Decision details

To Award funding to Round One Projects through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Decision Maker: Deputy Chief Executive - Growth

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

Decision to undertake separate awards to successful applicants in Round One of the UK Shared Prosperity/Rural Prosperity Fund Programme. Specifically including:
•Holbeach Medieval Festival - £10,486
•Long Sutton Men’s Shed - £66,000
•The South and East Lincolnshire Crowdfunding Platform - £12,555
•The Bread and Butter Thing - £43,313
•Linkage Community Trust - Sensory Outreach Services - £5,440
•Destination Lincolnshire (‘Back to Basics’) – Capital (£16,740), Revenue (£43,453)
•SELCP Overcoming Barriers to Employment - £69,000

Reasons for the decision:

As part of HMG’s Levelling Up Agenda and in line with the commitments made by South Holland District in the UKSPF Prospectus and Investment Plan, we have committed to invest in high-impact projects across three core themes:
Communities and place - Supporting community groups and investment in community facilities; enhancing the cultural and heritage offer; widening the use of community buildings; initiatives to help support our town centres.
Supporting local business - Helping local businesses invest for future growth; growing the food processing, horticulture and logistics sector; encouraging new businesses to establish; helping the local social and community enterprises to innovate and grow.
People and skills - Developing skills and employment opportunities within the fresh food, food processing and logistics sectors; creating new training hubs; supporting local residents with skills and access to employment.
These allocations principally meet the objectives that we have committed to under the Communities and Place and Supporting Local Businesses Themes and with the projects passing a rigorous assessment process, we are confident that they can deliver the outcomes expected from the Programme quickly and substantively. This has been the basis of the decision.

Alternative options considered:

These funds were allocated on a competitive basis, based on the first round of submitted EoIs to the UK Shared Prosperity and Rural Prosperity Fund. The alternative would be to not award the funding, which would bring severe reputational risk to the Council both with the public and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare

Equalities Issues: None arising – The implementation of these projects should assist the Council with regard to supporting individuals with Protected Characteristics as defined by the 2010 Equalities Act. For example, in relation to supporting those with disabilities through the Linkage Community Trust project . Specifically, due regard has also been paid to EDI in the EoI assessment process, with strong credentials in relation to EDI benefiting EoIs submitted.

Contact: Saul Farrell, Senior Programme Manager - UK Shared Prosperity Fund/Rural Prosperity Fund Email: Saul.Farrell@Sholland.gov.uk Email: Saul.Farrell@sholland.gov.uk.

Publication date: 30/03/2023

Date of decision: 29/03/2023