Issue - meetings

AGREED that Cabinet:

(a)     note and support the updates with respect of the Sherwood Levelling Up Fund proposals submitted to Government as part of the Sherwood Constituency LUF Round 2;

(b)     authorise the Director - Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Sherwood Steering Board and Portfolio Holders for Strategy, Performance & Finance and Economic Development & Visitors, to continue to develop plans for the Clipstone and Ollerton projects, subject to additional budget of £60k to be forward-funded pending the approval of the NSDC UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan, subject to endorsement by the Newark & Sherwood Place Board; and 

(c)      authorise the Business Manager - Corporate Property to progress redevelopment plans for the Clipstone Holdings site to provide for a low carbon, low-running cost modern industrial scheme, including securing necessary planning permission and contractor(s) within the maximum budget envelope contained within the exempt appendix, which shall be added to the Council’s Capital Programme.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development & Visitors presented a report which provided an update on the Sherwood Levelling Up Fund (LUF) submission and sought approval to proceed with plans to redevelop the Clipstone Holdings site and to seek financial commitments towards the further development of the Ollerton and Clipstone LUF proposals.

The Sherwood LUF prospectus, developed in association with the Sherwood Steering Board and a range of partners, was submitted to the Government on 25th July 2022. The proposals sought £20m of grant funding across projects in Ollerton Town Centre and Mansfield Road, Clipstone as detailed in the report. It was envisaged the outcome of LUF Round 2 bids would be known in October/November 2022. The report recommended that work on the Ollerton and Clipstone proposals continued and in the absence of any LUF funding the Council utilises the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan funding.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

(a)          note and support the updates with respect of the Sherwood Levelling Up Fund proposals submitted to Government as part of the Sherwood Constituency LUF Round 2;

(b)          authorise the Director - Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Sherwood Steering Board and Portfolio Holders for Strategy, Performance & Finance and Economic Development & Visitors, to continue to develop plans for the Clipstone and Ollerton projects, subject to additional budget of £60k to be forward-funded pending the approval of the NSDC UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan, subject to endorsement by the Newark & Sherwood Place Board; and 

(c)          authorise the Business Manager - Corporate Property to progress redevelopment plans for the Clipstone Holdings site to provide for a low carbon, low-running cost modern industrial scheme, including securing necessary planning permission and contractor(s) within the Maximum Budget envelope contained within the exempt appendix, which shall be added to the Council’s Capital Programme.

Reason for Decision

The Sherwood Levelling Up proposals continue to represent an opportunity to act as catalysts for transformational change in tackling ongoing challenges of creating new employment opportunities, health inequality, lower pay, raising aspiration, and transport connectivity, in line with the Council’s Community Plan and Sherwood LUF submission.

Options Considered

It remains an option to pause the progression of the Sherwood Levelling Up propriety projects in Clipstone and Ollerton. This has been discounted on the basis that irrespective of the outcome or timings of the LUF announcements there remains

merit in continuing to engage with the partners involved to develop the schemes further such that they are funding ready.

The Council could also decide not to redevelop the Clipstone Holdings site at the current time, albeit as detailed separately in the main report and exempt appendix the redevelopment of this site is needed in order to provide modern, low carbon,

low running-cost facilities to meet a significant unmet demand, allowing businesses of various scales to establish, relocate, expand, stabilise, and flourish.