Issue - meetings

The Leader’s Portfolio

To consider report DCE/14 of the Deputy Chief Executive, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 21 November 2022.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         approves the Council’s intention to secure the funding based on the approach agreed at the Town’s Fund Board as set out within the submission (Appendix A of report DCE/14)

b)         delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to approve the governance arrangements for the programme.

c)         delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Head of Governance People and Performance, to negotiate, approve and complete all relevant documentation including legal requirements.

(Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)

d)         requests that Full Council approves the financial provision for the receipt and allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding.
 

Reasons for the Recommendations

Crawley has been allocated £1m over three years under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), part of the Government’s Levelling-Up agenda. To obtain that funding a submission has been submitted by the Council following an approach agreed at the Towns’ Fund Board. As the accountable body, the Council must put in place suitable arrangements to receive, manage and distribute the funding in such a way as to ensure delivery.

The Leader presented report DCE/14of the Deputy Chief Executive.  The report sought approval to receive, manage and distribute the Crawley allocation of £1mil over 3 years of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding was weighted to the third year where £762k would be available. To receive the funding, an evidence-based criteria was used to consider performance against the UKSPF investment priorities and missions which highlighted the disparities and inequalities within the borough. This identified Bewbush, Broadfield and West Green as to areas where the funding should be used. A subgroup of the Towns Board would be overseeing the funding and its usage, with the Council responsible for delivery and reporting.

It was noted that there was a small error in the report the 4% management fees should not be £25k but in fact £40k.

Councillor T Belben presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 21 November 2022, which included their support for the funding.

Councillor Crow was invited to speak on the item and commented that he was also in support of the report and the funding.

Councillor S Mullins also spoke as part of the discussion on the report. 

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         approves the Council’s intention to secure the funding based on the approach agreed at the Town’s Fund Board as set out within the submission (Appendix A of report DCE/14)

b)         delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to approve the governance arrangements for the programme.

c)         delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Head of Governance People and Performance, to negotiate, approve and complete all relevant documentation including legal requirements.

(Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)

d)         requests that Full Council be recommended to approve the financial provision for the receipt and allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding.
 

Reasons for the Recommendations

Crawley has been allocated £1m over three years under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), part of the Government’s Levelling-Up agenda. To obtain that funding a submission has been submitted by the Council following an approach agreed at the Towns’ Fund Board. As the accountable body, the Council must put in place suitable arrangements to receive, manage and distribute the funding in such a way as to ensure delivery.

To consider report DCE/14 of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Commission considered report DCE/14 of the Deputy Chief Executive.  The report sought approval to receive, manage and distribute the Crawley allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

During the discussion with the Leader of the Council and Deputy Chief Executive, Councillors made the following comments:

·         UKSPF formed part of the Government’s Levelling Up Agenda with Crawley being offered £1m, to be spent over three years (£150k in 2022/23) from £2.6billion funding.

·         Recognition that the framework was wide but needed to follow a set of priorities and guidance from Government; missions, interventions and outcomes which must be specific to the town’s local needs.

·         Acknowledgement that the proposal was evidence-based and focused on disparities and inequalities within the borough, using Local Super Output Area data, identifying three priority areas as Broadfield, Bewbush and West Green. The proposal was to use the Year 1 funding to undertake engagement sessions with key stakeholders from statutory, voluntary, community and business sectors to identify key needs and barriers, to understand what was already happening and to inform potential areas of focus to be delivered in Years 2 (design phase) and 3 (deployment).

·         It was noted that the proposed approach recognised the impact of the cost-of-living crisis by suggesting using Year 1 funding to increase the capacity of the voluntary sector to supporting residents with fuel poverty, debt management and access to food.  It was hoped there may be flexibility in the funding profile.

·         Confirmation that whilst oversight of the programme would be through a sub-group of the Town’s Deal Board, the Council would be the accountable body, with the responsibilities and risks that this status entails. Suitable and proportionate governance arrangements would need to be in place to safeguard the Council’s interests whilst ensuring delivery of the programme and it was anticipated that an internal steering group would be established comprising of Cabinet members and Ward Councillors.

·         Support for the proposal but recognition that the funding was not sustainable and the suggested interventions were intended to achieve the greatest impact locally. 

·         Clarity was sought as to the funding calculation for the proposed 18-month post to manage the administration of the programme.

RESOLVED

That the Commission noted the report and requested that the views expressed during the debate, were fed back to the Cabinet through the Commission’s Comment sheet.