Minutes:
(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)
In accordance with Part 4, Section 7, Urgent Business Procedure Rules and S100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) to approve the Council’s participation in a bid for European Structural and Investment Funds being made by Lancashire Sport and for the Council to act as a ‘cluster lead’ to support the More Positive Together tackling worklessness project within social housing in the district. An urgent decision was required to enable the Council to assess the ESIF funding.
The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:
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Option 1: Not accept the bid and funding being sought by Lancashire Sport for European Structural and Investment Funds and not to act as a “cluster lead“ for the More Positive Together programme within this district. |
Option 2: To accept the bid and funding being sought by Lancashire Sport for European Structural and Investment Funds and to act as a “cluster lead“ for the More Positive Together programme within this district. |
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Advantages |
Any internal resources released through not participating in the programme could be deployed on other activities |
Additional outside funding would be made available in this district to assist in reducing worklessness. Social housing tenants would be provided with the opportunity to enhance their employability, and potentially reduce the need for welfare benefits.
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Disadvantages |
Additional outside funding would not be made available in this district to assist in reducing worklessness.
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Accessing ESIF funding presents organisational and bureaucratic demands. |
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Risks |
Reputational risk of not being part of a pan-Lancashire funding programme. |
Reputational risk though possible inability to bring together a programme to be delivered through delivery partners. Financial risk of ESIF claims not being accepted. |
The Officer preferred option was for Cabinet to accept the bid and funding being sought by Lancashire Sport for European Structural and Investment Funds and to act as a “cluster lead” for the More Positive Together programme within this district.
Councillor Leytham proposed, seconded by Councillor Pattison:-
“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”
Councillors then voted:-
Resolved unanimously:
(1) That approval is given to the Council’s participation in a bid for European Structural and Investment Funds being made by Lancashire Sport, and for the Council to act as a “cluster lead” to support the More Positive Together tackling worklessness project within social housing in this district.
Officer responsible for effecting the decision:
Chief Officer (Health & Housing)
Reasons for making the decision:
Supporting the bid is compatible with the Council’s core purposes to:
· “bring communities and agencies together to work in partnership to address the major issues affecting the district”, and
· “maintain a sustainable and cohesive community by ensuring we understand the needs of our communities and provide equality of access to our services and employment opportunities.”
If the bid is successful the funding will enable the Council to support households with multiple and complex barriers to participation in work and to address the underlying issues to enable them move closer to or into the labour market.