Agenda item

The report updated Members that an additional year of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) had been announced by the government, with management of the fund in Devon transferring from district and unitary councils to the new Combined County Authority (CCA). EDDC had been allocated £465,588 from the CCA to continue funding UKSPF projects linked to communities, business and skills. An indicative Project Plan for 2025/26 was endorsed by the UKSPF Panel and submitted to the CCA.

Members thanked Tom Winters and his team for their successful efforts in securing this funding.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     Approves and adopts the 2025/26 UKSPF Programme Plan, including the

indicative budgets and target outputs and outcomes as shown in Appendix

1 of the report, and grants delegated authority to the Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Economy and Assets to agree any necessary changes to the Programme.

2.     Approves the updated terms of reference for the UKSPF Programme

Management Panel as shown in Appendix 2 of the report and delegates authority to the Director of Place in agreement with the Panel to:

a.     Authorise and approve the grant awards for all competitive grant schemes funded through the UKSPF and any top-up funds in accordance with the provisions of the Programme.

b.     Approve any adjustments to or the cancellation of any projects programmes and activities identified in the 2025/26 UKSPF Programme Plan including grant schemes and discretionary grant payments, and any internal UKSPF budget transfers above £10,000.

c.     Approve any new projects, programmes and activities, including new grant schemes and discretionary grant payments, funded through the UKSPF and any top-up funds.

d.     Approve any changes necessary to the terms of reference during the life of the Programme which may be necessary.

3.     Delegates authority to the Director of Place in consultation with Director of Finance and Director of Governance to agree terms and conditions for any grant funding agreements with the CCA, or any body acting on its behalf, to unlock UKSPF funding, including any top-up funds.

4.     Delegates authority to the Assistant Director for Planning Strategy and

Development Management to:

a.     Sign off all grant funding agreements related to any activity funded through the UKSPF and any top-up funds in consultation with the Director of Governance, up to £200,000.

b.     Authorise procurement activity and approve any new or amended contracts and terms and conditions for procured goods and services funded through the UKSPF and any top-up funds in consultation with EDDC’s Legal team, up to £200,000.

c.     Authorise amendments to any policy documents for grant schemes funded through the UKSPF and any top-up funds in consultation with the UKSPF Panel.

d.     Authorise any internal UKSPF budget transfers at or below £10,000.

REASON:

The reason for recommendations 1 and 3 was to ensure EDDC had a clear and achievable plan to draw down further funding through the UKSPF in a timely and transparent manner. Recommendations 2 and 4 were designed to ensure flexibility was maintained in the delivery of the fund and clear roles and responsibilities were set out in the drafting and signing of contracts and grant funding agreements.