Agenda item

14.1

The report seeks approval from the Sub-Finance Committee for the Council to become the Accountable Body for activity funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and enter into funding agreements with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to enable the delivery of the UKSPF programme in Sheffield and, where necessary, South Yorkshire.

14.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Committee:-

1. Agrees that Sheffield City Council act as Accountable Body for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for activity within Sheffield and South Yorkshire;

2. Authorises the Council to enter into funding agreements with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to accept grants associated with UKSPF;

3. Approves the use of £500,000 of the UKSPF monies to fund a further grant to the South Yorkshire Community Foundation Cost of Living Fund;

4. Delegate authority to the Executive Director, City Futures in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, Co-Chairs, Deputy Chair and Spokesperson of the Finance Sub-Committee, to enter into grant agreements of up to £250,000 in value with partners as part of the Community and Place Programme; and

5. Delegate authority to the Executive Director, City Futures in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, Co-Chairs, Deputy Chair and Spokesperson of the Finance Sub-Committee, to agree immaterial variations to UKPSF and associated funding agreements.

14.3

Reasons for Decision

14.3.1

The underlying benefit that this proposal brings to secure external funding to deliver a programme of activity in Sheffield that will cover:

• Addressing the Cost of Living crises

• Community engagement and participation.

• Improvements to the built environment

• Support to the cultural and visitor economy

• Business support including start up and growth programmes.

• Skills development

14.3.2

The estimated value of support from SPF to Sheffield is a minimum £15.5m over three years with an expectation of additional private and public match funding.

14.3.3

The Council is expected to take the lead for activity in Sheffield together with he potential to provide an Accountable Body role for activity that takes at regional level. Programmes of activity will be developed with partners as appropriate and where necessary additional services will be competitively procured or grants made available to third parties.

14.3.4

It is expected that the Council will be required to enter a number of procurements and funding agreements over the next 24 months to ensure delivery of the full range of activity envisaged with SPF.

14.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

14.4.1

A do-nothing option would see SYMCA make UKSPF available through open Calls for Proposals. Whilst this would still make UKSPF available to invest in the region there could be a number of negative implications:

• The time to undertake the process would not deliver activity in time to address the CoL crisis this winter and could lead to underspend in Year 1 that might not be carried over.

• There could be many separate projects supported that could lead to duplication, inefficiencies and activity that does not target identified priorities.

• SYMCA would likely need to utilise the full 4% of the UKSPF budget to oversee a large number of projects and funding agreements.

• The process does not necessarily encourage a collaborative approach, particularly at a regional level.

14.1

The Executive Director, City Futures submitted a report seeking approval from Finance Sub-Committee for the Council to become the Accountable Body for activity funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and enter into funding agreements with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to enable the delivery of the UKSPF programme in Sheffield and, where necessary, South Yorkshire.

14.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Committee:-

1. Agrees that Sheffield City Council act as Accountable Body for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for activity within Sheffield and South Yorkshire;

2. Authorises the Council to enter into funding agreements with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to accept grants associated with UKSPF;

3. Approves the use of £500,000 of the UKSPF monies to fund a further grant to the South Yorkshire Community Foundation Cost of Living Fund;

4. Delegate authority to the Executive Director, City Futures in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, Co-Chairs, Deputy Chair and Spokesperson of the Finance Sub-Committee, to enter into grant agreements of up to £250,000 in value with partners as part of the Community and Place Programme; and

5. Delegate authority to the Executive Director, City Futures in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, Co-Chairs, Deputy Chair and Spokesperson of the Finance Sub-Committee, to agree immaterial variations to UKPSF and associated funding agreements.

14.3

Reasons for Decision

14.3.1

The underlying benefit that this proposal brings to secure external funding to deliver a programme of activity in Sheffield that will cover:

• Addressing the Cost of Living crises

• Community engagement and participation.

• Improvements to the built environment

• Support to the cultural and visitor economy

• Business support including start up and growth programmes.

• Skills development

14.3.2

The estimated value of support from SPF to Sheffield is a minimum £15.5m over three years with an expectation of additional private and public match funding.

14.3.3

The Council is expected to take the lead for activity in Sheffield together with the potential to provide an Accountable Body role for activity that it takes at regional level. Programmes of activity will be developed with partners as appropriate and where necessary additional services will be competitively procured or grants made available to third parties.

14.3.4

It is expected that the Council will be required to enter a number of procurements and funding agreements over the next 24 months to ensure delivery of the full range of activity envisaged with SPF.

14.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

14.4.1

A do-nothing option would see SYMCA make UKSPF available through open Calls for Proposals. Whilst this would still make UKSPF available to invest in the region there could be a number of negative implications:

• The time to undertake the process would not deliver activity in time to address the CoL crisis this winter and could lead to underspend in Year 1 that might not be carried over.

• There could be many separate projects supported that could lead to duplication, inefficiencies and activity that does not target identified priorities.

• SYMCA would likely need to utilise the full 4% of the UKSPF budget to oversee a large number of projects and funding agreements.

• The process does not necessarily encourage a collaborative approach, particularly at a regional level.