Issue - meetings

To receive a report regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) and consider a number of proposals relating to funding agreements, procurement activity and contracts.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Martin Watson

This report was introduced by Councillor Martin (Portfolio Holder for Economy) who stated that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was designed to replace the European Structural and Investment Funds which had provided significant investment in Warwickshire over many years, and which continued to support some of the Council’s business support and employability and skills activities.  In two-tier areas, the core UKSPF funding was delivered by district and borough councils and the smaller Multiply fund for adult numeracy via upper tier authorities.  The government strongly encouraged lead UKSPF authorities to work with other places where it met the needs of a place and where joint delivery achieved value for money or better outcomes for residents and businesses. In particular, lead authorities were encouraged to work with other or neighbouring authorities (district, county or unitary) to agree and commission business support and people and skills activities over a larger scale representative of the business base or local labour market.  The report set out a proposed role for the County Council in commissioning six county-wide business support programmes, including the extension of the current business start-up support and support to businesses in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector programmes. Councillor Watson emphasised that this lead role and any further engagement would only be possible with the agreement of the district and borough councils through a series of individual agreements.

Councillor Andy Crump applauded the report and noted that the Council had the resource and experience to successfully conduct the role of accountable body.

Resolved

That Cabinet:

1.     Supports the use of the remaining European Match Funding and Rural Growth Network Reserves alongside investment via the District and Borough Councils from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in order to increase the scope and scale of specific joint programmes.

2.     Subject to agreement with the District and Borough Councils:

(i)    Approves the Council acting as accountable body for specific elements of UKSPF funding and for the Council to lead on the commissioning of joint programmes.

(ii)   Authorises the Strategic Director for Communities to enter into UKSPF funding agreements with individual District and Borough Councils on terms and conditions acceptable to the Strategic Director for Resources.

(iii)Approves varying and extending two contracts with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce for the ongoing provision of business start-up services and support to businesses in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector using Council and UKSPF funding.

(iv)Approves the commencement of appropriate procurement activity and/ or competitive calls for projects to deliver the priorities of the UKSPF funding.

3.     Authorises the Strategic Director for Communities to negotiate and enter into all necessary contracts and agreements required to deliver the approved recommendations on terms and conditions acceptable to the Strategic Director for Resources.