Non-Key. This report is open to the public

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1 Subject: Canterbury Public Realm Interreg 4B North Sea Region Bid Partnership Agreement of Creative urban Territories Director/Head of Service: Decision Issues: Decision: Ward: Classification: Head of Regeneration and Economic Development These matters are within the authority of the Executive Non-Key Westgate This report is open to the public Summary: The project is a European partnership of councils developing cultural regeneration projects at a local level and working together to share good practice. The partnership is bidding for Interreg funds to support this work. The project budget total for Canterbury is 1.798m ( 1.384m sterling) with a bid for the maximum rebate of 50% of this spend. Canterbury City Council s element of the bid will focus on public realm work around the New Marlowe Theatre and the Beaney Institute. Matching funds will be drawn from the agreed capital programme together with necessary officer time to deliver the public realm project to help secure funds from the ERDF. Recommend Requested that the Executive approve the funding bid made on 30 th September 2008 or if not approved, to require its withdrawal. INTRODUCTION, INTERREG 4B NORTH SEA REGION PROGRAMME 1. The Council is bidding for match funding from Europe for street scene improvements around The New Marlowe and the Beaney. The bid is made up through work packages and match funds 400k of material investment in the street scene together with 290k of professional fees and officer contribution to the Marlowe & Beaney projects. The bid is made via the Interreg 4B North Sea Region Programme. It has been submitted, due to reasons of urgency, the Council retains the ability to refuse to enter into any subsequent legal agreement to deliver the project if it is successful.

2 2. Launched in 2007 the Interreg 4B fund is part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the fund runs until The member states eligible for the fund are: the United Kingdom, Belgium (Flemish region), Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Kent was included in The Lead Partner for the bid is Drammen* City Council Norway. Full partners include Canterbury City Council, Fife Council, Scotland, City of Molndal*, Sweden, City of Kortrijk*, Belgium, City of Enshcede*, Netherlands, Emmen Council, Netherlands, Vibourg Council, Denmark (* These cities worked together on a previous North Sea Region Project VISP ending in 2006.) A fundamental objective of the North Sea Secretariat (the governing body of the fund) is to oversee a European Territorial Co-operation programme between member states in delivering the priorities of Interreg 4B. The Secretariat places a strong emphasis on transnational cooperation. As such, it is looking for members to work together and find joint solutions to common issues within the region. 3. The Funding Programme totals 150million. Partners are able to gain a maximum rebate of 50% on projects completed under the auspices of this fund. The council is seeking to bid for a grant rebate of 50% on 1.75m ( 1.34m sterling equivalent) from this fund. The funding regime had clear rules on the type of work funded and how this must be allocated within a bid. This will be split as follows:- Professional costs, 50% of finances will be devoted to officer time to design, plan and deliver the street scene improvements; officer time to share good practice with transnational partners; and the time of the officer coordinating Canterbury s element of the project. Building materials for street scene work, this will be 35% of project finances Contribution to events surrounding the opening, promoting and raising profile of the Marlowe, Beaney flagship projects and the improved public space which surrounds them. This forms 15% of the project finances RATIONALE BEHIND THE BID 4. The redevelopment of the Marlowe theatre and the Beaney Institute are corporate priorities for the council. The provision of updated street scene work around the Marlowe & Beaney are essential to the overall success of these major flagship projects. Beaney: 5. The immediate area surrounding the Beaney (Best Lane and the car park area behind the building) needs to be updated to fit with the cultural elements of the redeveloped Beaney Institute. Such public realm work will enhance previous investment by the council in public realm work along the area of the King s mile. Marlowe 6. The new theatre site includes the old Friars Motors site, purchased by the Council earlier this year. Acquisition of this site presents the opportunity to open up a key are of the city denied, in recent years, to the residents and visitors of Canterbury. 7. It is essential to open up this riverside space, which will attract large numbers of visitors, not just those visiting the theatre. A key part of the cultural development of the city, the space will be multi purpose area which could be used all year round for

3 activities such as; open theatre, music, street theatre. It will be a space to congregat, a meeting place that will complement the major investment of the New Marlowe Theatre. 8. Both the Beaney and Marlowe projects are supported locally, regionally and nationally. Through the partnership they will receive assistance from ERDF and raised European profile. The Corporate plan sets out the council s objective to seek funding from European sources where possible. 9. If successful, the project will run from 2009 until January The application process and key dates are as follows:- Application decision December 2008 Project commences January 2009 Project closes January Interreg 4B North Sea Region BIDDING CRITERIA 10. The following bid criteria must be followed. The bid recommended in this report addresses all of these aspects. Transnational co-operation - partners working together with agreements in place to share working practice and expertise. Partnerships must consist of at least 3 states Interreg 4B will not fund simple capital projects alone bricks and mortar projects. There must be additional, detailed, transnational elements to projects

4 Up to 30% of budget to be made of material investment - public realm works mentioned. The additional project budget match funded from other areas: professional design & delivery of physical project. The required transnational co-operation: partnership links, proactive team work, sharing best practice also form part of the overall budget. Bids with an element of material investment of construction must be submitted in the September 08 round of bidding. 11. Thanks to the district s strong relationship with Molndal, in Sweden, the Council were alerted to the fact that they had a successful project in VISP and that some of the partners would form a new transnational agreement. Officers and members from Molndal invited Canterbury to join this new partnership. Kent has only been eligible for funding in this area since the launch of the 4B North Sea Region. Prior to this it was excluded from the North See Region bidding activity, there is an indication from the Secreteriat that Canterbury City Council is the only body in Kent involved in a bid at present. BENEFITS FROM THE BID: 1. The bid, if successful, will bring enhanced public realm for citizens and visitors building upon the street scene improvements along the King s Mile. This work will also create an alternative route through the city. 2. The project will optimise and add to funding in the Capital programme. The council will benefit by gaining matching funds for the capital programme, revenue costs towards officer time and assistance with direct revenue costs incurred through the transnational element of the project. 3. Increased participation and exposure to European, transnational projects working with organisations with experience of high profile transnational projects and recognition as a new partner within the North Sea Region. This may help to lever further funds. 4. Funds from Interreg (ERDF backed) will further raise the profile of our city centre and its cultural projects. 5. If the bid is approved the nature of the project partnership will meet with recommendations from the Lisbon Agenda and could be monitored as exemplary transnational co-operation. This could have longer term benefits for those involved. TRANSNATIONAL CO-OPERATION 12. The Council has a successful track record of previous experience of international partnerships and cross border working. A transnational partnership within Interreg 4B NSR will develop this. This partnership depends on international team work. Members and Officers from the various cities will be encouraged to develop the project together sharing experience and expertise.

5 13. Elements of the team work will be achieved through meetings and seminars throughout the 3 years. However, much of it will be done through modern communications: web forum, s, occasional video conferencing. 14. The funding will co finance the opportunity for exchange visits for familiarisation and observation of working practices. There may be the possibility of brief work placements for those working in the area of regeneration and culture. 15. The team will focus on the promotion of its cultural offer raising the profile and awareness of geographical area by participating in joint cultural events. E.G. partners would have the opportunity to take part in some of the events festivals in Canterbury. 16. The Secretariat will only approve a bid which demonstrates European partners working and planning as a joined up team. COSTS/RESOURCES Partnership budget: /equiv Partner Contribution 8,125,100 6,250,077 ERDF 7,225,313 5,557,933 Transnational Total 15,350,413 11,808,010 Canterbury Element Canterbury Council 899, ,917* see Work packages below ERDF 899, ,917 Canterbury Total 1,798,982 1,383,832 Canterbury - Work packages: /equiv WP Design & preparation Professional fees, staff, etc. WP Deliver Toolkit - Project Management,

6 Material investment, construction costs WP3 & Transnational Partnership exchange of knowledge, skill sharing, Promotion of regeneration projects Totals See Appendix 1, 2 & 3 for a full breakdown of costs. 17. Repackaging elements of the Capital programme and including member and officer time dedicated to the Marlowe and Beaney projects will allow us to maximise the amount eligible for the Canterbury element of the project bid. An element of costs spent on the professional services from external consultants working on the Marlowe and Beaney projects may be used as match funding. Relevant Council Policy Council Corporate Plan Improve the cultural offer [objective 14] Achieve high quality street scene [ objective 18] Identify external funding opportunities, especially in Europe. [objective 26] Increase participation in cultural activities [ objective 29] CONSULTATION 18. The Marlowe and Beaney projects have been widely consulted on. The public area surrounding both features within their plans and designs. This report will be considered by Canterbury Area Member Panel and their comments passed to the Executive. If an offer of funding is made the suggested designs will be showcased and comments sought from residents and businesses in St/. Peters and Canterbury generally. OPTIONS a) Approve the bid for any subsequent implementation. b) Vary the proposals within the bid, if and when an offer arises. c) Do not approve acceptance of any funding offer. 19. The bid is carefully drawn to address the bidding criteria and preferred balance of activities any change in this may damage the Council s ability to draw down funds. The Council may decide not to draw down an offer of external funding if it considers that

7 the required matched funding cannot be drawn successfully from the capital programme and office time.; or indeed if it consider the bid does not address agreed priorities or leave an unacceptable level of revenue funding to be mainstreamed at the and of the project. In this case the project seeks funds from the approved capital programme, has clearly costed officer time and does not leave any increase revenue tail. As such Members are requested to support option A. the project seeks funds from the approved capital programme, has clearly costed officer time and does not leave any increase revenue tail. As such Members are requested to support option A. IMPLICATIONS a) Financial and resource implications. 20. The project requires 50% match funding, which can be made up in part by the cost of officer time and costs to implement and promote the local project as part of the wider transnational agreement. Dedicated time spent on the wider Marlowe and Beaney projects a part of the whole forms part of this process. A percentage of the hours of officers (Head of Culture and Communications), Corporate Project Management Team, designers, Planners, theatre and museum staff) can be used as match funding by the council. 21. The approved Capital programme sets out 150,000 to be used for the Beaney public realm with a further ( 250,000) to be used on Marlowe public realm and to be secured form Europe. The project is delivered through 4 transnational work packages which work as follows:- WP1 Project Management, managing the transnational element of the project. WP2 Toolkit. The element of delivery of local physical (streetscene) project. Design, planning, delivery and implementation. This takes into consideration the input of external consultants and necessary promotion of the completed project. WP3 Transnational Partnerhsip Agreement sharing of best proactive. This details seminars and steering Committee meetings. It allows movement of officers from the transnational team to work together, there is a contingency for work placement. WP4 Dissemination Final conference of project. Monitoring of the project by Sheffield University. The promotion of the projects through the partnership. 22. The funding which underpins these work packages can be examined in detail in Appendix 1. c) Property portfolio implications d) Legal implications e) Environmental/Sustainability implications

8 f) Planning implications The street scene works set out in the project are exempt from planning permission. g) Human Rights implications h) Equalities i) Crime and disorder implications CONCLUSION 23. Opportunities to gain reimbursement for funds spent on bricks and mortar projects do not occur often through this type of European funding it is important to maximise such opportunity. Irrespective of involvement with the partners, this public realm work will be needed in order to deliver the appropriate street scene for the Council s larger Capital projects. Through involvement with the partnership, we seek to add value to the capital and officer time resources which will be needed to deliver the local street scene development. 24. By joining the partnership the Council will benefit from the vast transnational experience of the European colleagues - European bidding and project delivery. It will raise the Council s profile in terms of European partnership working. With increased focus on European funding this experience will be valuable for future bid applications. Contact Officer: Peter Woods Direct Dial: