Agenda item

Members of the Board were circulated with an update which detailed the position in respect of the funding programme for the UKSPF.  It was confirmed that the deadline, where all funds must be spent, was 31 March 2025. 

New applications for funding were being reviewed alongside previously approved funding applications to ensure delivery by the deadline.  Previously approved applications were being followed up to ensure that they could deliver the projects on time.

The current amount of uncommitted funding was highlighted, however that did not include those funding applications that were currently before the Board.

The breakdown of funding allocated but not yet claimed by external applicants was shown at Appendix A to the report.  Appendix B showed the internal projects which had yet to be claimed.

It was noted that some projects were considered “at risk” as there were concerns whether these projects could be completed by the deadline and the funds drawn down by 31 March 2025 and these were listed at Appendix C.  The projects were being monitored and applicants supported to understand if any part of the project could be delivered.

Due to the concerns about delivery of projects, officers had been reviewing what additional internal projects could potentially be funded through the UKSPF rather than the General Fund and these were listed within the report.

Additional projects had also been identified although costing works were ongoing and these were also listed within the report.

Due to the tight timescales in spending the funds and the projects listed within the report that could potentially use the UKSPF monies, it was asked that the Board endorse the items listed and that a delegation is put in place to give delegated authority to the Chief Executive and S151 Officer in consultation with the Chairman of the UKSPF Board and the Leader of the Council to allocate the funds.

The delegation was proposed, seconded and AGREED.

Decision

That a delegation is put in place to give delegated authority to the Chief Executive and S151 Officer in consultation with the Chairman of the UKSPF Board and the Leader of the Council to allocate the funds as required in respect of those additional potential project applications shown at paragraph 12 for funding within the financial update report.

Discussion on some of the proposed projects were highlighted and it was stated that the position was constantly changing. Members expressed concern in respect of projects that required planning permission and it was confirmed that Officers had been in contact with these applicants.

A question was asked in respect of an application that had been previously before the Board (SK-2204) in respect of the “Whale” project and the siting of it within Bourne and Stamford. It was confirmed that these were imminent, Grantham would take place in May.  It was also confirmed that the funding allocated in respect of SK98, the installation of Table Tennis Tables in the four main towns had been increased to five with a further table being sited in Deeping St James.

A high-level overview of the position of the SK Rural England Prosperity Fund Programme was also given to the Board and the current uncommitted total funding.  It was stated that there was a risk that there would be an underspend on the Rural element of the UKSPF programme due to the tight timescale that remained.  A question was asked about the funding application for the Deepings Community Centre and whether this could be accessed under the Rural Fund.  It was stated that there were three interventions under Rural Fund criteria which had to be met for the funding to be allocated.