To approve spend of up to £283,908 on the Safer Streets 3 Project, which is being delivered in conjunction with The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, who have been awarded a grant from the Home Office to deliver this project.

That:

a)    The Safer Streets 3 Project grant of £249,253 be accepted from the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner;

b)    The match funding of £6,511 be accepted from the stronger towns fund as per the agreement between the council and the Wyeside River Project;

c)    Expenditure of up to £283,908 be approved for the improvements set out in paragraph 3 of this report;

d)    The Interim Service Director for Economy and Regulatory Services is authorised, in consultation with the Corporate Director - Economy & Environment and the council’s Section 151 officer to take all operational decisions relating to the above recommendations.

1.             The alternative option is not to accept the grant.  The grant has been awarded to The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia from the Home Office, for which they are required to deliver the Safer Streets 3 Project by 31 March 2022.  These elements of the project for which approval is being sought are only able to be facilitated by the council, which was supported by the Chief Executive of the council as part of the consultation process in preparation of the bid by The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia.