Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Rachel Barker, Assistant Chief Executive, on the current position with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Board welcomed Ms Rachel Barker, Assistant Chief Executive, who was in attendance to report on the latest position with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

It was noted that the UKSPF was the Government’s domestic replacement for the European Structural and Investment Programme used to fund local regeneration, employment and skills projects and programmes. The UKSPF also supported the ambitions of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper.

It was noted that the government had allocated £2.6billion over three years to the UKSPF, of which Rushmoor would receive £1million over three years (£33,868 in 2022/23, £67,737 in 2023/24 and £898,395 in 2024/25). It was advised that the funds would only be accessible through an approved local investment plan, which should identify interventions to be made, from a menu of set options, to realise desirable outcomes based on local context and evidence. The plan should also focus on the key priorities (community and places, supporting local businesses and people and skills), set to help achieve the aims of the UKSPF to build pride in place and increase life chances across the country. The Council’s investment plan, would need to be submitted by 1st August 2022.

The Board reviewed the key dates and milestones of the UKSPF. It was noted that the funding period was between April 2022 and March 2025 and all interventions must be delivered by March 2025 or have a break in the clause allowing for closure by March 2025. Other parameters included:

·         Demonstrating how the investment plan contributed to the Government’s net zero strategy and 25 year environmental plan

·         Demonstrate how the plan impacted on the natural environment and duties under the Equality Act

·         Consideration on how the UKSPF aligned with other funding streams such as, the levelling up fund, national employment support programmes and existing adult skills provisions

·         Ensure no duplication or replacement of existing funding provisions

The investment plan should address the following key areas:

·         Local context – setting out the evidence of local opportunities and challenges

·         Selection of outcomes and interventions – to be identified from a menu of set options and clearly linked to local opportunities and challenges

·         Delivery - set out details on approach, expenditure and deliverables, and capability and resource

It was noted that the process of scoping the plan had commenced. A long list of interventions had been drawn up and a process was underway to create a shortlist, through workshop activities and development of detail, to allow for a final review prior to completion of the investment plan. Key documents to be used in this process would be the Council Plan, the Local Plan, the Supporting Communities Strategy and Action Plan and the Climate Change Action Plan, amongst others. Shortlisting criteria to be considered would include:

·         Is it a priority in the Council Plan/existing strategies?

·         Are we already doing it, or can someone else deliver it?

·         Support from residents/businesses/stakeholders/elected Members

·         Would it deliver tangible benefits?

·         Would it incur additional cost from the Council now or in the future?

It was advised that the shortlisting process would conclude during the next few weeks, and it was expected that a draft plan would be shared with the Board at its meeting in July, 2022.

The Board discussed the presentation and it was noted that the way the funding was being distributed meant that most of the activity would take place in 2024/25, when the bulk of the funding would be allocated. Regarding where the funding would be allocated and how the shortlisting process would be carried out, it was advised that each of the long list interventions would be assessed on a number of criteria and ranked accordingly; this would allow for those ranked highest to be shortlisted. It was also noted that not all interventions would be based on existing Council priorities, ideally they would come from a mix of existing and new priorities/interventions.

The Chairman thanked Ms Barker for her presentation.