The Executive Board of Nottingham City Council discussed several key issues, including the acceptance of Levelling Up Funding for Bulwell Town Centre regeneration, the use of the ring-fenced public health grant allocation for 2024/25, and the reallocation of the Future High Streets Fund from Angel Row to the Community Diagnostics Centre at Broad Marsh.

Levelling Up Funding for Bulwell Town Centre Regeneration

Councillor Neghat Khan presented a report on the £19.867 million of capital funding awarded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to regenerate Bulwell Town Centre. The investment aims to create jobs, increase footfall, improve trade, enhance green spaces, restore heritage, and support cultural events. The Board resolved to:

1. Accept the £19.867 million funding.
2. Delegate the acceptance of the Memorandum of Understanding to the Corporate Director for Growth and City Development, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources.
3. Approve the expenditure into the capital programme, subject to signing the funding Memorandum of Understanding and securing third-party matched funding.
4. Delegate final project approval, procurement activities, and contractor appointments to the Corporate Director for Growth and City Development.
5. Delegate approval to enter into any necessary licences or legal agreements to the Corporate Director for Growth and City Development.

The decision was made to take advantage of the significant opportunity for investment in Bulwell Town Centre, ensuring the project progresses within the funding window and meets all necessary legal requirements.

Use of Ring-Fenced Public Health Grant Allocation 2024/25

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis outlined the planned use of the Ring-Fenced Public Health Grant (RFPHG) for 2024/25, totalling £37,202,982. The grant is intended to improve the health and wellbeing of Nottingham's population. The Board resolved to endorse:

• The increase in the Public Health Grant from £36.615 million in 2023/24 to £37.203 million in 2024/25.
• The use of £32.574 million for activities commissioned and funded directly by public health.
• The allocation of £4.629 million to wider Council services to support additional activities that contribute to improved health and wellbeing outcomes.

The decision aligns with the statutory duty under the National Health Service Act (2006) to use the grant for public health purposes, informed by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and other relevant strategies.

Future High Streets Fund - Reallocation of Funding

Councillor Neghat Khan also presented a report on reallocating the Angel Row Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) grant to the Community Diagnostics Centre (CDC) on Lister Gate in partnership with the Nottingham Universities Hospitals Trust (NUHT). The Board resolved to:

1. Discontinue the Angel Row element of the FHSF project.
2. Approve the reallocation of FHSF grant funding to support the CDC.
3. Delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Growth and City Development to sign the revised MOU with DLUHC.
4. Delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Growth and City Development to agree on any subsequent grant agreement and MOU with NUHT.

The decision ensures that the FHSF grant is retained and utilised within the city, supporting the development of the CDC, which will bring increased health, social, and environmental benefits.

For more details, you can refer to the Minutes of the meeting.