Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday, 26th July 2022 6.00 p.m.

Venue: Lancaster Town Hall

Contact: Liz Bateson, Democratic Services - email  ebateson@lancaster.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

16.

Minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 12 July 2022 (previously circulated). 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12 July 2022 were approved as a correct record.

 

17.

Items of Urgent Business Authorised by the Leader

To consider any such items authorised by the Leader and to consider where in the agenda the item(s) are to be considered. 

Minutes:

The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business.

 

18.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

 

Minutes:

No declarations were made at this point.

 

19.

Public Speaking

To consider any such requests received in accordance with the approved procedure. 

 

Minutes:

Members were advised that there had been no requests to speak at the meeting in accordance with Cabinet’s agreed procedure.

 

20.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Investment Plan

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

 

Report of the Chief Executive. (The report was published on 20 July 2022; appendices to the report were published on 22 July 2022.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive which set out the core elements of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan, to be finalised and submitted to government by the deadline of Monday 1 August 2022.   In accordance with Part 3, Section 3, Rule 17 (Call-in and Urgency) the Chief Executive consulted with the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee prior to the meeting as he was minded to waive call-in on this decision in order to meet the submission deadline.

 

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

The UKSPF Investment Plan can be finalised and submitted, with officers and partners moving into the development and design of projects that will successfully deliver on the Interventions selected.

The views of Cabinet members are integral to the successful delivery of the UKSPF. Any proposed amendments to the balance of funds, Interventions selected or funding allocated to each Intervention can be integrated into a redrafted Investment Plan ahead of its submission.

Disadvantages

None specifically identified, on the basis that Cabinet will have reached a consensus on the proposed Investment Plan structure in selecting this option.

With limited time available before the submission deadline, the implications of making significant amendments at this stage and their knock-on effect on the overall balance of funding should be carefully considered.

Risks

As with any medium- to long-term funding, a degree of uncertainty exists as to the accuracy of funding allocations made at this stage for projects to take place over the next three years. The Fund has a built-in degree of flexibility that should allow for appropriate changes to be made.

As set out above, proposing significant amendments at this stage could put the coherence of the Investment Plan at risk. Nonetheless, the flexibility within the UKSPF guidance indicates that amendments can be accommodated where possible.

 

The officer preferred option is Option 1, given that the highest possible dialogue has taken place in reaching the recommendations set out in this report. The degree of flexibility inherent in the Investment Plan process must also be considered in reaching a decision on the recommendation. However, it is recognised that members are ultimately responsible for the content and delivery of the UKSPF Investment Plan. As such, reaching a consensus at this stage and accommodating any proposed amendments is of fundamental importance to moving into successful delivery of the UKSPF.

 

Councillor Caroline Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Heath:-

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)             That Cabinet approve the following key elements of the UK Shared Prosperity Investment Plan, set out in this report:

 

· The proposed balance of funds to be allocated across the three Investment   Priorities, set out in section 2 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.