Decision details

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is the Government’s replacement for the European Union’s Structural and Investment Funds that will cease at the end of 2023. The primary goal of the UKSPF is to “build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK” which is translated into three UKSPF investment priorities or pillars:

•         Community and place (Pillar 1)

•         Supporting local business (Pillar 2)

•         People and skills (Pillar 3).

The Government has allocated £2.6bn to the fund for the UK as whole over the three years from 2022/23, including support for the Multiply adult numeracy programme. West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) will act as lead authority for the funding in West Yorkshire.

Part of the West Yorkshire funding allocation is to be devolved to the five local authorities, including Kirklees, to support local programme delivery. This includes funding for local delivery of the Multiply programme.

A decision is required for Cabinet to

•         receive the UKSPF and Multiply funding allocation from WYCA

•         act as accountable body for the devolved UKSPF/ Multiply funding

•         agree the proposed Kirklees UKSPF and Multiply programmes and establish the required officer delegations for their delivery including commencing related procurement activity and making related contract awards.

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the delivery of the Kirklees UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme.

2)    That approval be given to accept external funding of £5,824,858 from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to support delivery of the Kirklees UKSPF programme, and for the Council to act as Accountable Body for the grant, subject to final approval by the Government and WYCA.

3)    That approval be given to accept external funding of £790,231 from WYCA to support delivery of the Kirklees Multiply programme, and for the Council to act as Accountable Body for the grant, subject to final approval by WYCA.

4)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Growth and Regeneration) and the Service Director (Legal, Governance and Commissioning) to finalise and execute all necessary agreements with WYCA and the Council’s project delivery partners and to put in place the necessary governance arrangements for the local UKSPF and Multiply programmes.

5)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Growth and Regeneration) and Strategic Director (Adults and Health) to implement the Kirklees UKSPF programme, including the commencement and award of any related procurement exercises.

6)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Growth and Regeneration) to implement the Kirklees Multiply programme, including the commencement and award of any related procurement exercises.

7)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Growth and Regeneration) and the Service Director (Finance) to submit grant claims and to undertake related project monitoring and reporting.