Agenda item

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

6.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

6.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1)  Note the submission of the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF) bid from the County Council to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 18 June 2021;

(2) Approve revenue grant funding of up to the total value of £5,080,568 to the following eleven East Sussex County Council shortlisted projects, subject to the outcome of the MHCLG project selection process:

(i) grant funding to the value of £705,000 to Lewes District Council to fund the delivery of the ‘Sustainable wine and cultural tourism’ project;

(ii) grant funding to the value of £547,627 to Sussex Community Development Association to fund the delivery of the ‘Minding the Gaps’ project;

(iii) grant funding to the value of £497,243 to Little Gate Farm Ltd to fund the delivery of the ‘Little Gate Supported Employment’ project;

(iv) grant funding to the value of £329,261 to Future Creators and Brighton Domes Festival to fund the delivery of the ‘East Sussex County of Learning’ project;

(v) grant funding to the value of £959,297 to White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures Ltd to fund the delivery of the ‘Hastings Commons’ project;

(vi) grant funding to the value of £636,173 to Napster Group Ltd to fund the delivery of the ‘Hastings 2066 – An Augmented Town and its Digital Twin’ project;

(vii) grant funding to the value of £100,100 to Hastings Voluntary Action to fund the delivery of the ‘VCSE Future Proofing Initiative (Building Community Connections)’ project;

(viii) grant funding to the value of £370,000 to Digital Islands Business Services Ltd to fund the delivery of the ‘Innovation, Learning & Collaboration Platform’ project;

(ix) grant funding to the value of £529,287 to Sussex Innovation to fund the delivery of the ‘The Innovation Masters Programme’ project;

(x) grant funding to the value of £150,000 to Seaford Community Partnership to fund the delivery of the ‘Seaford Sustainable Spaces’ project;

(xi) grant funding to the value of £256,580’ to Hastings Music Festival Ltd to fund the delivery of the ‘Hastings International Piano’ project; and

(3)        Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport , as the Council’s appointed UKCRF Senior Responsible Owner, in consultation with the Section 151 Chief Finance Officer, to agree the terms of the UKCRF grant agreement between MHCLG and ESCC and the grant agreements between ESCC and the above project delivery bodies, and take all other necessary actions as required to implement Recommendation 2 above.

Reasons

6.3       The UK Community Renewal Fund monies will support people and communities most in need to pilot programmes as well as new and innovative approaches that invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment. The outcomes and evaluation of these projects and programmes will help the County Council alongside scheme promoters to develop and refine their projects ahead of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund coming forward from 2022/23 onwards.

6.4       The final list of projects, as set out in Annex 2 was submitted to MHCLG for consideration on 18 June 2021 and these were identified following a thorough assessment and prioritisation process as those that stand the greatest chance of being awarded funding and having the greatest impact on the East Sussex economy.