Agenda item

UK SHARED PROSPERITY FUND PROCESS AND PROPOSED ALLOCATION FOR 2025/26 SPEND

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – ENTERPRISE

 

To set out the delegated approval (for Executive Members and Directors) process for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This report also sets out the proposed plans for the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund spend allocation.

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

(1)   Considered and approved the proposed outline distribution of funding allocated to the Council by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for 2025/26 under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) to specific schemes.

 

(2)   Delegated approval of individual grants and payments relating to schemes funded by UK SPF 2025/26 to the relevant Directors in consultation with the relevant Executive Members as identified with reference to table 8.1. Consider a grants panel, where appropriate, for some of the grant funding.

 

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

 

(1)   North Herts Council will be provided with funding in May 2025 to allocate to schemes proposed in accordance with the revised Guidance for UK SPF for 2025/26 from the MHCLG (provided as Appendix 1 to this report).

 

(2)   The funds regulations allow considerable flexibility in how the Council allocates funding to each approved Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) activity. On 3rd March, officers presented a report to the Political Liaison Board and to the Senior Leadership team who endorsed the proposal set out.

 

(3)   We are seeking approval to delegate approval of spend decisions, payments or grants made under the schemes to the relevant Directors in consultation with Executive Members. Once Cabinet approval has been obtained, the individual projects will be managed by the relevant service areas.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 1 hour 11 minutes 33 seconds

 

Councillor Tamsin Thomas, as Executive Member for Enterprise and Arts, presented the report entitled ‘UK Shared Prosperity Fund Process and Proposed Allocation for 2025/26 Spend’ and advised that:

 

·       This report sought delegated approval for the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund spend allocation.

·       The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced further funding in January 2025, with 2025/26 acting as a transitional year.

·       The original programme ran for three years.

·       The programme detailed a range of defined interventions, under three main schemes.

·       The allocation of the Council in 2025/26 was a total of £490,564, of which at least £90,574 must be capital expenditure.

·       Six workstreams could be supported from this application and further details could be found in the report.

·       Overarching proposals aimed to continue the work which had already been delivered and to support the new schemes that would be of benefit to the community. 

 

Following a question by Councillor Ian Albert, the Economic Development Officer advised that an evaluation of the funds spent in previous years was being undertaken as part of the closure of the 2022/2025 programme. 

 

Following a question by Councillor Ian Albert, the Enterprise Manager advised that formation of a grants panel was one of the potential projects set out in the report and that she would be happy to discuss this further with Councillor Albert outside of the meeting.

 

Councillor Ian Albert proposed an addition to recommendation 2.2 to include the consideration of a grants panel.

 

Councillor Ian Albert proposed as amended and Councillor Tom Tyson seconded and, following a vote it was:

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

(1)   Considered and approved the proposed outline distribution of funding allocated to the Council by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for 2025/26 under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) to specific schemes.

 

(2)   Delegated approval of individual grants and payments relating to schemes funded by UK SPF 2025/26 to the relevant Directors in consultation with the relevant Executive Members as identified with reference to table 8.1. Consider a grants panel, where appropriate, for some of the grant funding.

 

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

 

(1)   North Herts Council will be provided with funding in May 2025 to allocate to schemes proposed in accordance with the revised Guidance for UK SPF for 2025/26 from the MHCLG (provided as Appendix 1 to this report).

 

(2)   The funds regulations allow considerable flexibility in how the Council allocates funding to each approved Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) activity. On 3rd March, officers presented a report to the Political Liaison Board and to the Senior Leadership team who endorsed the proposal set out.

 

(3)   We are seeking approval to delegate approval of spend decisions, payments or grants made under the schemes to the relevant Directors in consultation with Executive Members. Once Cabinet approval has been obtained, the individual projects will be managed by the relevant service areas.

Supporting documents: