Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a)       accepts the £4.2m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant allocation from Government;

(b)       delegates authority to the Director of Economic Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration to utilise the grant in line with the Council’s UKSPF Investment Plan and the associated Government guidance, ensuring oversight, governance and monitoring of the programme by 31 March 2025.

Councillor T Johnson presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor P Broadhead, who highlighted the efforts of officers to carry out the required consultation in a short timeframe. Councillor Broadhead also placed on record his thanks to Central Government for the additional funding.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council:-

(a)     accepts the £4.2m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant allocation from Government;

(b)    delegates authority to the Director of Economic Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration to utilise the grant in line with the Council’s UKSPF Investment Plan and the associated Government guidance, ensuring oversight, governance and monitoring of the programme by 31 March 2025.

Voting: Unanimous.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda. BCP Council has been allocated nearly £4.2m for the ‘main’ UKSPF, and a further £1.7m for the Multiply programme.

On 5 December 2022 the Government approved the BCP Council Investment Plan (IP). Now that the IP has been approved, this report seeks Cabinet approval to formally accept the funding and deliver the 17 proposed interventions of the UKSPF.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

i)                 Accepts the £4.2m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant allocation from Government.

ii)               Delegates authority to the Director of Economic Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Portfolio Holder for regeneration to utilise the grant in line with the Council’s UKSPF Investment Plan and the associated Government guidance, ensuring oversight, governance and monitoring of the programme by March 31 2025.

Voting: Unanimous

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda, and that BCP Council has been allocated nearly £4.2m for the ‘main’ UKSPF, and a further £1.7m for the Multiply programme.

Cabinet was informed that on 5 December 2022 the Government approved the BCP Council Investment Plan (IP), and that now that the IP has been approved, this report seeks Cabinet approval to formally accept the funding and deliver the 17 proposed interventions of the UKSPF.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)             Accepts the £4.2m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant allocation from Government; and

(b)            Delegates authority to the Director of Economic Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Portfolio Holder for regeneration to utilise the grant in line with the Council’s UKSPF Investment Plan and the associated Government guidance, ensuring oversight, governance and monitoring of the programme by March 31 2025.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration