Approval to go forward into the process to gain mayoral approval for grant payment for Shopfront Improvement Programme contained within Brick Lane Phase 2 PID, the latter of which was approved at Cabinet on 19th December 2017.

Timescales of PID runs from January 2018 to March 2019 – approval required in time to be able to run procurement, design and delivery of shopfront improvement programme within these timescales.

The Grants Determination Sub-Committee (GDSC) heard from the Brick Lane Town Centres Manager noting:

• That the proposal concerned improvements to shop fronts in Brick Lane as part of the wider Brick Lane Regeneration Programme.
• Brick Lane was a heritage area and the Shop Front Programme sought to address issues around the appearance and ambience of the area.
• Safeguards and legal penalties had been designed into the shopfront grants payments scheme to ensure probity and accountability in the delivery of this scheme.

The Sub Committee noted the written comments of GSSC and the concerns expressed around the use of public sector money to subsidise private sector businesses.

The Chair invited members of the Sub-Committee to comment on the report and they queried how the intended benefits would be safeguarded.  The Brick Lane Town Centres Manager responded to concerns raised and provided the following information:

• There were legal safeguards built in to ensure against financial loss to the Council.
• There were detailed specifications around the nature of the shopfront that could be installed.
• Wider issues in the area relating to public toilets and antisocial behaviour would be addressed via the Licensing Team.
• The present scheme was small but the intention was to extend the regeneration to the whole of Brick Lane.
• The community and business supported the initiatives to regenerate the area.

DECISION

1.    That the grant payment for the Shopfront Improvement Programme, namely £135,000 drawn from S106 contributions, contained within Brick Lane Phase 2 PID, the latter of which was approved at Cabinet on 19^th December 2017 be approved.

2.   That it be noted that the balancing contribution of £135000 contribution will be provided by shopkeepers.