Issue - meetings

A report on the UKSPF and Inward Investment Strategy is to be presented to Cabinet.

Cabinet:

1.     NOTED the contents of the report.

2.     DELEGATED authority to the Director for Place and Prosperity, in consultation with the Leader, to undertake any actions required to enable delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Funding programme (UKSPF) by 2025/26 financial year end.

3.     DELEGATED authority to the Director for Place and Prosperity to enter into any agreements that are required to support the successful delivery of the UKSPF year-4 activity.

4.     ENDORSED and APPROVED the Inward Investment Strategy and DELEGATED authority to the Director for Place and Prosperity, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Town Centre, Growth and Prosperity to make any minor amendments to the strategy that my be required following the current period of consultation.

5.     APPROVED the allocation of £42,500 from the Regeneration and Innovation Reserve to support delivery of Inward Investment Strategy and other related priorities outlined in Section 5.9 of this report.

The Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Housing, Leisure and Landlord Services, Councillor Allnatt, introduced the report and moved the recommendations. Councillor Butcher seconded the motion.

Councillor Allnatt requested officers readdress Appendix A and confirm the £130 million distributor investment value.

Members were pleased to note continued allocation of funding for: Planning enforcement and compliance; Farmer Health Checks and Rural Food Hubs.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1. NOTED the contents of the report.

2. DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Director for Place and Prosperity, in consultation with the Leader, to undertake any actions required to enable delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Funding programme (UKSPF) by 2025/26 financial year end.

3. DELEGATED authority to the Director for Place and Prosperity to enter into any agreements that are required to support the successful delivery of the UKSPF year-4 activity.

4. ENDORSED and APPROVED the Inward Investment Strategy and DELEGATED authority to the Director for Place and Prosperity, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Town Centre, Growth and Prosperity to make any minor amendments to the strategy that may be required following the current period of consultation.

5. APPROVED the allocation of £42,500 from the Regeneration and Innovation Reserve to support delivery of Inward Investment Strategy and other related priorities outlined in Section 5.9 of this report.

(Key Decision)

Reasons for Recommendation:

Melton Borough Council will receive a further allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Funding for the financial year 2025/26 for delivery from April 2025 and spend by 31 March 2026. Local authorities will continue to have flexibility to invest across a range of activities that represent the right solutions for their areas. The Council is responsible for managing the funding in line with 5 UK-wide themes, assessing and approving applications, processing payments and monitoring to HM Government.

In order to deliver the outputs and outcomes of the Fund, whilst meeting the needs of the Borough, decision making capacity is required at the officer level, in liaison with Portfolio Holder, including changes to existing programmes at short notice. This will also require third parties to deliver interventions on the Council’s behalf and where appropriate enter into grant funding agreements with delivery partners.

In order to deliver interventions that are part of the Council’s Corporate Plan, a range of projects are planned that fall outside of UKSPF eligibility or the Fund allocation. The Council’s regeneration and innovation fund will be called upon to support project development and delivery, including the continuation of the inward investment activity (An overview of this inward investment plan and proposed activity can be found in Appendix A). These interventions will not continue without the allocation from the Council’s regeneration and innovation fund. The Inward Investment Strategy is currently subject to stakeholder consultation and any minor amendments arising from that consultation will be addressed under the delegation requested above.