1,004,000) 4.9 An update on the current RCGF projects is provided below and is followed by a table of all grant contract awards to date (Table 1). Kilmartin Museum – Work on the construction phase started in the spring 2021 but has suffered delays, it is due for completion spring 2023 with reopening of the museum anticipated during the summer. The project has drawn down the initial grant award of £200,000 plus the council funding award. An uplift of £75,000 has been approved by RCGF, and at the request of Kilmartin Museum, a request for a cash flow loan has been approved by the Council. Storas Ulbha Heritage project, Ulva – Unfortunately the organisation was unable to secure a contractor within the budget and the decision was taken not to progress at this time. £49,591 remained unclaimed. Port Ellen Community Hub, Islay – The organisation is working to secure a main contractor and the current tender is expected to be completed early in 2023. Scalasaig business units, Colonsay - A contractor is in place and construction is underway. Project end date is June 2023. Kilmory Business Park, Lochgilphead – This will help deliver a joint project with M&K MacLeod on the proposed Kilmory Business Park. Obair Ùr Thirodh – Tiree Community Business Hub – Procurement is underway. Kerrera Old School - Community Hub Final Phase- Procurement is underway. Ulva Ferry Shore Facilities Building - Doras Caolas Ulbha – Procurement is underway.
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Table 1 RCGF Project Grant Awarded Year Awarded Balance Remaining / Yet to Drawdown Kilmartin Museum £275,000 2019/20 £0 MACPool £400,000 2020/21 £0 Port Ellen Community hub, Islay £1,046,223 2021/22 £964,005 Scalasaig business units, Colonsay £335,000 2021/22 £214,115 Kilmory Business Park in Lochgilphead £829,000 2021/22 £829,000 Obair Ùr Thirodh – Tiree Community Business Hub £565,000 2022/23 £565,000 Kerrera Old School - Community Hub Final Phase £285,000 2022/23 £285,000 Ulva Ferry Shore Facilities Building - Doras Caolas Ulbha £602,590 2022/23 £602,590 4.10 Scottish Government Place Based Investment 2021 – 2026 Town Centre Funding has been superseded by Place Based Investment (PBI) funding, which the Scottish Government has committed to allocating on an annual basis over a five year period. Argyll and Bute’s allocation for 2021/22 was £821k and for 2022/23 the allocation was £712,000. At their respective meetings of 24th June 2021, 12th August 2021, and 2nd September 2021, Argyll and Bute Council, Policy and Resources Committee and Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed to use PBI towards 8 projects that support a living well locally concept, have climate friendly ambitions, and which have stemmed from the community through design-led consultation activity or through needs identified by key partner organisations. The Scottish Government expect that any uncommitted funds by 1st April 2022 will be returned to Scottish Government. Funding has been committed to 8 projects, as follows: £80k towards a region-wide (excluding CARS/BID towns) shopfront improvement scheme; £100k towards a Rothesay TH priority building; £80k towards public realm enhancements in Bowmore town centre; £70k towards improvements to the area surrounding Castle House Gate Lodge, Dunoon; £50k as third-party grant to Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust towards landscaping works to support a café garden and support the sustainability of the facility; £163k towards enhancing the surface of Helensburgh masonry pier; £250k towards public realm improvements in Gibraltar Street, Oban; and,
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£28k towards the Helensburgh Hermitage Park, Greening The Bothy project. All the above are either completed or progressed to the point that the funding is secured. As stated above the Councils PBI allocation for financial year 2022/23 from Scottish Government was £712,000. At the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 16 May 22 members agree to allocate £389,514 of the PBI funding to 3 initial projects. The remaining £322,486 was allocated to a further 5 projects via a delegated authority process agreed at the August 2022 Policy and Resources Committee meeting. All 8 projects are listed below: Lochgilphead CARS Priority Buildings – additional £200,000 from PBI Helensburgh Pier, enhanced hard landscaping and lighting of the masonry pier section – additional £113,000 from PBI to cover increased costs Tobermory Harbour Wall and Railings, Phase 2 - £100,000 from PBI (£100,000 from CE and a request of £250,000 from Islands Programme) Playpark in Rothesay (Project Playpark) – to transform outdoor play for the younger age groups - £44,000 Re-instate fountain on Rothesay Promenade - £15,000 Aros Waterfront Development, Tobermory Harbour - £140,000 Rockfield Outdoor Centre – £100,000 4.11 Scottish Government Islands Programme 2021/22 & 22/23 The Scottish Government wrote to Councils on 17 December 2021 advising of the distribution of the 2021-22 Islands Infrastructure Fund (IIF). Argyll and Bute Council’s share of the funding was £740,000. The fund was for capital works and required to be committed via a grant contract or contract award by 31 March 2022. At the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 17 Feb 2022 members agreed to allocate the IIF to 11 projects, 9 of which were third party projects. The allocation was as follows: Organisation Project Details Grant Awarded Jura Community Business Petrol Station Upgrade £50,000.00 Gigha Heritage Trust Improvements to Achamore Gardens £30,000.00 Tiree Community Development Trust Renewable heating solutions £45,000.00 Isle of Kerrera Development Trust Redevelopment of the Old School £55,000.00 Tobermory Harbour Association Pier and quay restoration £50,000.00 South West Mull and Iona Development Seaweed infrastructure £67,000.00
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South Islay Development Port Ellen Playing Fields £50,000.00 Colonsay Community Development Company Ltd Creation of campsite £40,000.00 Isle of Jura Development Trust Mooring repair and upgrade £40,000.00 Argyll and Bute Council Upgrade to Colonsay road network £100,000.00 Argyll and Bute Council Improvements to Rothesay Pontoons £213,000.00 TOTAL £740,000.00 Grant contracts have been issued to all third parties and the team are currently in the process of working with the individual organisations to ensure the draw down and compliance as per the grant offer and conditions of Scottish Government. In regard to the £4million Island programme for 2022/23 the Scottish Government (SG) decided to introduce a competitive bidding process for all 6 island authorities as opposed to a direct allocation. A total of 4 bids were submitted to SG in early summer 22. The submissions were as follows: Island Airports Resilience and Sustainability project – Coll and Colonsay - £300,000 IP grant request. Island Community Halls Digital Hubs – Islay, Iona, Tiree and Coll - £100,000 IP grant request. Tobermory Seawall and Railings project - £250,000 IP grant request. Total project costs is £450,000, remaining £200,000 secured from PBI and CE 2022/23 allocation Kerrera Road project - £357,577.32 IP grant request. Total project cost £557,577.32, £200,000 match from previous CE award. Unfortunately, only the Community Hall Digital Hubs and the Tobermory Seawall and Railings projects were successful with a total award of £350,000. Both project are now being progressed. The council has been advised that the IP for 2023/24 will also be a competitive process and details have now been received in regard to the process and timeline for submissions. The deadline for applications is noon on Friday 21st April 2023. Clear readiness to deliver in 2023/24 will be a crucial point for consideration in the application process. 4.12 Scotland Loves Local Projects Scotland Loves Local funding (£46k) secured from Scotland Town’s Partnership (STP) has been used to develop a suite of measures to support the resilience and recovery of town centres, to encourage shopping locally and promote the idea of the ‘20 minute neighbourhood’.
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As well as having awarded over 120 shopfront improvement grants to business owners, work to date includes the following: Bespoke Argyll and Bute Shop Local Messaging (argyll-bute.gov.uk) Digital Training - Webinars and one-to-one sessions were held with business owners on making the most of Google My Business, to increase the chances of ranking in local search results and presenting a better offer digitally. Feedback from businesses was overwhelmingly positive, with 93% of all attendees stating that the webinar would help their business. Digital Photography - 125 local businesses were professionally photographed to support business owners update and enhance their online presence. The photographer updated streetview images to ensure that the Argyll and Bute offer as viewed online reflects the most current position and presents the area in the most positive light. Argyll and Bute Gift Card - The gift card for Argyll and Bute formally launched in October 2021. To date, over 278 Argyll and Bute businesses have registered to accept the card as a means of payment for goods and services. As of 16 January 2023, a total of 5,887 cards have been purchased to the value of £670,880.00. At the full Council meeting of 28th April 2022, members agreed to commit a share of the Local Authority COVID Economic Recovery (LACER) Fund to the Gift Card. The approved options were:- Issue Scotland Loves Local Gift Card to households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction Scheme - £797,720; Fully fund Gift Card for 2022/2023 into 2023/2024 - £30,000; Marketing budget to promote the Gift Card. The roll out of the LACER funded Scotland Loves Local Gift Card began in December 2022 and was sent out to 6,800 eligible households in Argyll and Bute. To date, over 5,000 residents have activated their cards with over £411,000 spent to date. The contract has been awarded to Miconex to continue the facilitation of the Argyll and Bute Card in 2022/2023 and 2023/24 which will enable the Shop Local campaign to gain momentum and support local businesses over the next two years. The marketing budget has funded the creation of 6 promotional films, to promote business registration, help awareness of the card and showcase local areas. Local businesses across Argyll and Bute were invited to become Business Ambassadors for the card, with promotional films rolled out from November 2022 into December 2022 to coincide with the festive season and roll out of the LACER funded cards. The promotional films were successfully shared across social media platforms and can be viewed on the council’s YouTube page: ArgyllandButeCouncil - YouTube
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Officers are currently considering options for spend of the residual marketing budget. The Argyll and Bute Gift Card can be purchased as follows: Argyll & Bute Gift Card | Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards (scotlandgiftslocal.com) 4.13 Budget: The above project updates are predominantly in relation to the externally funded projects for which the team are responsible for firstly securing and then delivering as per grant requirements or overseeing the specific budget claiming and monitoring process where these relate to a third party project. A number of these include a proportion of council funding as well as PBI, RCGF and IP funding. There is a set budget for each project and each is subject to specific outcomes and timelines, as agreed with respective funders. The externally funded elements of the project costs can only be claimed once proof of all necessary information has been provided to the respective funder. Each funder has a different criteria against which delivery is measured, and the council has entered into formal grant contracts with all funders involved. 5. CONCLUSION 5.1 Place based investments are taking place across much of Argyll and Bute making significant improvements to the quality of life of local people and our communities. Much of the work is externally funded adding to the capital funding committed by the council to enable this investment to happen. The successful delivery of the projects require careful monitoring and close working with colleagues, partners and community stakeholders. The continuing impact from the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact from the UK having left the EU and the current cost of living crisis sets a background that creates a challenging environment in which to work and to deliver capital projects. Prices are currently exceptionally high, due mainly to supply chain issues, but also shortages in labour and rising electricity and wider cost of living costs. The Team therefore adopts a pragmatic approach to delivering projects, ensuring that these are as meaningful as possible using the budget available however the environment in respect of project delivery is a very challenging one. 5.2 The projects contained within this report will result in assisting the economic recovery of Argyll and Bute, helping to sustain numerous small businesses, community organisations, making our places more investor ready, improving our towns and villages as places to live, work and visit together with adding to the significant regeneration works that are being taken forward across Argyll and Bute, and seek to make an improved and lasting difference to the area. 6. IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy - The delivery of these projects fits with the Council’s Corporate Plan, Argyll and Bute Local Outcome Improvement Plan and the Economic
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Development Action Plan. The economic outcomes from this project will contribute to the Government’s Economic Strategy. 6.2 Financial - All funding has been approved for the projects detailed in the report. The funding comes from the council and from external funding sources some from highly competitive processes. We will continue to review costs and assess budgets. 6.3 Legal Each project will have differing legal and procurement requirements depending on the grant funder and the associated grant contract conditions and we are working closely with colleagues to identify the support required and to allow this to be factored into future work plans. 6.4 HR - The resources required to deliver the projects will be continually monitored. The management of these externally funded projects as well as the management of the Council, PBI, IP and RCGF grants requires a significant amount of resources from the team to ensure that all the necessary due diligence and financial management is undertaken and the risk is minimised to the council. 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics - None 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty - None 6.5.3 Islands - None 6.6 Climate Change - It is an ambition of our project work to work towards net zero by adopting a carbon conscious approach throughout. 6.7 Risk - Construction projects by their very nature are challenging given issues that can arise relating to site conditions, managing contractors/the design team and associated budgets and meeting funder’s requirements. The effects of Covid-19 and the current cost of living crisis has added even more challenges both in regard to the development/delivery phases of projects. We continually seek to minimise the risk through strong project management processes, however until the projects are fully delivered on site there remains a risk. Other areas of risk relate to the potential for limited uptake in regard to CARS/TH grants and also over-run on costs for third party projects. In regard to the latter this is a high risk particularly as the council is not the responsible body for the projects or their delivery on the ground. The setting up of regular benefits realisation group meetings and building good working relationships with the third parties assists in identifying where issues may arise and where additional support may be required. Covid-19 and the costs of living crisis and the resulting impact on the construction industry and increased costs is an additional risk to the delivery of these projects and we are reviewing all costs and working with funders to minimise the impact and manage the risk as much as we can 6.8 Customer Service – None
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Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth Policy Lead for Strategic Development, Councillor Robin Currie 9th January 2023 For further information - please contact Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth Fergus.Murray@argyll-bute.gov.uk Audrey Martin, Transformation Projects and Regeneration Manager Audrey.Martin@argyll-bute.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix A – List of Council and Third Party projects that the Team is either responsible for delivering directly or for managing the grants given by the council to a third party organisation.
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APPENDIX A - LIST OF COUNCIL AND THIRD PARTY PROJECTS Council & Third Party Regeneration Projects Project Value Council Funding Contribution External Funding - Including TCF/PBI Delivery Start Delivery End - (Excludes Defect Period) Dunoon CARS £1,949,965 £500,000 £1,002,348 2017 2022 Rothesay TH2 £3,244,856 £200,000 £2,508,781 2017 2022 Tarbert Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund (Includes TCF Grant) £6,374,952 £3,000,000 £3,374,952 2018 On going Hermitage Park (Includes TCF and PBI Grant) £3,754,625 £455,000 £3,299,625 2016 2022/23 Kilmartin Museum RCGF & Council Grant plus cash flow loan £7,171,932 £400,000 £225,000 2019 2023 MACPool RCGF Grant £1,464,045 £0 £400,000 2020 2022/23 Port Ellen Community hub, Islay RCGF grant £1,365,223 £0 £1,046,223 2021/22 2022/23 Scalasaig business units, Colonsay RCGF grant £467,398 £0 £335,000 2021/22 2021/22 Kilmory Business Park in Lochgilphead RCGF grant £1,980,000 TBC £979,000 2021/22 2022/23 Lochgilphead CARS (Includes 22/23 PBI Grant) £1,806,096 £386,220 £1,169,731 2020 2026 Helensburgh CARS £1,740,000 £500,000 £1,240,000 2021 2026 Events and Festivals grants (including annual Mod)16 SEF4 grants awarded £170,614 £170,614 - 2022 2023 Place Based Investment 21/22* £821,000 £0 £621,000 2021/22 2022/23 Place Based Investment 22/23** £512,000 £0 £712,000 2022/23 2022/23 Obair Ùr Thirodh – Tiree Community Business Hub - RCGF Grant £860,000 £0 £565,000 2022 2023 Kerrera Old School - Community Hub Final Phase - RCGF Grant £427,290 £0 £285,000 2022 2023 Ulva Ferry Shore Facilities Building - Doras Caolas Ulbha - RCGF Grant £652,590 £0 £602,590 2022 2024 Islands Infrastructure Fund 21/22 £740,000 £0 £740,000 2021/22 2022/23 Scotland Loves Local £46,000 £0 £46,000 2022/23 2022/23 LACER Fund £40,000 £0 £40,000 2022/23 2023/24 Islands Programme 22/23 - Island Community Halls Digital Hubs £100,000 £0 £100,000 2022/23 2022/23 Islands Programme 22/23 - Tobermory Seawall and Railings £450,000 £0 £450,000 2022/23 2023/24 Total £36,138,586 £5,611,834 £19,121,250 * See separate 12th August 2021 Policy and Resources committee report for proposed breakdown of projects and values. ** Full award for 22/23 was £712,000. This figure has had the £200,000 awarded to Lochgilphead CARS deducted. See separate 16th June 2022 Policy and Resources committee report for proposed breakdown of projects and values.