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To enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government (MHCLG) to pursue a Levelling Up Partnership with
Government to a value of £19.79M capital and £100,000
revenue that will be used to invest in agreed projects to the
benefit of Clacton and Jaywick, until
March 2026, which covers the funding period and the evaluation
period.

Reasons for the decision

These are lengthy
and are detailed on the attached Officer Decision Form.

Alternative options considered

The alternative
options are not to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding, or
to seek to amend it.
 
Without signing the
MoU funding to progress Levelling
Up Partnership Projects would not be
released. Given the scale of the project work in the limited time
available, and the risks to the Council if there were overspends at
a time of tight finances, the option of not taking the projects
forward was considered. However, it was ultimately dismissed as it
would forfeit significant government funding and the opportunity to
address important local issues. 
 
The Council
provided feedback to the Government on draft versions of the
Memorandum of Understanding, and this final version provides
increased flexibility, for example a single funding period to March
2026, and it is clarified that spend includes funding that is
committed through contracts and third-party agreements.