Purpose

To approve acceptance of the Coronation Living Heritage grant award to the value of £0.050m to create an onwards capital funding scheme for utilisation by community groups to plant community orchards.

Decision

That the Executive Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods: -

a)       Note the acceptance of £0.050m of external grant funding from Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for 2024/2025 financial year;

b)       Authorise the Head of Finance and the Head of Environmental Sustainability and Communities to sign the grant acceptance form attached at Appendix B; and

c)       Approve the inclusion of the ‘Community Orchards – Coronation Living Heritage Fund on the Environmental Sustainability Service 2023/24 and 2024/25 Capital Programme.

Alternative options considered

None – The Council welcomes the grant funding award to assist its financial position and allow for the provision of community orchards across Knowsley. There are not sufficient Council resources to otherwise source and plant orchard tree species across communities at this scale.