Decision details

Date of Decision:

30^th July, 2025

Title:

Rotherham Markets & Central Library – Acceptance of SYMCA Gainshare Funding

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Andrew Bramidge –

Strategic Director – Regeneration & Environment

Details of Specific Delegation

or

Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

The implementation of any functions associated with any grant/funding regime, including, but not limited to, National Grants/funding, SYMCA funds, Grant & Programmes and European Funding/Grants.

Sub Scheme of Delegation - Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment – Page 22 refers.

Decision:

For the Strategic Director, Regeneration & Environment to exercise the delegation: “the implementation of any functions associated with any grant/funding regime, including, but not limited to, National Grants/funding, SYMCA funds, Grant & Programmes and European Funding/Grants” to accept funding and enter into a Grant Agreement with SYMCA for £6,500,000 of Gainshare grant funding for the Rotherham Markets & Central Library Project.

Reasons for the Decision:

This decision concludes the process of seeking and accepting grant funding from SYMCA to bridge the funding gap previously identified and detailed in the December 2023 Cabinet report within the exempt financial appendix.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Rejected options include:

Not accepting the funding from SYMCA which would severely impact the Council’s ability to continue with the scheme given the funding is planned to be used to address the existing viability gap. This would carry significant reputational risk, a contractor is already onsite and the scheme is already underway.

Or

Seek funding from an alternative source. However, given SYMCA have already seen the Full Business Case for this scheme and have approved the allocation of these funds, this is not recommended due to the additional works that would be required to identify another appropriate funding stream. SYMCA have specifically allocated funding for the purpose supporting the Rotherham Markets and Central Library project and therefore it's appropriate that we utilise this funding stream rather than exploring alternative options. 

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

-         Cabinet report [18 March 2024] Capital Projects Update

-         Cabinet Report [18 December 2023] December 2023 – Rotherham Markets & Central Library

-         Cabinet Report 07 August 2023

-         Mayoral Combined Authority Board – Programme Approvals [24^th June 2025]

-         D0046 RMBC Markets and Library Complex £6.5m Grant Agreement