Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to update Cabinet on the Future High Street Fund final bid documentation for the town of March.

Appendix B comprises exempt information - to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: "that the public be excluded from the meeting for Items which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated."

Councillor Boden asked members to determine whether Annexe G of the report, which contains information considered exempt under Schedule 3 of Paragraph 12a of the Local Government Act 1972, should be exempt thereby excluding the press and public from the meeting should it be discussed, or whether the public interest in disclosing this information outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption. The confidential motion was agreed.

Members considered the March Future High Street Fund Bid report presented by Councillor Seaton. 

Councillor Seaton welcomed several members of the project group who have worked on the bid and are available to answer any questions, namely Steve Rosevear from Hatch Regeneris, the lead consultants, Ross Ingham, from Ingham Pinnock, supporting consultants, and from FDC, Phil Hughes and Simon Machen, Interim Corporate Director.  Councillor Seaton reiterated that this is a once in a generation opportunity to bring considerable positive change to March town centre.

Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Seaton. 

Councillor Mrs French thanked Councillor Seaton for the comprehensive summary and agreed it is once in a lifetime opportunity. She said that we are fortunate that March currently has four ongoing projects all interlinking, there being one particular bid that we could not pursue on its own. These include the High Street bid, Growing Fenland and the March Area Transport Study. Councillor Mrs French added she had a slight concern with the interlinking of the Transport Study with regard to March market place and Broad Street. However, the Transport Study is going out for a six-week consultation this week until 28^th June and it will be interesting to see the comments received from members of the public and they will be encouraged to support all these schemes. 

Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Mrs French and asked all members, officers and consultants if they had any comments to make based on Councillor Mrs French’s concern regarding the market place. There were no additional comments. 

Councillor Sam Hoy said it was a very good report; she enjoyed reading it and if she lived in March would be excited by the proposals. Generally in other towns there have been visions and strategies whereas this report gives actual projects, costs and timescales and is the sort of document that we need to be working from in every town. 

Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Hoy and asked if anyone had anything to add to her comments. Ross Ingham said he could only reiterate Councillor Seaton’s comment upon presentation of the report that the scale of investment on offer from the MHCLG is unprecedented in these challenging times for market towns the size of March. He added that the Hatch Regeneris team had gone into such great detail that this could only be of benefit to the bid, so he is glad to hear that councillors are recognising the opportunity it represents.

Councillor Boden thanked Ross Ingham and also all who had been involved in the production of the report; this had involved a lot of hard work over a long period of time.

Cllr Seaton concurred with Councillor Boden; a lot of hard work has gone into the proposal and everyone involved should be congratulated on the amount of work and time put into it and we can only hope the bid is successful. 

Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Seaton, adding that he was grateful members had not felt it necessary to discuss the confidential appendix and therefore take the item into a closed session. 

Cabinet AGREED to note the bid document attached to the report and to authorise the Chief Executive to submit the bid to MHCLG, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Social Mobility and Heritage, once the final aspects of the bid has been included.

(Councillor Mrs French declared a non-pecuniary interest, stating for the record that she had a lot of involvement with the High Street bid).