Place Based Investment and Crown Estate Fund 2022/23
Argyll and Bute Council · 13 October 2022
Back to Policy and Resources Committee — 13 October 2022 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 13TH OCTOBER 2022 PLACE BASED INVESTMENT AND CROWN ESTATE FUND 2022/23 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the expenditure agreed in relation to Place Based Investment and Crown Estate Fund, following the decision of the Policy and Resources Committee at their meeting on 11th August 2022. 1.2 The Policy and Resources Committee in August 2022 agreed that officers seek suggestions from all Elected Members for potential projects that would fit with both Fund’s criteria and timeline. Delegated authority was given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader and Leader of the largest Opposition Group, to agree the expenditure on projects, following the suggestions submitted by Elected Members. RECOMMENDATIONS Members of the Policy and Resources Committee are invited to:- a) Note the projects agreed to be taken forward and the funding allocated to each as outlined in paragraph 4.2. b) Agree that should additional Crown Estate funding be advised over and above the original estimate, that it should be allocated to a cemetery maintenance and roads access fund for each administrative area (£75,000 to each area) and to complete the project agreed in February 2020 to install charging mechanisms in 16 high footfall public conveniences at a cost of £200,000. c) Agree that any remaining allocation within Crown Estates is held to be used in the event of any contract increases. If not required, this will be added to next year’s allocation.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 13TH OCTOBER 2022 PLACE BASED INVESTMENT AND CROWN ESTATE FUND 2022/23 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Argyll and Bute Council were allocated £712,000 funding for financial year 2022/23 from the Scottish Government, via its Place Based Investment (PBI) programme. At the Policy and Resources Committee in May 2022, Members agreed to allocate £389,514 of the PBI funding to some initial projects, leaving £322,486 available to be allocated. 2.2 In terms of Crown Estate Funding, it has been estimated that we will receive at least £1m funding in 2022-23. It was hoped that this would be confirmed in September, however, this is still awaited. It is likely that we could receive more than assumed, closer to £1.5m. At the Policy and Resources Committees held in February 2022 and May 2022 Members agreed to allocate funding to a number of projects leaving £397,453 available (based on the £1m assumption) to be allocated. 2.3 The Policy and Resources Committee in August 2022 agreed that officers seek suggestions from all Elected Members for potential projects that would fit with both Funds criteria and timeline. Delegated authority was given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader and Leader of the largest Opposition Group, to agree the expenditure on projects, following the suggestions submitted by Elected Members. It was also agreed that suggestions for future years were welcomed, and that it would be beneficial for any future options to be discussed by Elected Members at their respective Area Committee Business Days. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS Members of the Policy and Resources Committee are recommended to:- a) Note the projects agreed to be taken forward and the funding allocated to each as outlined in paragraph 4.2.
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b) Agree that should additional Crown Estate funding be advised over and above the original estimate, that it should be allocated to a cemetery maintenance and roads access fund for each administrative area (£75,000 to each area) and to complete the project agreed in February 2020 to install charging mechanisms in 16 high footfall public conveniences at a cost of £200,000. c) Agree that any remaining allocation within Crown Estates is held to be used in the event of any contract increases. If not required, this will be added to next year’s allocation. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The Executive Director issued a communication to all Elected Members in August, following the decision of the Policy and Resources Committee and provided a briefing on the criteria of both Funds. A number of suggestions were submitted by Elected Members for consideration. Officers reviewed all suggestions against the criteria set out by the Scottish Government, and made recommendations to the Leader, Depute Leader and Leader of the largest Opposition Group, as per the delegation agreed at the Policy and Resources Committee in August 2022. 4.2 A note of the suggestions put forward, and agreed by the delegation, are noted in the table below. Area Suggestion Recommendation from Officers Funded from Place Based Investment Funded from Crown Estate B&C Playpark in Rothesay (Project Playpark) – to transform outdoor play for the younger age groups Supportive of proposal. £44,000 B&C Re-instate fountain on Rothesay Promenade Supportive of proposal. £15,000 MAKI War memorial upgrade, Campbeltown – October 2023 is 100yr anniversary Supportive of proposal, estimated cost. £20,000 OLI Feasibility study and specification work for pier infrastructure at Ellenabeich and Easdale which would support the ongoing provision of the council ferry service Supportive of feasibility work. £100,000
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OLI Aros Waterfront Development, Tobermory Harbour Raised the majority of the funding with £140k shortfall. Supportive of proposal. Funded from both Place Based and Crown Estate. £63,486 £76,514 B&C Building Aires style campervan site in Dunoon (Glenmorag Car Park) Consider that this would be a good pilot project for the area. Likely to raise revenue also. Supportive of proposal. £100,000 MAKI Additional Funding for Bowmore Hall as a result of asbestos Supportive of proposal. £25,000 OLI Rockfield Outdoor Centre Supportive creates a new outdoor space in the centre of Oban based on helping to sustain the Rockfield building with ongoing costs met by the Trust. £100,000 OLI Island Airport Resilience (part of the unsuccessful Islands Infrastructure bid). Provision of CCTV at both Coll and Colonsay Airport & Provision of a small fire training rig on each island. Supportive of proposal £100,000 Total £322,486 £321,514 Funding Available £322,486 £397,453 Remaining £0 £75,939 4.3 Crown Estate allocation was expected to be announced in September, however, at the time of writing this report, no announcement has been made. The funding available is based on a prudent assumption of receiving £1m this financial year, however it is envisaged that the Council could receive circa £1.5m, which would increase the funding available. 4.4 A further two suggestions were put forward for funding and it is recommended that both are agreed, should there be sufficient funding once the actual 2022- 23 allocation has been advised. It is also recommended that the remaining £75,939 is kept to be used in the event of contract price increases. Area Suggestion Recommendation from Officers Funded from Place Based Investment Funded from Crown Estate All Cemetery maintenance and roads access fund to be delegated £75,000 to each Area Committee to agree In terms of the cemetery maintenance and roads access fund, officers will develop a framework and £300,000
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the best options for the Fund. This may include un- adopted roads and officers would need to seek agreement from landowners – this would be a temporary diversion of the Council’s policy to only upgrade and maintain adopted roads until the Fund is fully spent. put forward suggestions of prioritised works based on known demands that can be discussed and agreed by Area Committees. All Charging Mechanisms in high footfall public conveniences. Council agreed in 2020 to install charging mechanisms to 16 high footfall public conveniences and allocated £110,000 of funding to this project. The project has been delayed significantly due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Tender returns have been received and are significantly higher than the budget available and the Council can only proceed with charging door facilities at 6 public conveniences. It is therefore proposed to allocate £200,000 of funding to this project to enable the project to be completed and enable the Council to generate further income as previously agreed. Would be of benefit to have charging mechanisms in all high footfall public conveniences. £200,000 Total £0 £500,000 Remaining Funding (as noted in Table at 4.2) £0 £75,939 Further Funding if Crown Estate (circa £1.5m) £0 £500,000 Remaining £0 £75,939 4.5 It should be noted that suggestions which were submitted and not taken forward at this time, will be kept on file for future years and others have been identified to be taken forward via other sources of funding. Area Suggestion Recommendation from Officers H&L Kilcreggan Car Park; village green and floating pontoons Considered to be a good project and one for the future rather than this year. Community Council have £170k to progress including consultation however this consultation has
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not been undertaken as at the date of writing this report. MAKI Kintyre Seasports Project Already included as part of the Rural Growth Deal, no allocation from these funds required at this stage. B&C Barone Cemetery Path – pavement. Not recommended for funding – other sources of funding could be used for this in the future. OLI Remainder of Islands airport resilience project – enhancing infrastructure and sustaining island airport operations - Coll and Colonsay. Consider other sources of funding for this proposal. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 As per delegated authority agreed at Policy and Resources Committee in August 2022, a number of projects have been agreed from the remaining Place Based Investment and Crown Estate Funds. 5.2 Once the Crown Estate actual allocation is known for 2022-23 it is recommended that funding be allocated to a cemetery maintenance and roads access fund for each administrative area and to complete the project agreed in February 2020 to install charging mechanisms in 16 high footfall public conveniences. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – funding for cemetery maintenance and roads access fund may be spent on un-adopted roads subject to agreement with the landowners, however, this will not commit the Council to ongoing maintenance. This is a temporary diversion from Council policy to only upgrade and maintain adopted roads, due to the additional funds available. 6.2 Financial – the Scottish Government expect that any uncommitted PBI funds by 1st April 2023 will be returned to the Scottish Government. 6.3 Legal – none. 6.4 HR – resources from existing staff. 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – none. 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – the fund will support local economies through place based centre regeneration activity. 6.5.3 Islands – the fund will support island economies through place based regeneration activity and has the potential to align with, and add value to, the Islands Infrastructure Investment Fund.
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6.6 Climate Change – there is no direct impact in relation to climate change from the projects outlined in this report. 6.7 Risk – in order for each PBI project to progress to delivery stage, a fully let contract must be in place by 31st March 2023. The projects will be continually monitored to ensure that funds can be reallocated to another Place Based Investment Fund project if required, to avoid having to return any uncommitted funds to the Scottish Government at this time. 6.8 Customer Service – a number of projects provide additional or better services to a range of customers. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth Councillor Robin Currie, Policy Lead for Economy and Rural Growth 5th October 2022