Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided details of Medway’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) Bid – New Routes to Good Growth, which planned for much needed infrastructure to enable growth in and around the Hoo Peninsula and waterfront regeneration sites and sought approval for the submission of the Bid for up to £170million on 1 March 2019.

The report detailed the current estimated costs of the deliverables within the bid but it was noted that the figures may vary slightly prior to submission as work was ongoing with the business case, which would calculate the value for money and benefit versus cost ratio.  Therefore the report sought delegated authority to the Director Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader to agree the final HIF Bid for submission on 1 March 2019 and also to make any required changes following submission.

It was noted that in line with rule 15.11 of Chapter 4, Part 5 of the Constitution, call-in could be waived where any delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interests. In this case, the bid business case and bid submission would need to be completed and uploaded to the HIF Portal from mid-late February to ensure that all documents are received prior to the 1 March 2019 submission date. The Chairman of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that the decisions proposed were reasonable in all the circumstances and to them being treated as a matter of urgency and to waive call-in.

Reasons:

To enable the HIF Bid to be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on time.

To secure funding for the future infrastructure required to enable the development of 12,100 homes by 2043 on the Hoo Peninsula.