Published Delegated Executive Decisions

Decision ref

0120 2022/23

Decision date

20/12/2022

Portfolio

Regeneration & Planning

Wards

Town Centre

Title

Town Deal Project Capacity Funding "Heritage World (World of Glass) Project"

Summary

This proposal seeks approval for Town Deal Project Capacity Funding "Heritage World (World of Glass) Project"

Purpose

‘In accordance with a decision made in correspondence by the Town Deal Board, to seek approval to an advancement from the Town Deal Capacity Funding Grant to ensure that the delivery programme for the Heritage World (World of Glass) project is accelerated, thereby ensuring that the outcomes and benefits are secured in a timely manner and to assist with the sustainability of this important visitor attraction and heritage asset within the town centre regeneration area.’

Background

In November 2019, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) launched its Towns Fund programme with the ambition of creating jobs and building stronger and more resilient local economies and communities. St Helens was nominated as one of 101 towns in the country to potentially benefit from up to £25 million to develop a Town Deal. The proposals, in the form of a Town Investment Plan (TIP), was required to be framed around the tree main headings:  -Urban regeneration  -Skills and enterprise infrastructure  -Connectivity  In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, towns were also asked to consider how the fund could mitigate the impact of Covid-19 with actions tailored to each town’s circumstances and the localised impact of the pandemic.  In January 2020, the St Helens Town Deal Board was established to develop the TIP in accordance with the guidance detailed in the Town Deal Fund Prospectus 2019. From January 2020 to January 2022, the Board met each month to oversee the development of the TIP, together with the Council as the accountable body with an agreed focus on developing a set of projects to address challenges in the town centre.  At its meeting on 27 January 2021, Cabinet approved submission of the St Helens TIP to government. Given that the Glass Futures project was considered to be of ‘national significance’ the Board agreed to increase the St Helens TIP bid from £25m to £38.55m and this increase was linked to the Glass Futures project.  On 15 July 2021, the Council and Chair of the Town Deal Board received an offer letter awarding £25 million for the St Helens Town Deal. Following consideration by the Town Deal Board at its meeting of 3 August 2021, the Heads of Terms were signed by the Chair of the Town Deal Board, alongside the Chief Executive of the Council, as prescribed. At a meeting of Cabinet on 6 October 2021, the Heads of Terms were endorsed, and approval was granted to submit the Town Deal Project Confirmation Documents.  At the Cabinet meeting in October 2021, it was outlined that each project was required to develop a Full Business Case which was subject to a second stage approval by government. Delegated approval was afforded to the Executive Director Place Services (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning) for their development, supported by the approved utilisation of Towns Fund capacity resource. Amion Consulting were engaged to provide independent oversight and challenge to the Business case development process and ensure that a consistent approach was maintained throughout the St Helens Town Investment Plan (TIP).  A Steering Group was established with sponsor and project manager representation from each project. The Steering Group was chaired by the Director of Strategic Growth and had the objective to ensure timely progress was made, stakeholder input was recognised, local needs and aspirations were met, to help translate the TIP vision into specific plans, to identify ways of adding value and to monitor all change controls.  The Heritage World (World of Glass) project is one of six Tranche 1 Town Deal business cases that were submitted to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on 5 August 2022. This followed consideration at the Town Deal Board on 17 June 2022 and Cabinet approval on 13 July 2022. Whilst formal approval is awaited from Government, the Council has been advised that the Tranche 1 business cases have satisfied the technical assessment requirements and a funding award is expected in January 2023. In relation the Heritage World (World of Glass) project, it is time critical to deliver the RIBA 4 design stage from November 2022, followed by RIBA stage 5 in January 2023, to enable a June 2023 opening of the enhanced visitor attraction. This is critical to maximise the link in with the Borough of Culture programme in St Helens during 2023 and to open for the key summer season, thereby ensuring sustainability of this important visitor attraction and heritage asset. It will also act as a demonstrable investment pursuant to the regeneration of St Helens town centre. Approval to the capacity funding advancement would allow 34% of the project to start ahead of the formal receipt of the main Town Deal Funds from Government, which is anticipated in January 2023. This proposal was considered in correspondence by the Town Deal Board and approved.

Conclusion

The Towns Fund investment is key to securing transformational change for St Helens and will support the Council in achieving its ambitions as outlined in the St Helens Borough Strategy 2021-2030. The Heritage World (World of Glass) project was included in the St Helens TIP submission and its business case has been subjected to high levels of scrutiny and challenge, including at the Town Deal Board, established assurance protocols and through the Governments first stage approval process.

Risk Implications

There is a risk that Government will not fund the Heritage World (World of Glass) project.

Measures to Redress Risk

Risk has been mitigated by correspondence received through the Governments first stage approval process. Furthermore, the advancement of capacity funding has been limited in value to initial project activities, that would not prove abortive if funding is not released by Government, and which can funded through the current capacity funding award.

Declarations Of Interest

None

More information

Please contact Robert Gatensbury on 01744 676149