The report before members explained that the Outer London Fund was a £50m fund aimed at outer London boroughs to support local high streets and boost economic growth in areas benefitting least directly from Crossrail and the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games. 

It was noted that Havering had already successfully secured £445,000 for Round One projects in Hornchurch and Rainham that were designed to celebrate and enhance these areas through a range of events involving local businesses and the community. 

Round Two bids for those centres were described in the report.  It was reported that a similar bid related to Romford town centre was unsuccessful because the town would have a Crossrail station in the future. Following discussions with the Greater London Authority, however, it was possible that a Round Two bid that related to a regeneration programme for Elm Park could meet the assessment criteria.

Round Two projects were required to deliver more physical changes to local areas and the submission of further bids for Havering was proposed to total approximately £3m. 

The report sought Cabinet approval required for the submission of Round 2 bids because they would exceed £500,000.

Summaries of proposed Round Two bids that related to Hornchurch, Rainham and Elm Park were set out in paragraphs 13-15 of the report.  Subject to Cabinet approval the bids with be developed with detailed costs for submission before the Round Two bid deadline of 14 October 2011.

Reasons for the decision:

1.      The Outer London Fund is an important opportunity for Havering to benefit from funding from the Mayor of London.  In Round One £445,000 was secured for the borough and it is therefore likely that further bids for round two will have good chances of success provided they meet the bid criteria.

2.      In order to maximise the benefits from the Outer London Fund to Havering a decision by Cabinet is required to authorise the submission of funding bids in excess of £500k.  The Constitution sets out that pursuant to the delegated authority for general functions in Part 3 Section 2.1 in the following paragraphs to Cabinet:-

a)         To allocate and control financial and land and property resources, to determine priorities in the use of these resources, and take any other action necessary to achieve those objectives; and

b)         To be responsible for all executive matters even if not expressly set out in Part 3 of this constitution.

c)         Pursuant to Corporate Functions under Part 3 Section 2.2:-

(i)         To take decisions on all matters relating to the Council’s finances including but not exclusively:

(ii)        budgetary control

Other options considered:

1.         To maximise the likelihood of submitting successful bids it was essential to build on established coherent programmes to demonstrate the greatest benefit for the Mayor’s funding.  For this reason, it was proposed to prepare bids based on the existing comprehensive programmes running in Hornchurch and Rainham and to submit a bid for Elm Park, building on the work of the local community and the earlier regeneration programme

2.         Submitting bids above £500k required Cabinet approval, without which there were no other options for approval.

Cabinet AGREED:

To agree the submission of funding bids to Round Two of the Outer London Fund related to Hornchurch, Rainham and Elm Park that were based on the descriptions contained in paragraphs 13-15 of the report.