Issue - items at meetings - Update on Future Cities Demonstrator Competition

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

That the Environment & Sustainability Committee:

1.         Grant delegated authority to the Strategic Director Place to finalise the feasibility study and, if considered appropriate, submit a bid for grant funding under the large scale Future Cities Demonstrator competition.

2.         Note the progress on this project to date.

24.1               The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place that provided an update on the feasibility study and bid for grant funding under the Future Cities Demonstrator Competition.

24.2               The Strategic Director, Place supplemented that the feasibility study process had progressed very well and officers were increasingly optimistic that the bid would be successful.

24.3               Councillor West thanked officers for the huge amount of work that had carried out in a short timeframe. He added that even if the bid was not successful, the feasibility study had developed a strong network of co-operation.

24.4               Councillor Janio noted that if the bid was successful, there was only a fifteen month period in which to spend the grant. He asked for assurances that an organisation was in place to ensure all the projects were completed within timescales.

24.5               The Strategic Director, Place explained that the Council were the accountable body should funding be secured. He added that the bid put forward had to include how the grant would be spent and this would be assessed by the Technology Strategy Board.

24.6               Councillor Janio stated that he hoped there would be no prejudice against large companies being involved with the funding.

24.7               The Strategic Director, Place explained that there would be no prejudice and if the authority were successful with the bid, it would return to Committee for assessment and ratification.

24.8               RESOLVED- That the Environment & Sustainability Committee:

1.         Grant delegated authority to the Strategic Director Place to finalise the feasibility study and, if considered appropriate, submit a bid for grant funding under the large scale Future Cities Demonstrator competition.

2.         Note the progress on this project to date.