Agenda and minutes

Appointment of Board Chairman for 2025/26.

As this was the first meeting of the Board since the Council AGM on 22 May 2025, the Assistant Director of Planning and Growth asked for nominations for the position of Chairman of the Board.  Two nominations for Chairman were proposed and seconded.   Councillor Virginia Morgan and Councillor Philip Knowles, on being put to the vote Councillor Philip Knowles received the highest number of votes and was declared Chairman for 2025/26.

Decision

That Councillor Philip Knowles continue as Chairman of the UKSPF Board for the 2025/26 year.

Councillor Philip Knowles in the Chair

Appointment of Board Vice-Chairman 2025/26.

The Chairman asked for nominations for Vice-Chairman of the Board. 

One Member asked if it was necessary to have a Vice-Chairman as the previous Vice-Chairman had not been included in discussions around Board meetings and the agenda. 

It was confirmed that a Vice-Chairman was required especially if the Chairman declared an interest in an application before the Board.  It was stated that the Vice-Chairman would be included in meetings with the Chairman going forward in respect of the Board.

Councillor Virginia Moran was proposed and seconded and unanimously agreed as Vice-Chairman.

Decision

That Councillor Virginia Moran continue as Vice-Chairman of the UKSPF Board for the year 2025/26.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ashley Baxter, Councillor Patsy Ellis, Councillor Nikki Manterfield, Councillor Virginia Moran and Councillor Paul Wood.

No interests were disclosed.

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2025 were proposed, seconded and AGREED.

The Assistant Director of Finance gave an overview to the Board of how the scheme would be operated during 2025/26.    The Government had announced in December 2024 that an additional or “transition” year of UK Shared Prosperity (UKSPF) funding would be allocated in 2025/26.  Previously the funding had been awarded directly to all lead authorities, however, unlike previous years the funding would now be awarded to the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) rather than South Kesteven District Council.  

GLCCA had confirmed that funding would be distributed to each of the Councils within the Greater Lincolnshire area.  South Kesteven District Council would be allocated £1,212,660 in UKSPF funds with a further £162,103 allocated via the Rural top-up funds. 

At the Council meeting on 27 February 2025, the Council had agreed the broad principles of the SKDC investment plan which had been submitted to GLCCA.   The GLCCA had then submitted a combined investment plan to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government which combined the investment plans of each of the Councils within the Greater Lincolnshire area on 30 April 2025.

As with the original fund, the fund priorities and themes remained the same and a copy of the investment plan submitted by South Kesteven to the GLCCA was appended to the report at Appendix A.  It was confirmed that approval of the investment plan was still awaited from Government, a response was expected in June 2025.

Responsibility of the fund would be with the GLCCA who had stated that there would be a review of the fund in September 2025.  Where a local authority was not able to fully distribute funds within its district by September 2025 the GLCCA had stated that any underspend would be pooled elsewhere across the Greater Lincolnshire area.   Officers stressed that funding allocated to South Kesteven District Council be committed by the end of September 2025.

It was anticipated that funds would not be released to the Council until June 2025 but this was dependent upon the MHCLG making the funds available to GLCCA.

The Terms of Reference for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund Programme Board were agreed at Council on 22 May 2025 and were appended to the report at Appendix B.  At the Council meeting on 22 May 2025 the following delegation was also agreed:

Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and s151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, HR and Economic Development, to approve the grant allocations and to undertake any necessary actions including allocation of any uncommitted funds to specific interventions; and reallocation of funds and movement of revenue funds to capital expenditure.

The Board has a specific remit to set the direction for the programme and support the Lead Officer in overseeing the overall progress and making recommendations in accordance with the Council’s scheme of delegation for executive functions.

To ensure that the funding is fully allocated, Officers had been developing a bidding and award process for allocating the 2025/26  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

It was proposed, seconded and agreed to exclude the press and public at this point in the meeting as it was likely that information contained within the remaining items on the agenda were exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

It was noted that the supplementary papers that had been circulated were in respect of agenda item 7 and were not a separate agenda item.

SK-CP-01 Safer Streets Programme – extension of existing safer street patrols

Funding requested: £40,000

The project was an extension of part of the existing Safer Street Project which mainly operated in Grantham.  A Safer Street bid had been successful from the Home Office through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in 2023 which provided funding to implement safer street patrols within the nighttime economy.  It also increased CCTV double crewing. The Safer Street Funding had ended in March 2025 and no further funding was available to support the project from the OPCC or the Police.  Funding was being requested to extend the operation of patrols and double crewing of CCTV with the added flexibility to patrol across the South Kesteven as required.  Members discussed the application with questions being asked about Police funding, officers safety and Police liaison.  It was proposed, seconded and agreed to ENDORSE the request for funding.

SK-CP-02 Safer Street Programme – Shopwatch/Pubwatch Scheme

Funding requested: £25,000

This funding request was considered in conjunction with the above request for funding which again asked to extend the existing Shopwatch/Pubwatch  scheme which currently operated in Grantham.   Members considered it together with the above funding request and it was proposed, seconded and ENDORSED.

SK-CP-03 High Street Improvements - Shopfronts

Funding requested:  £100,000

The project was to provide grant funding for businesses within South Kesteven’s four market town centres to support improvements to shopfronts and signage in line with the updated South Kesteven Shopfront Design Guide.  Grants would be up to £5,000 and would be made available to businesses within the town centre areas of Grantham, Bourne, Stamford and Market Deeping (as defined in SKDC’s Local Plan).

Members discussed the funding application and it was asked that consideration be given to the small independent traders ahead of the bigger shop traders.   It was stated that communications around the grants would endeavour to reach the independent shop traders although it was open to all shop traders.  A question was asked about the Shopfront Guide and it was stated that within the guide there was a sub-section specific to each of the four towns.  Further discussion followed in respect of the tight timescale to distribute the funding across the district.  Members were supportive of the proposal for funding with small independent shops being prioritised preferably and on being put to the vote it was ENDORSED with the funding “ringfenced” for clarity. 

SK-CP-04 Open Space – Campbell Close Play Park

Funding requested: £60,000

The funding request was in connection to drainage works to ensure the play site remained usable all year round due to an existing spring running underneath the surface which caused the ground to flood easily. The installation of a footpath following drainage works would make the play area site more accessible for users this would also lead into the Council’s Play Strategy.  Discussion followed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Please see previous item.