To receive a report from the Head of Communities and Governance seeking approval to proceed with an initial application to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Townscape Heritage Initiative.
Minutes:
The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Communities and Governance seeking approval to proceed with an initial application to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Townscape Heritage Initiative.
The Community Development and Regeneration Manager explained that the Council had an opportunity to apply for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) under its ‘Townscape Heritage Initiative’ which if successful could provide over £1m investment in Cullompton’s historic built environment and help boost local economy. The HLF had already indicated its willingness to receive an application from Cullompton and officers had been undertaking preliminary work in order to make an initial submission by 31st August 2016. It would be necessary for the Council to allocate funds in the region of £12.5k initially in order to draw down a potential sum of £1m.
Discussion took place regarding:
· The need to manage expectations as very few applications were successful in their first attempt.
· Grants being available to provide training to owners of historic buildings and also for heritage builders to learn to use their skills in the right way.
· The potential of the Harlequin Valet site with the suggestion that the towns folk of Cullompton should be consulted.
· The lack of demand for ‘A’ level courses at Petroc in Tiverton with students preferring to go to either Exeter or Taunton.
RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that approval be given to proceed with an initial application to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Townscape Heritage Initiative and that:
(a) MDDC to act as the accountable and lead body for this project;
(b) In principal, MDDC to allocate staff and councillor time to the project over 6 years – to include Chairing and sitting on the Steering Group, managing and employing/contracting a project officer and input into the project work;
(c) MDDC to allocate some funds (in the order of £12.5K initially with the option of further funding from MDDC or finding alternative funding in subsequent years) to the project in order to draw down potentially in the region of £1 million (tbc). The exact figure is dependent on the final structure of the bid, and whether other funding can be drawn down to offset it in future. HLF has indicated that without some cash input from the principle authorities the application will not succeed.
(d) MDDC to corporately investigate drawing down other funds to contribute to this project e.g. Empty Homes bonus, S106 related to development of Cullompton, property portfolio.
(e) MDDC to consider what it can do to facilitate the development of the gap site on the former Harlequin Valet site in Cullompton which continues to be an eyesore in the Higher Bull Ring and problem for neighbouring properties. The Higher Bull Ring is the heart of Cullompton town centre and this key site could be beneficial to the economy of the town and to the appearance of the Conservation Area.
(f) MDDC to integrate the aims of the scheme into all relevant strategic documents relevant to forward planning, empty homes and property in Cullompton
(g) MDDC to obtain indications of support from Devon County Council, Cullompton Town Council, Cullompton Town Team, Culm Valley in Business and the Cullompton Neighbourhood Plan Group.
(Proposed by the Chairman)
Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.
Supporting documents: