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The Head of Economic Growth presented the report to the Committee which provided an overview of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the mechanisms for delivery of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA’s) allocation. A proportion of LCR’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funds would be allocated for direct delivery by the six constituent Local Authorities with commencement expected in the financial year 2022/2023.

The report sought approval for the Council’s Phase 1 Investment Plan of £1.53m and delegated authority to commence delivery on receipt of the relevant grant funding permissions. 

Members were informed that the LCR allocation of UKSPF represented a significant reduction in funding for the region in comparison to funding received from European programmes between 2014 and 2020. The committee sought and obtained an explanation regarding the criteria for the 18.9% allotted allocation, the re-allocation of unspent funding and the level of compliance and reporting that the  Council will be undertaking on receipt of the funding.

Resolved – That

1.  the submission of Wirral Council’s Phase 1 Investment Plan to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) be endorsed.

2.  Delegated authority be granted to the Director of Regeneration and Place to:

(a)  make such changes to Wirral Council’s Phase 1 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (“UKSPF”) Investment Plan as may be necessary to reflect any feedback received from the LCRCA, provided such changes do not have a material impact on Council resources between different intervention areas.

(b)  review and accept the UKSPF Phase 1 grant funding agreement of £1.53m  from the LCRCA;

(c) commence delivery of the UKSPF Phase 1 programme in line with the grant funding agreement and change control process;

(d) ensure any spend in advance of the grant funding agreement is only in extenuating circumstances where the viability of any project is at risk due to financial timescales; and

(e) negotiate and accept management funds for the staffing resource assigned to management, monitoring and evaluation of the Wirral UKSPF Programme.