Decision details

The Service Director, Prosperity and Development provided Cabinet with a summary of the UK Government Leveling Up Fund and the potential project opportunities and timescales for the development, appraisal, and submission of project applications.

Members were made aware of the 3 staged approach to assessment and decision making and referred Members to section 5 of the report which outlined the proposed projects.

The Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Planning commented on the significant amount of money across the four schemes and the recognition of the schemes across the County Borough.  The Cabinet Member spoke of the tight timescales in respect of the fund and the need for expenditure to be used within the financial year.  He also commented on the good working practice of demonstrated pipelines for future schemes in development and took the opportunity and thanked officers for the work involved.

The Leader commented on the opportunities for the County Borough if successful with the funding and how the Authority deserved to be recognised for the funding due to the high level of deprivations within the County Borough, the impact of the floods and the impact in respect of covid.

It was RESOLVED:

1.    To agree to progress development of a project application package for submission as set out in section 5 of the report.

(N.B. Due to the timescales in respect of the funding, it was advised that the decision would be taken forward as exempt from call in, subject to the agreement of the Presiding Officer.)