Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the UK Shared Prosperity Fund report. She said that money had been provided to the council from the government and the spending of this money had been delegated to Officers in consultation with Executive Members. She referred to page 117 which showed the five main spending streams.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth ran through a number of highlights and projects that had benefitted from the grant money and said that officers would be providing a full evaluation of the projects later in the year. She thanked everyone involved for their work and felt that the rewards spoke for themselves.

Councillor Glover-Ward proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Daar seconded the proposal.

Councillor Crystall said this was a good news story.

Councillor Glover-Ward said that there were more great projects out there, but she could not mention them all.

Councillor Hopewell said she echoed the comments that this was a great piece of work and that most of these projects were not achievable otherwise.

Councillor Daar reflected that the council had done a lot of hard work on developing strategies which has enabled good projects to be identified.

The motion to support the recommendations having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED –that (A) Members review progress to date; and

(B)   Members consider priorities for the 2025-26 year.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth, the Executive Member for Communities and the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability jointly submitted a report updating Members on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which officially started on 1 April 2022 and was due to cease on 31 March 2025.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth thanked Officers and the Town and Parish Clerks for their efforts in respect of projects and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). She spoke about the £3,000 new premises grants and the business strand of UKSPF funding. The Executive Member for Planning and Growth spoke about the significant work that had been undertaken towards securing grants for a lot of villages and the smaller towns. She referred in particular to the work undertaken in collaboration with Buntingford Town Council, Sawbridgeworth Town Council and Ware Town Council.

The Chair drew Members’ attention to the recommendations, which included an invitation for Members to consider priorities for the coming financial year (2025/26), and to make any recommendations to the Executive in that regard.

Councillor McAndrew said that the outcomes were all very positive so far. He referred to the table regarding funding in terms of where this had been received and what type of funding had been received.

Councillor McAndrew said that he was fully aware that some towns and parishes were more proactive than others, and he asked how the council was reaching out to those that needed help when considering applying for resources from the UKSPF.

Councillor Buckmaster referred to discussions at an environmental forum he had attended, and the links to the general environment agenda. He referred to small plots of land, town and parish councils and other clubs and associations, including allotment holders benefiting from small pots of money such as UKSPF grants.

Councillor Nicholls said that various different grants had made a massive difference to businesses, individuals, and the wider communities in so many places across the district. She was really pleased that there had been a decision to share the money, particularly in smaller communities where local parish councils had very low reserves and were trying to maintain buildings and put on events with very little budget.

Councillor Nicholls said that in Buntingford and Cottered, community spaces benefited from grant money to make them more accessible for local groups and events, and this meant that these spaces were available throughout the year as there was often a problem in the winter when communities were not accessible as it was too expensive or too cold to put on events. She said that it was great that funds had been put into refurbishing the toilets in Buntingford.

Councillor Nichols said that going forward, funding for climate change and funds available to improve town and village centres had a lot of overlap. She said that she would like to see this continue as a funding area in the next round of UKSPF allocations in the 2025/26 financial year. She referend in particular to Aspenden Parish Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 371