Agenda item

RESOLVED: 

1.    That the projects for allocation of UKSPF funding for 2022/23 and 2023/24 against the agreed interventions contained in the West Norfolk Investment Plan (WNIP) as set out in section 4 of the report be approved.

2.    That delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing & Place to finalise the financial allocations to the identified projects in section 4 of the report , in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business Culture and Heritage.

3.    That the priorities for allocation of REPF funding for 2023-25 as set out in section 5 of the report be approved.

4.    That the governance arrangements to support the delivery of UKSPF & REPF as set out in section 8 of the report be approved, to include reference to Parish Councils in the Membership list.

5.    That the third party delivery options for the REPF as set out in sections 6, 7 and 8 in this report with delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing & Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business Culture and Heritage to agree any changes be approved.

6.    That a further report be brought back to cabinet no later than December 2023 to agree the priorities for UKSPF funding in 2024-25.

Reason for Decision

To ensure timely delivery of two complementary government grant funding streams in line with the government guidance, West Norfolk Investment Plan and Corporate Business Plan objectives. The UKSPF will support residents and business to; build pride in place, high quality skills training, supporting pay, employment, productivity growth and increasing life chances. REPF will support investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas and in the development and promotion of the rural visitor economy, enhancing active travel provision in rural areas, investing in capacity building and infrastructure support for local rural groups and supporting volunteering and social action groups in rural communities.

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Cabinet was reminded that at its meeting on 21July 2022, it approved the 1 August 2022 submission of the West Norfolk Investment Plan to government to secure £1,836,407 allocation for West Norfolk under the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF). Confirmation of Government approval for this funding was received on 6 December 2022. Following assessment of the West Norfolk Investment Plan the Secretary of State had allocated funding for 2022/23 with indicative allocations for the further two financial years up to and including 2024/25. It was now necessary to agree the proposed spending priorities for the fund in 2022/23 to ensure that this could be expediated and to agree the approach and in principle spending proposed for 2023/24 so that preparatory work could be commenced.  

Additionally, in September 2022, an addendum to the West Norfolk Investment Plan was requested by DEFRA to secure an indicative allocation of£1,496,455 Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) capital funding to invest across rural West Norfolk over the period April 2023 – March 2025. The indicative amount for West Norfolk was the largest allocation in the county and the deadline for addendum submission was 30 November 2022. The report provided Cabinet with the detail of the addendum submitted, the process by which intervention priorities were determined and to agree in principle the proposed programme spend and delivery arrangements for 2023-25 so that preparatory work could be commenced. The decision on REPF was anticipated to be confirmed by DEFRA in January 2023.

Under standing order 34 Councillor de Whalley expressed concerns about where the control of the finances would lay if the County Deal was agreed.  He also drew attention to the fact that parish councils were not specifically included in the list of SPF Partnership Board.

The Assistant Director D Hall responded that if the County Deal transferred the SPF to the County Council the success of the Partnership Board could help the Borough Council maintain influence.  He also confirmed that the engagement of parishes was very relevant and had been taken on board.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Morley commented on the need for clarity over the next 2 years to make sure the next administration could continue seamlessly. He also questioned: how everything fit together for the sparse and rural areas, stressed the importance of the mix of membership of the Panel, and the need to ensure that the money was spent within the timescales set.

The Assistant Director D Hall confirmed that other organisations were involved to ensure the correct expertise was involved.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Parish considered that the documents were too complicated and the process should be simplified.  He expressed concerns as to which projects would be supported.

Under standing order 34  Councillor Moriarty asked when the work of the partnership would commence  to which it was confirmed it needed to start as soon as possible and updates would be provided through the portfolio holder as it progressed.

Councillor Middleton spoke in support of the report and proposal which would provide economic support for the rural areas, he hoped that it would continue to be supported by the Borough, he confirmed that the membership of the Board should be made up of the right individuals. 

Councillor Humphrey spoke in support of parish council rep/s being on the Board.

In summing up Councillor Dark drew attention to the recommendation from the Environment and Community Panel in support of the recommendations.  He drew attention to the analytical work undertaken on it to ascertain the priorities of rural businesses.  He confirmed that parish council membership should be included in the membership of the Board.

Members did not wish to debate anything in Exempt session

RESOLVED:  

1)               That the projects for allocation of UKSPF funding for 2022/23 and 2023/24 against the agreed interventions contained in the West Norfolk Investment Plan (WNIP) as set out in section 4 of the report be approved.

2)               That delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing & Place to finalise the financial allocations to the identified projects in section 4 of the report, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business Culture and Heritage.

3)               That the priorities for allocation of REPF funding for 2023-25 as set out in section 5 of the report be approved.

4)               That the governance arrangements to support the delivery of UKSPF & REPF as set out in section 8 of the report be approved, to include reference to Parish Councils in the Membership list.

5)               That the third-party delivery options for the REPF as set out in sections 6, 7 and 8 in this report with delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing & Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business Culture and Heritage to agree any changes be approved.

6)               That a further report be brought back to cabinet no later than December 2023 to agree the priorities for UKSPF funding in 2024-25.

Reason for Decision

To ensure timely delivery of two complementary government grant funding streams in line with the government guidance, West Norfolk Investment Plan and Corporate Business Plan objectives. The UKSPF will support residents and business to; build pride in place, high quality skills training, supporting pay, employment, productivity growth and increasing life chances. REPF will support investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas and in the development and promotion of the rural visitor economy, enhancing active travel provision in rural areas, investing in capacity building and infrastructure support for local rural groups and supporting volunteering and social action groups in rural communities.