Council and councillors

To receive Report No. 58/2023 from the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Economy.

Report No. 58/2023 was introduced by Councillor L Stephenson, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Economy. The report sought several approvals from Council to accept the terms and conditions relating to the Levelling Up Fund grant from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This followed a successful joint bid with Melton Borough Council which for the Rutland elements consisted of:

·         A Medi-Tech Research and Development Enterprise Centre at Rutland Memorial Hospital

·         Digitalisation of Heritage Assets (Sea Dragon and Roman Mosaic

·         Integrated Local Transport – a transport hub (‘Mobi-hub’) and new demand responsive transport routes connecting Oakham and Melton

It was moved by Councillor L Stephenson that the motion be amended to include an endorsement of the recommendations made by the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee. And it was confirmed the recommendations relating to the debate would be addressed by the relevant Portfolio Holders during the debate.

Upon being put to the vote, with 19 votes in favour the amendment was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

1)    That the motion be AMENDED to include an additional recommendation “That Council endorses the recommendations made by the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Levelling Up Fund Grant.

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Debate then returned to the substantive motion as amended, a number of Members spoke in support of the proposals, citing that each of the elements of the bid provided a unique opportunity that together with exiting Council projects had the potential to provide real economic benefits.

Although some Members acknowledged the risks that were associated with any project of this size, it was felt that the right safeguards were in place and in particular that Cabinet and Council would have the opportunity to approve and consider future stages of progressing the proposals.

Upon being put to the vote, with 19 votes in favour, the motion as amended was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

1)    APPROVED the Memorandum of Understanding for the Rutland and Melton ‘Rural Innovation in Place’ Levelling Up Funding (LUF) grant from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and DELEGATED authority to the Chief Executive and Strategic Director of Resources (section 151 Officer) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Economy and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation to sign the agreement on behalf of Rutland County Council.

2)    APPROVED that Rutland County Council acts as the grant administrator (Accountable Body) for the Levelling Up Fund capital grant and DELEGATED authority to the Strategic Director of Resources (s151 Officer) to manage the Accountable Body function and report to DLUHC in line with its Levelling Up Funds Local Authority Assurance Framework.

3)    DELEGATED authority to the Chief Executive and Strategic Director of Resources in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Economy and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation to finalise and enter into a ‘‘Back to Back’’ agreement between Rutland County Council (as Accountable Body) and Melton Borough Council (as grant recipient) to apportion responsibility for managing, delivering and reporting the requirements of the Levelling Up Fund Memorandum of Understanding and DLUHC Levelling Up Funds Local Authority Assurance Framework.

4)    DELEGATED authority to the Chief Executive and Strategic Director of Resources in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Economy and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation to finalise updated baseline data including project costings, outputs, outcomes and project milestones and submit to DLUHC.

5)    DELEGATED to the Strategic Director of Resources (Section 151 Officer) and Strategic Director of Places the administration and implementation (including project delivery) of the Levelling Up Fund grant requirements and reporting in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding and DLUHC’s monitoring returns DLUHC Levelling Up Funds Local Authority Assurance Framework.

6)    NOTED the governance structure developed in accordance line with the Corporate Project Framework and that decision-making for the LUF programme will be the responsibility of Cabinet.

7)    NOTED that decisions relating to the approval, procurement, and development of specific projects will be taken in accordance with the Constitution and Financial Procedure Rules.

8)    NOTED that a report will be brought to a future meeting of Council to consider the business case for complementary investment in health provision within the County and the use of £1.2m Developer Contributions as identified in the indicative allocations agreed by Cabinet in December 2022. Subject to approval this investment will provide £1.2 million match funding to contribute to the Rutland element of the Levelling Up Fund proposition.

9)    ENDORSED the recommendations made by the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Levelling Up Fund Grant.