Decision details

Decision Maker: Corporate Director (Economy & Place)

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is a Government initiative which allocates funding as an add-on to the existing UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Tendring has been allocated £659,335, to be spent across years 2023/24 (25%) and 2025/26 (75%).
The REPF is a capital funding opportunity with no allocation made within it for resourcing or administration costs. As an add-on to the UKSPF, Government anticipates that any resourcing costs will be met through the 4% allocation made through that scheme.
This allocation is designed to replace the previous LEADER and Growth Funds, which also focussed on rural areas, and projects should address one or both of the following themes:
•Support for Rural Businesses
•Investment in Rural Communities
Rural, in the criteria, is defined as a village of less than 10,000 people, or a market town with significant supply to surrounding rural areas, of no more than 30,000 people.
In order to access Tendring’s allocation, the Council must submit an addendum to the original UKSPF Investment Plan (submitted July 2022) to outline further identified REPF project/s. The deadline to do so, via online portal, is 30th November 2022.

Decision:

To submit an addendum to the Council's original UKSPF Investment Plan bid by the Government's deadline of 30 November 2022.

The Portfolio Holder for Business & Economic Growth, Councillor Mary Newton was consulted, and she has concurred with the submission of the investment plan addendum in order to access the funding.

Alternative options considered:

Option 1 - not applying to access the funding allocation. This option is not being taken forward as the funding is non competitive, and is designed to replace the previous LEADER and Growth Funds, which also focussed on rural areas.

Publication date: 24/11/2022

Date of decision: 23/11/2022