This meeting of the Tendring District Council Cabinet will focus on approving funding for, and the approach to delivering, an ambitious suite of capital projects to regenerate Clacton-on-Sea and Jaywick Sands. In addition, the meeting includes approving proposed cost pressures and savings to the General Fund Budget for 2025/26 and consideration of a number of policies including a new approach to using Artificial Intelligence.

Regeneration projects

There are two funding programmes under consideration:

• The £19.96m Levelling Up Fund (LUF) for the Clacton Civic Quarter;
• The £6.65m Capital Regeneration Projects (CRP) for Dovercourt Town Centre.

The two funding programmes include five individual projects, to be delivered either by Tendring District Council or Essex County Council:

• Clacton LUF:
  1. Carnarvon Terrace (TDC)
  2. Clacton Hub (ECC)
• Dovercourt CRP:
  1. Homes in Dovercourt (TDC)
  2. Kingsway Improvements (ECC)
  3. Learning and Library schemes (ECC)

The report pack seeks approval to progress the two Tendring District Council-led projects from the current stage of developed design and planning submission, to the next stage of producing tender documentation so contractors can bid to deliver the works. It is proposed to utilise funds already allocated to the schemes to commission this work, as expenditure to date has been below budget.

Following a successful trial period, a recommendation is made to enter into a framework agreement with Essex County Council to allow Tendring District Council continued access to ECC’s Managed Service Solution framework for appointing temporary and permanent staff. This arrangement offers a number of advantages to Tendring District Council including reduced agency costs and administrative burden.

The report pack also includes updates on the three schemes being delivered by Essex County Council, with progress to date including submitting a planning application for the Clacton Hub and commencing works on site for Harwich Library.

Community Regeneration Partnership

A separate funding stream – the £19.79m Community Regeneration Partnership¹ (formerly known as the Levelling Up Partnership), is also under consideration.

This funding programme is designed to support place-based regeneration, with the majority of the projects located in Clacton-on-Sea and Jaywick Sands.

The report pack sets out details of the 16 projects within the programme. These include the acquisition and repurposing of a disused building in Clacton town centre for cultural use, a new ‘Active Wellbeing Centre’ and an expansion to the ‘Tudor Fields – Jaywick’ walking route.

The report pack sets out a proposed approach for delivering the programme, with projects split into ‘waves’ of delivery. This is to ensure projects with completed implementation plans can commence as soon as possible, with other projects being brought forwards for approval as their development progresses.

A number of decisions are sought to enable this approach, including approving capital expenditure for the projects, as well as setting out the scope and details for ‘first wave’ projects, the implementation of which is more advanced. These include:

• Seafront Micro Venue (Ten_10): Refurbishing a disused toilet block for use as an arts venue.
• Jaywick and Clacton Shopfront Improvements (Ten_08): Offering capital grants to shop owners to improve their shopfronts.
• Community Transport Buses (Ten_02): Providing three new minibuses for community transport projects, one of which is earmarked to support disadvantaged young people aged 10-18.
• Extending the Healthy Homes Initiative (Ten_06): Funding the acquisition and demolition of long-term empty and dangerous dwellings.

Further to the above, delegations are also sought to enable delivery of the programme, and in particular the ‘fourth wave’ of projects which will be delivered by Essex County Council and the NHS. The report pack sets out recommendations to delegate authority for agreeing funding agreements, and associated governance arrangements with ECC and the NHS, to the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration & Tourism.

Finance

The report pack seeks approval for an updated General Fund financial forecast and proposed budget position for 2025/26. It builds upon the position that was previously considered at the November 2024 Cabinet meeting, incorporating changes to cost pressures, savings, and an updated Council Tax base for 2025/26.

As part of the updated forecast, the following cost pressures for 2025/26 are proposed:

• Insurance Premium Costs: Increase of £31,730.
• Commercial Investment Property Potential Rental Income Reduction: Increase of £125,000.
• Homelessness Costs: Increase of £500,000.
• Vehicle Hire Costs: Increase of £28,300.

The report pack also seeks approval for an updated HRA Business Plan and proposed Budget for 2025/26. It includes proposals for rent increases for 2025/26 in line with the Government’s CPI+1% rent standard formula, which results in a proposed increase of 2.7% in 2025/26.

The proposed increase results in an average weekly rent of £103.49 in 2025/26, with the extra income intended to mitigate cost pressures, which are also under consideration. These include a proposed increase to the revenue contribution to the capital programme, and substantial increases to the maintenance budget.

The report pack notes that it is likely further cost pressures will be identified, and that as a result the Council will need to explore opportunities to balance these with the financial sustainability of the HRA.

Artificial Intelligence

The report pack contains a draft ‘Artificial Intelligence Best Practice Approach’ for use at Tendring District Council, which pulls together existing best practice and legal frameworks to guide safe and effective use of AI.

The report pack highlights a number of potential benefits and risks from using AI, including:

• Improved efficiency and quality of work: AI tools can automate routine tasks, generate text, and support creativity.
• Information Governance: Accidental or deliberate sharing of sensitive information with AI models could breach legislation and/or result in data breaches.
• Bias and Misinformation: AI models can generate outputs that are biased, incorrect or nonsensical.

The Best Practice Approach sets out mitigating actions for these risks, including the importance of a ‘human check’ for accuracy, the need to always follow existing legislation, and that AI should not be used for decision making. A number of scenarios are also set out where AI should not be used, including when dealing with sensitive topics.

The report pack proposes delegating authority to the Portfolio Holders responsible for Communications and IT to implement and make future changes to the guidance, in recognition that AI is a rapidly evolving field.

Policies

A number of other policies are also under consideration, including:

• Proposed amendment to the Council’s Constitution (Article 9): Amending the composition of the Town & Parish Councils’ Standards Sub-Committee, so that all three non-voting co-opted Town & Parish Council members nominated by the Tendring District Association of Local Councils (TDALC) represent different Parish or Town Councils.
• Revised Housing Allocation Policy: Including a number of proposed amendments to update the Council’s existing policy. Key changes include expanding the list of those not eligible to join the housing register, changing the rules on joint tenancies, and outlining the process for allocating adapted properties and sheltered housing. A recommendation is made for the revised policy to be subject to wider consultation, with the intention to delegate final approval for the policy to the Portfolio Holder responsible for Housing.
• Housing policies on Gas Safety, Electrical Safety, Fencing & Paving and Empty Council Homes Management: A suite of four individual policies to update the existing framework for the maintenance and operation of the Council’s social housing stock. The report pack seeks approval for each of the policies and for their direct implementation. It also proposes delegating authority to the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery) to make future changes to the policies, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder responsible for Housing.

Other items

Other agenda items include:

• Sport and Activity Strategy for Tendring: Considering the recommendations from the recent Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee enquiry into the strategy.
• Fly Tipping and Mobile CCTV Enforcement: Considering the recommendations from the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s recent enquiry into fly tipping and mobile CCTV enforcement.
• Tendring District Council’s Careline Service Review: A decision is sought on the future of the service, following feedback from recent public consultations.
• Social Value Policy: A recommendation to approve the draft policy for adoption by Full Council. The policy sets out a framework for achieving social value through procurement.

In addition, a statement from the Leader of the Council will be made about an urgent decision taken in October to terminate the Council’s contract with AE Partners Ltd, the provider of its ‘YourStride’ Careline service.