Agenda item

11.1

The Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of City Futures seeking;

·       Approval on the proposals for the use of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – People and Skills allocation for Sheffield

·       Noting that Sheffield City Council will become the Accountable Body on behalf of other South Yorkshire Local Authorities for a proportion of the activity funded by UKSPF following the entering of a funding agreement with SYMCA to enable the delivery of the UKSPF programme in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

·       Approval to spend with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) on employment support activity and to spend on training in response to community and employers’ identified needs.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee:-

a)  Note that Sheffield City Council proposes:

      i.         As Accountable Body for activity funded by UKSPF (strands 1 & 2 activity) for an overall regional value of £7.65m, in line with the approval by the Finance Sub-Committee on 7th November 2022;

     ii.         As Accountable body, to enter into funding agreements with SYMCA to enable the delivery of the UKSPF programme in Sheffield and South Yorkshire as set out in this report; and

    iii.         that the scope of the bid is developed in line with the South Yorkshire Investment Plan for SYMCA and a SY-wide delivery model

b) Approve the use of £3.94m of UKSPF People and Skills funding and £922,520 match funding totalling £4.87m in Sheffield, to be used for the activity described and set out in the table in section 4.2 of this report, Note that this includes

      i.         £1.89m commissioning with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) on employment support activity (with no individual contract exceeding a value of £250,000)

     ii.         £560,000 on training in response to community and employers’ identified needs, (with no individual contract exceeding a value of £250,000).

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

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 crisis

- Support the community sector

- Support to the cultural and visitor economy

- Improvements to the built environment and reduce carbon emissions

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

Not applying for SPF funding was considered. However, this would result in

most Council run core employment and skills programmes stopping altogether

and result in withdrawal of funding for the VCS and the communities they serve.

Due to a shared understanding with SYMCA of the local labour market

challenges, the Investment Plan submitted aligns well with the local needs and

therefore the activity we seek to deliver fits with the programme of funding.

11.4.2

Alternative models were considered but would have less alignment with the

themes developed in the SYSPF Investment Plan and might not be supported

by SYMCA. Alternative funding has been attained or is being sought for other

activity which does not fit with the investment plan.

11.1

The Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of City Futures seeking;

·         Approval on the proposals for the use of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – People and Skills allocation for Sheffield

·         Noting that Sheffield City Council will become the Accountable Body on behalf of other South Yorkshire Local Authorities for a proportion of the activity funded by UKSPF following the entering of a funding agreement with SYMCA to enable the delivery of the UKSPF programme in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

·         Approval to spend with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) on employment support activity and to spend on training in response to community and employers’ identified needs.

11.2

Members suggested that a letter be sent to Government in conjunction with the Mayoral Combined Authority to demonstrate what had been achieved using the European Social Fund (ESF) to date and what level of funding would be required to continue these projects.

11.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee:-

a)  Note that Sheffield City Council proposes:

      i.        As Accountable Body for activity funded by UKSPF (strands 1 & 2 activity) for an overall regional value of £7.65m, in line with the approval by the Finance Sub-Committee on 7th November 2022;

    ii.        As Accountable body, to enter into funding agreements with SYMCA to enable the delivery of the UKSPF programme in Sheffield and South Yorkshire as set out in this report; and

   iii.        that the scope of the bid is developed in line with the South Yorkshire Investment Plan for SYMCA and a SY-wide delivery model

b) Approve the use of £3.94m of UKSPF People and Skills funding and £922,520 match funding totalling £4.87m in Sheffield, to be used for the activity described and set out in the table in section 4.2 of this report, Note that this includes

      i.        £1.89m commissioning with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) on employment support activity (with no individual contract exceeding a value of £250,000)

    ii.        £560,000 on training in response to community and employers’ identified needs, (with no individual contract exceeding a value of £250,000).

11.4

Reasons for Decision

11.4.1

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 crisis

- Support the community sector

- Support to the cultural and visitor economy

- Improvements to the built environment and reduce carbon emissions

11.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.5.1

Not applying for SPF funding was considered. However, this would result in most Council run core employment and skills programmes stopping altogether and result in withdrawal of funding for the VCS and the communities they serve.

Due to a shared understanding with SYMCA of the local labour market

challenges, the Investment Plan submitted aligns well with the local needs and therefore the activity we seek to deliver fits with the programme of funding.

11.5.2

Alternative models were considered but would have less alignment with the themes developed in the SYSPF Investment Plan and might not be supported by SYMCA. Alternative funding has been attained or is being sought for other activity which does not fit with the investment plan.