Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council presented the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) 2025/26 report and said that since 2022, the UKSPF had provided the district with £2.2million of funding. The council had overseen an incredibly successful programme of funding and grant allocations including residential decarbonising, grants for town and villages centres and Arts in East Herts. He added that £750,000 of additional private sector investment had also been achieved.

The Leader of the Council said that although the fund had now finished, the government had provided some transitional funding and the report outlined the proposals for the spending allocation which fell into the government’s missions and priorities.

Councillor Crystall proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Thomas seconded the proposal.

Councillor Butcher thanked the Executive for the money received for improving the toilets at the Priory in Ware. He said the funds had been incredibly useful and was pleased to see an additional year’s funding.

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) Rural Prosperity Funding of up to £141,828 is allocated to support rural businesses and infrastructure projects, with decisions on funding delegated to the Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Growth;

(B)   Up to £60,000 is allocated to the Arts in East Herts programme, with decisions on funding delegated to the Head of Housing and Health in consultation with the Executive Member for Communities;

(C)   Up to £130,000 is allocated to the improvement of community facilities, with decisions on funding delegated to the Head of Housing and Health in consultation with the Executive Member for Financial Sustainability;

(D)   Up to £390,075 to sustainability, with individual decisions to be delegated to the Head of Housing and Health in consultation with the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability.