To consider the attached report of the Head of Investment, Growth and Tourism.

The Major Projects and Programme Manager presented the report on the Future High Streets Fund.

RESOLVED:            That it be recommended to the Cabinet that meetings of the Dover Town Regeneration Advisory Board be scheduled in respect of regeneration projects such as the Future High Streets Fund and the Redevelopment of Stembrook Car Park and Former Co-op Building, Dover.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Investment, Growth and Tourism.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to finalise arrangements for land assembly and the purchase of the property at Bench Street, as shown in Appendix 3, at a cost of £2 million, as well as the privately owned property at 9 Bench Street at a cost of circa £270,000.

(b)  That the allocation of £2.5 million of the approved £3 million Town Centre Regeneration and Historic Buildings project budget to finance the land assembly purchases and associated costs be approved. 

(c)   That the Council enters into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for the financial year 2022/23.

(d)  That the location of the proposed creative centre at Bench Street be approved, and the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to negotiate with the DLUHC regarding the specification of the proposed creative centre with the objective of securing approval for an increase in the building footprint to incorporate the site of 15 Bench Street, noting that the budget implications are not yet fully identified. 

(e)  That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to investigate provision of an at-grade crossing over the A20 in parallel with continuing to progress plans for renovations to the underpass and, if appropriate, to negotiate with the DLUHC regarding the reallocation of funding to provide an at-grade crossing.