Agenda item

The UKSPF Board to receive an update from the UKSPF Programme Manager.

The Board were circulated with an up to date document which showed the current financial position.  The South Kesteven Prosperity Fund was part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which was approved by Government in December 2022.  South Kesteven District Council was awarded £3.9m in funding for projects to be delivered between 2023 and March 2025.

The paper gave a breakdown of funding during the years the fund had been in place.   Currently the unallocated funding was £246,000 which did not take account of the applications before the Board for that meeting.

The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) was a top-up to the UKSPF and succeeded the EU funding from LEADER and the Growth Programme which were part of the REPF.    The REPF supported capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure.  South Kesteven had been awarded £540,460 of funding for projects to be delivered before the end of the programme in March 2025.

The tables within the paper gave a breakdown of funding split between funding that had been committed, uncommitted, paid to applicants, not yet paid to applicants for both the SKPF and the REPF.

A further table listed the applications before the Board for the meeting and if they were endorsed the funding remaining.

Also within the paper was a table which highlighted funding that had not yet been paid to applicants.  The projects listed were being monitored closely by Officers to try to ensure they would be completed by the end of March 2025, some of the projects highlighted included those who had been given a substantial amount of funding.

Members discussed the applications which had been allocated funding but had yet to use the total funding allocated.  Concern was expressed by some Members of the Board that there appeared to be a large amount of funding although allocated, was still to be committed and time was running out. 

One Member of the Board made reference to the application for the Harrowby United Football Club (SKMP25)and conversations and dialogue that he had been having as they were still awaiting the funding.  It was acknowledged that there were other factors which were having a bearing on the allocation of the funding, but work was being done to try and address these issues to allow the funding to be granted.

Further discussion followed in respect of the following applications with the Head of Economic Development and Inward Investment giving assurances in respect of the projects and answering Members questions.

SKMP15 – SKDC Shop Front

SKMP16 – National Trust (Belton House)

SK2166 – West Deeping Village Hall

SK-2196 – SKDC Biodiversity

SK-2205 – South Kesteven District Council Car Park Improvements

SKMP19 – Destination Lincolnshire

SKMP503 – Deepings Community Centre

E29 – Supporting Decarbonisation & Improving the Natural Environment

A question was asked about the figures shown on the pink papers with the new figures circulated which were different and it was stated that changes had been made since the pink papers had been published.

Further discussion on the funding followed and it was confirmed that all invoices had to be paid by the 31 March 2025, any underspend of the funding allocated would have to be paid back if had not been spent by this date.  Assurances were given to the Board that Officers were working hard, chasing applicants for compliance with all the necessary criteria to ensure that funding was allocated and the works completed by 31 March 2025.