Purpose

In February 2023, the Chief Executive approved
an initial skeleton programme of UKSPF projects and gave authority
to the Development and Regeneration Manager to issue ‘call
outs’ for additional project proposals. Two call outs were
subsequently launched, and project proposals received in response
to that call out have been appraised by an external specialist
team.
 
After recommended projects were approved, some
£584,352 of UKSPF core funds remained unallocated. In
addition, a further £337,000 became available when a project
supporting local businesses declared it cannot spend fully during
2024/25 financial year. This decision allocates all these funds to
existing already approved projects. The allocation process involved
inviting applications from qualifying projects and is consistent
with the recommendations from the independent assessor as presented
to and adopted by the relevant UKSPF  Programme Board and the Local Partnership
Group.
 
To authorise the spending of UKSPF on internal
CEC projects does not negate the requirement for individual project
leads to ensure they have in place other necessary approvals for
their project such as ensuring capital projects are included in the
capital programme and that any necessary virements are approved,
that grant schemes are approved.

Content

i. To approve the
allocation of additional UKSPF to already approved projects as
identified in Appendix A.
 
ii. To approve associated amendments to the
Cheshire  East UKSPF Investment Plan as
set out in Appendix B.
 
iii. For Council led projects approved, to
authorise project leads to spend the UKSPF allocated for their
projects, subject to the separate approval of supplementary
estimates for the relevant year of funding, and any other necessary
approvals required to authorise individual projects.
 
iv. For external led projects, to authorise
the Head of Economic Development to issue revised offer letters and
Grant Funding Agreements to external project proposers advising
them of appropriate conditions for the funding to be released.