Purpose

On 20 December 2024, Cabinet accepted the Community Regeneration Partnership funding and commenced delivery. Prior to this, the programme was accepted into the Policy Framework by Full Council on 8 June 2024 and the principle of entering the Partnership approved by Cabinet on 26 July 2024. Subsequently, the funding has been received and a Memorandum of Understanding entered with MHCLG which includes TDC as the Accountable Body.
Instruction of these early works will enable the first phase of the construction programme to be expedited while allowing time for final contract details and costs to be finalised. This is with the aim of retaining the construction programme to ensure no impact on the beginning of the 2027 Beach Patrol season.
This will ensure the project progresses, per the Council’s commitment to date and as set out in the Project Initiation Document.

Decision

To instruct early works, comprising of site set up, welfare installation, fencing, logistics, protection to public area and retained fabric and soft strip where applicable, to the site of the Ten_10 Seafront Micro Venue site ahead of entering into the main construction contract.

Alternative options considered

On 7th September 2026, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced in Parliament that a review of the Local Government Reorganisation programme was commencing and that the decision made in March 2026 for Greater Essex (and other areas) had been withdrawn in light of new legal advice. Following this announcement, local authorities received correspondence from the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government requesting that until this review has concluded, Councils cease work on implementing the decisions that have previously been announced. The timetable for completion of the review is unknown at this time.
This proposal is not impacted by MHCLG’s request, as it supports effective asset management by the Council ensuring that its property is used in a way that maximises community benefit in accordance with existing statutory duties.