Purpose

The provide details of the Green Innovation
Corridor Levelling Up Round 3 scheme and to seek approval to
progress the project following Government's confirmation of the
grant award.

Content

1.     
That the creation of a supplementary capital budget of
£19,992,245, financed in full by the awarded grant, to
progress the project and defray the grant within the terms of any
conditionality and within specified funding window be approved.

 

2.     
That the Council enters into a Collaboration Agreement and any
other ancillary agreements with the University of Wolverhampton
(UoW) for the delivery of the Green Innovation Corridor (GIC)
scheme.

 

3.     
That the commissioning of key external professional and technical
services to include project management, cost management, design,
legal work via an appropriate procurement route in accordance with
the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Procurement Act 2023 and the
Council’s Contract Procedure Rules to progress the Green
Innovation Corridor Levelling Up Fund project through design,
procurement and delivery stages be approved.

 

4.     
That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to execute and
complete all legal documentation in relation to the above
matters.

 

5.     
That it be noted that the Council has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Department of Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities (DLUHC) in April 2024 to confirm its participation in
the Government’s Pathfinders Programme piloting a simplified
reporting mechanism for three capital funding programmes (Future
High Street Fund, Towns Deal and Levelling Up Fund).  In signing an addendum to the Pathfinders MOU, the
Council would formally accept this grant award of £19,992,245
for the Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor and in doing so
would act as Accountable Body for the grant.

 

6.     
That it be noted that in relation to recommendation 3, approval to
award contracts exceeding the delegation threshold (currently
£177,000) would be subject to further Cabinet approval.