Purpose

Ramsgate has been allocated up
to £20m of investment over the next ten years by the Ministry
of Housing, Communities and Local Government. On behalf of the
Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board the council is submitting a
10 year Vision and Regeneration Plan for
Ramsgate, as part of the Pride in Place Programme. The Plan was
developed following significant engagement with Ramsgate’s
communities and stakeholders.

Decision

Cabinet agreed the
following:
 
1. 
To note the report by way of an update on the
Ramsgate Neighbourhood Programme, including the engagement activity
that has been delivered;
 
2. 
To officers submitting the Ten Year Vision and
Regeneration Plan for Ramsgate to central government on 28 November
2025, on behalf of the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board;
 
3. 
To offer their thanks to the Ramsgate Neighbourhood
Board and the key stakeholders in Ramsgate's communities who have
supported delivery of the engagement activity as well as the
officers who have worked hard to support the Board.

Reasons for the decision

Thanet District Council is the
accountable body for the Pride in Place Programme £20m
allocation to Ramsgate. The Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board approved
the Vision and Regeneration Plan for their submission to the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Ramsgate is
required to submit the Vision and Plan in order to unlock the
funding.

Alternative options considered

Two alternative options were
considered:

The council could
have identified a third party organisation to provide the
secretariat and preparation of the Vision and Regeneration Plan for
the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board. The council has significant
experience of managing similar programmes of funding from central
government, understands the governance and budgetary processes
required by the government and has lessons learnt to help support
the delivery of this programme of funding. At the current time
there are also no third party organisations that have the capacity
and capability to provide this secretariat function, and the risks
to the council as the accountable body are too high to transfer the
responsibility. This option was not recommended.

 

The council could
decline to accept the funding on behalf of Ramsgate. This option
was never considered on the basis that this allocation of funding
is data and evidence back on the basis of need. The council, key
stakeholders involved in Ramsgate and the town’s communities
have a responsibility to ensure that the funding allocated fulfils
the requirements and needs in Ramsgate. This option was not
recommended.