To consider approval of the East Lindsey Investment Fund Plan.

1.    That the principles in the East Lindsey Investment Fund Plan, as detailed in this report to guide the allocation of funding and resources be approved.

2.    That the allocation of the East Lindsey Investment Fund for each theme – Pride in Place; Tourism and Events; Community Development; Business Growth and Development be approved.

3.    That the Assistant Director theme lead in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be delegated authority to utilise the Investment Fund to support enabling activity, including the procurement and appointment of consultants/contractors, provide staffing resource and delivery of pilot projects to support the development of action plans relevant to each theme.

4.    That an allocation of up to 5% of the Investment Fund to support the enabling activity be approved.

5.    That the Director for Economic Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and the Rural Economy be delegated authority to support the establishment, administration and Terms of Reference for a Market and Inland Towns Group – the Connected Wolds – to support engagement with businesses, local communities and town/parish councils.

6.    That an allocation of up to 2% of the Investment Fund to resource and support the Groups (Connected Wolds and Connected Coast), which will include, but not be limited to, enabling engagement with businesses, local communities and town/parish councils, and supporting the establishment of a new Market and Inland Towns Group be approved.

A report was presented to seek approval of the East Lindsey Investment Fund Plan.

As set out in the report, the Plan provided the principles for investment and the themes for the allocation of funding. The programme would focus on delivery, build capacity and committed to an inclusive and collaborative approach that would benefit the whole District and work in partnership with communities, town and parish councils and local businesses.

The East Lindsey Investment Fund Plan had been developed to support the delivery of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Growth and Prosperity Plan, and in accordance with the Corporate Priorities Reserve areas of focus.

During his introduction of the report, the Leader of the Council stated that he was very pleased to present a paper that would change the lives of residents and communities and passed his thanks to the Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy and the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy for their support and work on the plan.

The Leader of the Council highlighted that this was a significant amount of investment with £10m of funding from the corporate priorities reserve looking to making ELDC’s places welcoming, supporting events and markets that people enjoyed, attracting visitors, community development, supporting business growth and development for the benefit of all communities.

The Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy stated that he was delighted to part present the paper and that significant funding was being allocated to the entire district to have as much impact in the inland areas in the market towns, the same way towns funding projects had made on the coast.  Furthermore, it was important to support communities and the small community groups and those small villages and hamlets that made up large areas of East Lindsey.  The Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy added that he was pleased to see the establishment of a Market and Inland Towns Group ‘the Connected Wolds’ to support engagement with businesses, local communities and town/parish councils and to learn lessons from the Connected Coast Board on what worked well to feed into the new group so that some momentum could be got behind this as quickly as possible.

The Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy highlighted that since the inception of the Council and in its landmark 50^th year, he was not aware that this amount of investment had ever been made in the market towns.  He commented that this was down to the careful management of the Council’s funds and hoped that the new Market and Inland Towns Group would be successful in securing a large amount of external funding.  He added that East Lindsey was a special area, with its heritage, traditions and people that should be celebrated and was very happy to support the paper.

In summary, the Leader of the Council highlighted that this plan affected all communities, not just those identified in the report and pointed out that an uplift to a hamlet would be entirely different  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20