Issue - meetings

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Meeting: 12/07/2022 - Cabinet (Item 13)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

Report of Chief Executive

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive to set out the Council’s approach to developing an Investment Plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), ahead of a subsequent Cabinet meeting to approve the Investment Plan itself on Tuesday 26 July 2022. The Lancaster district has been allocated one of the highest levels of funding for a district authority in England and the report set out the key elements of the proposed robust, comprehensive and collaborative approach to developing and delivering a local Investment Plan.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

	Option 1: Approve the recommendations set out in the report	Option 2: Propose amendments to the suggested approach set out in the report
Advantages	Officers and members will be well-placed to continue and finalise a robust, inclusive and comprehensive Investment Plan development process.	With Cabinet as the responsible body for approving the Investment Plan, the views of Cabinet members are highly valuable to shaping the process. As such, the perspectives of members are welcomed in shaping the Investment Plan throughout its development.
Disadvantages	No specific disadvantages to this approach, other than officer and member time and input required to deliver a comprehensive process.	Adjustments to the proposed approach can be accommodated to a certain extent, depending on the level of disruption to the process and the fulfilment of the Investment Plan criteria set by government.
Risks	The timescales for developing and submitting an Investment Plan provide limited time for deliberation both within the council and across the Local Partnership Group. A proactive, transparent and engaging approach is required from all parties to deliver a really successful and transformation Investment Plan.	Any significant disruption to the process could compromise the council’s ability to develop and submit an Investment Plan that fulfils and exceeds the criteria set out by government in the UKSPF Prospectus.

The officer preferred option was Option 1. However, as set out in section 7 of the report, the views of Cabinet members were integral to developing and signing off a successful Investment Plan and officers would accommodate the perspectives of members in shaping the Investment Plan wherever possible.

Councillor Jackson proposed the recommendations as set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Heath:-

“(1) That Cabinet approve the development of a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan with the theme of “addressing the Climate Emergency”, seeking to utilise UKSPF investment to support initiatives that will contribute to the district’s environmental and decarbonisation goals.

(2) That Cabinet approve a structure for evaluating UKSPF investments based on the Critical Success Factors set out in section 4 of the report.

(3) That Cabinet consider in principle the possible inclusion of a blend of local investments alongside collaborative initiatives across Lancashire and Morecambe Bay in the Investment Plan, as set out in section 5 of the report.”

After some discussion regarding wording and by way of amendment, ... view the full minutes text for item 13