Purpose

A report was presented to
Cabinet setting out the progress of the project to award a port
operator concession contract at the Port of Ramsgate since the last
update to Cabinet in January 2024.  The report also provided
an update on the closely linked Port Infrastructure project and the
estimated cost of the proposed capital works.The report was for Cabinet to note the progress of both the port
operator concession project and the closely linked LUF funded port
infrastructure project.
 
The report proposed a
realignment of Ramsgate Levelling Up Fund (LUF) budgets (having the
effect of increasing the allocation for the Port Infrastructure
project) and the agreement of a grant mechanism to part fund the
required enabling works which will be undertaken by the successful
port concession operator.
 
The report included an update
on the approach to the proposal by the aggregates operator to lease
additional land. Lastly the report included details of scoping work
for alternative port uses which is, due to time constraints, being
undertaken as a contingency option in parallel with the progression
of the port concession project.

Decision

Cabinet agreed to:
 
1. The transfer of a total of
£4.12m from the Fishing Facilities project and the Visitor
Accommodation Opportunities project to the Port Infrastructure
project;
2. The mechanism of a grant payment
of £4.5m, to be funded from the Port Infrastructure project
Levelling Up Fund budget, to the successful port concession
operator to contribute to the cost of the required enabling
works.