Report to follow.

1.     That the submission of the ten-year Regeneration Plan and Vision for Skegness, attached at Appendix 2 of the report referred be approved.

2.     That the proposed four year investment plan profile for Skegness as set out at Sections 3 and 4 in the report be approved.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Development, in consultation with the Chair of the Skegness Neighbourhood Board, Section 151 Officer and Coastal Economy Portfolio Holder to agree any further amendments to the final draft Regeneration Plan and Investment Profile during the submission and assessment phase with UK Government.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer to approve the submission of the Pride in Place Programme information for Skegness to UK Government by the 28th November.

A report was submitted to consider approval for the submission of a new ten-year Regeneration Plan and four-year investment profile for Skegness under the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme (formerly Plan for Neighbourhoods).

During his introduction of the report, the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy advised Members that the programme requirements to date had been designed and developed under the previous Government guidance within the Long Term Plan for Towns and Plan for Neighbourhoods prospectuses, prior to a new overarching Pride in Place Strategy being launched on the 25th September 2025.

The Skegness Neighbourhood Board was responsible for delivery of the programme and the allocation of funding to be awarded under to individual projects and organisations.  The local authority was required to work in partnership with the Neighbourhood Board as the lead accountable body to support the programme development and delivery and to ensure compliant use, procurement and expenditure of public funds.  The key investment principles underpinning the submission documents had already been approved by the Skegness Neighbourhood Board on the 27^th October 2025.

The Pride in Place programme would deliver new grant supported activities from April 2026, providing up to £20million of new investment over the next ten financial years.  The allocation in the first financial year was the lowest across the ten year programme at c£600K (rising to c£2m per annum from April 2028).  75% of the funding received under the programme must be spent on eligible capital works.  In addition to the submission documents, the Council’s delivery support team was also working with the Neighbourhood Board to establish a robust assessment framework that would be used to consider any future funding allocations towards individual projects.  This would ensure that the funding awarded was aligned to the programme objectives and community aspirations.  It would also consider the level of additional match funding that could be secured and released alongside the Pride in Place funding and the extent to which the impact and activity supported would be sustainable beyond any initial grant funded period.

The Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy emphasised that the Pride in Place initiative was not about constructing large, high-profile developments but about delivering improvements that met the needs and aspirations of local communities.

Engagement had been extensive and activities included outreach in schools, church halls, shopping centres, local councils, and community events.  Feedback received from residents was reassuring and centred on priorities such as clean, well-presented towns, safety, vibrancy, and opportunities for young people.  He stressed that the programme reflected long-standing priorities, focusing on practical improvements that mattered to residents, for example adequate bins, benches, and clean streets, while recognising that small changes could have a major impact on community pride, economic activity, and social wellbeing.  The Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy expressed his strong personal commitment to delivering the programme effectively and praised the officer team for their work in supporting this vision.

The full background and details were included at Sections 1 to 5 of the report, pages 3 to 10 of the Supplementary Agenda refer.

Members were invited to put their comments forward.

The Portfolio Holder for Partnerships stated that the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy had summarised the matter effectively and expressed enthusiasm for the proposal, describing it as an exciting and positive step forward.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing Communities and Better Ageing also endorsed the proposal, noting that the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy’s comments reflected the importance of delivering what communities wanted.  He highlighted that the report demonstrated significant engagement with residents and that the programme offered a substantial opportunity for focused investment over a ten-year period.  He further emphasised that the fund was designed to address priorities identified by the community, and that even relatively modest investments could make a meaningful difference when targeted effectively.  He concluded by commending the approach taken and reaffirming his support.

The Deputy Leader of the Council expressed full support for the proposal and endorsed the points made by the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy, describing the initiative as an exciting opportunity for Skegness and noted that the programme represented a significant investment in the town and welcomed its potential benefits.

The Deputy Leader of the Council raised one concern regarding the sustainability of certain elements, such as shopfront renewal and tidying projects, which may require ongoing funding beyond the initial allocation.  He suggested that future planning should consider larger, long-term investments, such as mechanical street sweepers, to maintain cleanliness effectively.  He emphasised that such equipment, although costly, would deliver lasting benefits compared to one-off interventions.

In conclusion, the Deputy Leader of the Council reiterated his strong support for the programme, describing it as a positive step toward building a better future for Skegness and the wider district, regardless of the outcome of Local Government Reorganisation.

In response, the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy emphasised that the initiative was designed as a ten-year programme.  He explained that while initial phases may involve contractors delivering significant improvements, later stages could include investment in equipment such as towable pressure washers to enable ongoing maintenance.  The Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy stressed that this was the starting point of a long-term strategy and should not be viewed as a final stage, reaffirming that the programme was intended to deliver sustained benefits over time.

RESOLVED

1.     That the submission of the ten-year Regeneration Plan and Vision for Skegness, attached at Appendix 2 of the report referred be approved.

2.     That the proposed four year investment plan profile for Skegness as set out at Sections 3 and 4 in the report be approved.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Development, in consultation with the Chair of the Skegness Neighbourhood Board, Section 151 Officer and Coastal Economy Portfolio Holder to agree any further amendments to the final draft Regeneration Plan and Investment Profile during the submission and assessment phase with UK Government.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer to approve the submission of the Pride in Place Programme information for Skegness to UK Government by the 28th November.

Reasons

• To enable the Council to proceed with the Pride in Place Programme submission requirements of the UK Government’s by the deadline of midday on the 28^th November 2025
• To provide an efficient mechanism for the Council to respond to any additional queries or required amendments arising during the UK Government’s assessment process of the submitted information for Skegness.
• The additional resources available under the Pride in Place Programme provide an opportunity to support delivery of a number of established corporate priorities and objectives, including those identified within the Growth and Prosperity Plan and the SELCP Cultural Framework.

Other options

·       To not participate in the Pride in Place Programme for Skegness

·       To seek an alternative accountable body structure to deliver the funding programme