Purpose

The council has formally been
approached by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities (DLUHC) inviting us to be part of a Simplification
Pathfinder Pilot. The Pilot relates to the reporting mechanisms for
three capital programmes funded by DLUHC - Future High Street Fund,
Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund with a value of
£50m.
 
The Simplification Pathfinder
Pilot provides a simplified and consolidated model for the delivery
of the three capital programmes, reducing the administrative burden
at a local and government level. The aim is to increase local
flexibility, and reduce bureaucracy and inefficiency within the
delivery process.

Decision

Cabinet agreed the following:
 
1. 
To approve the disbanding of the Margate Town Deal Board in order
to set-up new and relevant governance arrangements for the
Simplification Pathfinder Pilot;
2. 
To approve the recommendation to set-up a new Partnership Board
with final recruitment of Board members to be in consultation with
the Leader of the Council;
3. 
To approve the projects being included and delivered through the
new amalgamated Simplification Pathfinder Pilot identified in
section 4.1 of the report.

Reasons for the decision

The opportunity to form part of the
Simplification Pathfinder Pilot provides the council with the
opportunity to streamline governance arrangements and the
monitoring and evaluation processes, which will reduce the burden
on officers directly delivering the schemes. It will save time and
resources that can be focused on delivery.

Alternative options considered

Not participating in the scheme means that the
council will be unable to take advantage of the flexibilities being
provided by the opportunity and will add time to any changes that
need to be made to the projects.