Issue - decisions

Date of Decision:

1^st October 2024

Title:

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), revised project allocations

Decision Maker:

Jo Brown, Assistant Chief Executive

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Minute (43) of the Cabinet decision on UKSPF of 7^th August 2023 delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to determine revised and final allocations for the UKSPF. This is to include provision for other eligible actions within the use of the fund should it not be possible to achieve full spend of the grant through the allocations set out in the Cabinet report.

Decision:

Resolve to:

Agree the following changes to UKSPF project allocations:

1.     Reallocate £80,000 capital from the Active Lives project to the Visitor and Leisure Economy project. This will support the improvements at Rother Valley and Thrybergh country parks.

2.     Reallocate £126,866 from the Low Carbon project to the Productivity project, enabling more effective use of funding to meet identified demand for business grants.

Reasons for the Decision:

The decision will help to ensure that UKSPF is fully utilised in Rotherham given that the funding must be spent by the end of March 2025 and to meet the level of demand seen for this investment across different strands of the programme.

Funding is being reallocated from the Active Lives project, which has experienced significant delays in securing other external funding required to bring the schemes forward, to country park improvements that have been approved and works are now underway.

Funding is being reallocated from a project – Low Carbon - that has committed just over half of its available business grants, to a project – Productivity - that is almost fully committed and has further business demand for grants.

The reallocations are consistent with the approach and objectives set out in the 7th August Cabinet report.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Alternatives have not been provided. These changes will help to ensure that UKSPF funding is maximised and projects are delivered within the required timescales.

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

There are no conflicts of interest.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None.

Reports or parts of reports considered

UK Shared Prosperity Fund - years two and three, report to Cabinet, August 7^th 2023