Purpose

The Clacton Town Board has received capacity funding from the government to support the preparation of a Regeneration Plan, which must include a 10-year vision and a 4-year investment plan. In March 2025, the Board agreed to allocate a portion of this funding to commission external expertise to assist with drafting the plan, facilitating engagement workshops, and supporting the prioritisation of funding proposals.

Tendring District Council, acting on behalf of the Clacton Town Board, committed to appointing a contractor with a comprehensive skill set, including strategic planning, data analysis, stakeholder and community engagement, regeneration, design, and project management.

It was also essential that the appointed contractor had the capacity to deliver within the required timeframe, as the final Regeneration Plan must be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 28 November. We Made That are the winning contractor and will bring additional capacity and expertise to the programme.

Decision

That Tendring District Council, acting as the Accountable Body for the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, enters into a contract with We Made That, to support the development of the Clacton Town Board’s Regeneration Plan.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - Not commissioning consultancy support: this was ruled out as there is insufficient internal capacity to complete this work within the government’s deadlines, and the government have specifically provided capacity funding to support the Board with preparation of the plan.
Option 2 - Using an alternative supplier: The contract is being awarded following a competitive RfQ process where the quotes were reviewed against cost and quality criteria.