Agenda Item No.15
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL
CABINET MEETING: 25TH JULY,
2007
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL
AND ECONOMIC REGENERATION
HOLTON ROAD - COMMERCIAL RENEWAL AREA
GRANTS
Purpose of Report
1. To inform
Cabinet on the current position of Commercial Renewal Area grants
in Holton Road, Barry.
2. To obtain
Cabinet approval for the designation of a ‘Commercial Renewal Area’
and provision of grants within the proposed area.
3. To seek
authority for the Leader in consultation with the Director of
Environmental and Economic Regeneration to use delegated authority
to approve Vale of Glamorgan Council Commercial Renewal Area
Grants.
Background
4. During the
1990’s Commercial Renewal Area (CRA) grant funding had been made
available to the Council by the former Welsh Office to support high
quality building improvements and to assist with the regeneration
of town centres. This initiative ceased in the financial year
1999-2000. The end of this type of funding support coincided
with the Vale of Glamorgan losing most of its Assisted Area Status
and the shift of Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and European
funding priorities for public investment to the Valleys and West
Wales.
5. At its meeting
on 1st February 2006 Cabinet allocated General Capital
Funding (C2295 refers) to reintroduce the CRA grant initiative in
Holton Road and complement the Town Hall restoration and associated
public realm improvements. Some £25,000 per annum was
allocated for 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, subject to the WAG
allocating a budget for a Town Improvement Grant (TIG) initiative
to operate in the same area.
6.
Cabinet carried forward of the General Capital Funding at its
meeting on 17th January 2007 (C2855 refers) because
funding was not forthcoming from the WAG in 06/07. However a
subsequent funding request for a TIG initiative in 07/08 onwards
has been approved in principle. The WAG have indicated that
funding (circa. £250,000) will be available on a 3 year rolling
programme, to offer grant support at an intervention rate of 50%,
for high quality building improvements in Holton Road, subject to
agreement on the TIG Eligible area.
7.
To continue the momentum of regeneration activity in the town
centre, the intention now is to launch a two-pronged grant
initiative into the core town centre and encourage high quality
building improvements, secure private sector investment and improve
the retail offer.
Relevant Issues and Options
Approval for the Designation of a
Commercial Renewal Area and Provision of Grant Aid.
8. Part I Section 2
of the Local Government Act 2000 provides local authorities with
the power to ‘take any steps that they consider are likely to
achieve the promotion or improvement of the economic well being of
their area’, provided they are aligned with the Community
Strategy.
9. As part of the
Councils overall commitment to the regeneration of Holton Road, it
is proposed to utilise this power and designate a Commercial
Renewal Area. The ongoing Town Centre Living Study will
provide recommendations for addressing the remaining eastern end of
Holton Road. An outline of the proposed eligible area is
appended to the report.
10. The
total £50,000 Capital Programme Funding already allocated and
proposed commitment from the WAG will allow the Council to offer
targeted grant assistance for high standard building improvements
to the commercial building stock within the proposed area. It is
proposed the grants programme will offer two types of grants
namely:
·
Town Improvement Grants – These will be funded and
determined by the WAG and administered on their behalf by the
Council. Funding will be offered on a discretionary basis for
large-scale high quality building improvements.
·
Commercial Renewal Area Grants – These will be
funded and administered by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and offer
assistance on a discretionary basis for small-scale high quality
works such as the removal of unsightly solid roller shutters and
provision of new signage.
11.
Eligible properties must be within the defined area and proposed
works must make a significant enhancement to the external fabric of
the building in accordance with the Councils SPG Barry Development
Guidelines and Shop Front Design Guidance leaflet. Grants
will be awarded on a discretionary basis, up to a maximum of 50% of
the total cost of the eligible works.
12. As
part of the application process applicants will be required to meet
and submit standard information requirements prior to the approval
of any grant assistance. Generally, this will include:
·
Detailed drawings and schedule of works prepared by a suitably
qualified person;
·
Three itemised tenders;
·
Statutory Consents eg. Planning and Building Regulations;
·
Proof of land ownership/Lease details;
·
Proof of match funding/satisfactory credit check.
13. The
monitoring of successful grant applicants will be subject to
standard terms conditions, enforced over a 5 year grant condition
period and registered as a charge against the property, these will
include:
·
Use of the property remains the same;
·
Maintained in a good state of repair;
·
Comprehensive Insurance Cover.
14. It is
proposed to formally launch both grant programmes in the autumn of
2007. This will allow for the substantial completion of the
current phase of public realm improvement works on the Holton
Road/Thompson and avoid any unnecessary disruption to these
works.
Delegated Authority to Approve
15. In
order to achieve a responsive grant approval procedure that
maximises grant opportunities and meets private sector demands it
is proposed that that delegated authority is granted to the Leader
in consultation with the Director of Environmental and Economic
Regeneration in order to approve the CRA grants.
Resource Implications (Financial and
Employment)
16. Both
grants will be administered from existing resources within the
Economic Development Unit. Legal and financial assistance is
also required from within the Council as part of the application
and approval process. An administration fee of 5% is also
payable to the Council from the WAG to cover the cost of appointing
professional services where appropriate during the administration
of TIG’s.
17. An
existing allocation from the Capital Funding Programme totalling
£50,000 up to March 2008 will fund the CRA initiative.
Further allocations may be required beyond March 2008 to sustain
the TIG funding support from the WAG.
Legal Implications (to include Human Rights
Implications)
18.
Agreements will be drawn up between the applicants and the awarding
body i.e. the WAG or the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Terms and
conditions will also apply to the grant aid for a period of 5 years
further to the award date of the grant application.
Crime and Disorder Implications
19. The
Council will endeavour to encourage “secured by design” principles
during the design stage of the grant process. Removal of
inappropriate roller shutters will also reduce the perceived fear
of crime associated with them.
Equal Opportunities Implications (to include
Welsh Language Issues)
20.
Providing assistance for the replacement or improvement of shop
fronts will provide opportunities for commercial property owners to
address accessibility needs as part of their improvement plans.
Corporate/Service Objectives
21. The
project identified in this report contributes directly to the
Council’s Corporate Priority of Regeneration in the Corporate Plan
2006-2010, and the Councils Priority of increasing the vitality and
viability of shopping centres in the Community Strategy 2003
-13.
Policy Framework and Budget
22. This
report is a matter for Executive Decision by Cabinet.
Consultation (Including Ward Member
Consultation)
23. An
initial consultation exercise with the Holton Road Traders
Association on the proposed Commercial Renewal Area did not raise
any objections and further consultation will be undertaken with the
local business community.
24. The
local Castleland and Buttrills Ward Members have been
consulted.
Appropriate Scrutiny Committee
25.
Economy and Environment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) That
Cabinet approves the designation and provision of grants within the
proposed Commercial Renewal Area.
(2) That
the Leader in consultation with the Director of Environmental and
Economic Regeneration be granted delegated authority to approve the
Vale of Glamorgan Council Commercial Renewal Area grants.
Reasons for Recommendations
(1) To
enable the Council to offer grants incentives.
(2) In
order to achieve a responsive grant approval procedure.
Background Papers
See attached map at appendix A (PDF)
None.
Contact Officer – Matthew Worton – Telephone
No. 01446 704782.
Officers Consulted:
Head of Economic Development and Leisure
Head of Visible Services
Acting Head of Housing Services
Operational Manager - Building Control
Operational Manager - Regulatory Services
Operational Manager - Accountancy / Audit
Policy Officer (External Funding)
Town Centre Manager
Principal Planning Officer
Principal Planning Officer (Conservation &
Design)
Rob Quick
Director of Environmental
and Economic Regeneration