Issue - meetings
Future High Street Fund - (Ref: KA)
Meeting: 03/10/2019 - Cabinet (Item 292)
292 Future High Street Fund - (Ref: KA) 
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Report of Councillor J Kenyon, Portfolio Holder for Business Strategy, Commerce and Assets
Decision:
RESOLVED –
(1) That Cabinet agrees that an Expression of Interest (EoI) bid in respect of Eckington be submitted to the Future High Street Fund (FHSF) in 2020 and that work be now started on assembling the evidence base required.
(2) That Cabinet agrees a budget of £25,000 be allocated to support the Eckington bid funded from the Invest to Save Reserve.
REASON FOR DECISION – To maximise the Council’s opportunity for securing an invitation to proceed to the full application stage.
OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – All four towns in the District were considered as potential bids, but it was determined that Eckington currently presented the best opportunity for a successful bid.
Minutes:
Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Jeremy Kenyon, Portfolio Holder for Business Strategy, Commerce and Assets proposing that an Expression of Interest for Future High Street (FHSF) grant aid be prepared. Members heard that the aim of the fund aims was to support local authorities with declining town centres and high streets, by co-funding ‘transformative and structural changes’ to help meet the challenges facing them. Cabinet was reminded that an application for FHSF grant aid for Clay Cross had been successful. Members discussed the economic and other reasons why it would now be appropriate to seek similar grant aid for Eckington Town Centre.
RESOLVED –
(1) That Cabinet agrees that an Expression of Interest (EoI) bid in respect of Eckington be submitted to the Future High Street Fund (FHSF) in 2020 and that work be now started on assembling the evidence base required.
(2) That Cabinet agrees a budget of £25,000 be allocated to support the Eckington bid funded from the Invest to Save Reserve.
REASON FOR DECISION – To maximise the Council’s opportunity for securing an invitation to proceed to the full application stage.
OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – All four towns in the District were considered as potential bids, but it was determined that Eckington currently presented the best opportunity for a successful bid.