Issue - meetings

(i)              That the delivery of the SPF programme be noted and that the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - Finance, Town Centres and Growth is authorised to approve any under spend within the funding available.

(ii)             That any funding allocated as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025/26 as the accountable body, be accepted.

(iii)           That the Newcastle SPF Board continue to be supported and the delivery of interventions in line with the national SPF programme and investment plan also be supported.

(iv)           That the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - Finance, Town Centres and Growth, be authorised to:

a.     Enter into any Grant Funding Agreements with the Government

as required for the programme

b.     Deliver with any amendments as necessary, the projects as required to meet the interventions;

c.     Award contracts or Funding Agreements to deliver the range of projects to meet the interventions required

(v)             That further updates be received on the availability of future SPF or future investment  programmes as announced by Government.

The Leader introduced the report on the delivery of the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) which would be running until the end of March, outlining the positive impact of the interventions thereby financed and the proposed programme for 2025/26 as endorsed by the Newcastle SPF Board.

The Deputy Leader expressed his support to the report and commented on the origin of the fund which would have come out of the European Union budget and was now going directly to local government post Brexit as noted by the Leader.

Cllr Skelding welcomed the recommendations although pointing out that the amounts to be expected going ahead had reduced. Several initiatives promoting the cultural heritage of the borough had been made possible thanks the SPF and it was appreciated that this would now also be going towards open spaces.

Resolved:         (i) That the delivery of the SPF programme be noted and that the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - Finance, Town Centres and Growth is authorised to approve any under spend within the funding available.

(ii) That any funding allocated as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025/26 as the accountable body, be accepted.

(iii) That the Newcastle SPF Board continue to be supported and the delivery of interventions in line with the national SPF programme and investment plan also be supported.

(iv) That the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - Finance, Town Centres and Growth, be authorised to:

a.     enter into any Grant Funding Agreements with the Government as required for the programme

b.     deliver with any amendments as necessary, the projects as required to meet the interventions;

c.     award contracts or Funding Agreements to deliver the range of projects to meet the interventions required

(v) That further updates be received on the availability of future SPF or future investment programmes as announced by Government.

Watch the debate here