2 - Place Based Investment Programme 24 25 Update - AM reviewed
Renfrewshire Council · 5 November 2024
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 5 November 2024 and its agenda
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Page 1 of 4 ___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Board On: 5 November 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Place Based Improvement Programme 2024/25 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update members on the 2024/25 allocation of Scottish Government Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) and the projects being developed for delivery. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: (i) Approves the proposed projects for the 24/25 allocation for the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) set out in this report; (ii) Notes that progress on delivery of these projects will be reported to the Board as appropriate. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Economy and Regeneration Board of 19 March 2024 noted progress on actions to deliver projects from a range of external funding sources and approved projects to be funded through the 2023/24 allocation of the Scottish Government’s Place-Based Investment Programme. 3.2 The Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP) is a capital funding programme directly allocated to local authorities, available to the Council in various forms since 2019. This funding supports capital investment and the delivery of actions within our town centre strategies, community-led regeneration proposals, and community-led place plans, thereby accelerating the Council’s broader placeshaping agenda.
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Page 2 of 4 3.3 The 2023/24 allocation of the fund approved at Board has recently supported a range of projects including delivery of landscape enhancements at the Wallace Monument, Elderslie as well as the Retail Improvement Grant Scheme and Historic Buildings in Villages Grant Scheme. ___________________________________________________________________ 4. Place Based Investment Programme – 2024/25 4.1 In early summer 2024 the Scottish Government announced that in view of wider public finance constraints, national funding streams such as the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Vacant and Derelict Land Fund were to be paused. 4.2 In respect of PBIP, the Scottish Government indicated that allocations would be restricted to support projects already underway. In addition, funding would be limited to a maximum value of 50% of the allocation the Council had anticipated (based on previous announcements) in order to protect the value for money of projects already in progress. 4.3 In view of the above, a strategic review was undertaken by officers to identify those projects most advanced and at risk of stalling, in the event funding was withdrawn. Two projects were identified as those most at risk in this context, as set out in Table 1 below. Table 1: Place Based Investment Fund Projects 2024/25 Project summary Estimated Cost Estimated Completion Ferguslie Green Line: Neighbourhood Centre Activity Hub Transformation of 1.55 hectares of long term vacant and derelict land to provide an active recreational hub within the heart of Ferguslie Park, Paisley, delivering a key element of the community led Making of Ferguslie Local Place Plan. The project provides a new multi-use games area and community space as well as enhancing active travel connections within the neighbourhood. £500,000 Autumn 2025 Castle Semple enhancements: Visitor Facility Demolition of an existing toilet block which is in a poor state of repair and construction of a new cycle hub facility as well as providing new accessible toilet facilities. The project delivers a key element of the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan (STIPD) for Clyde Muirshiel Regional and Castle Semple Country Parks and aligns closely with Renfrewshire’s Tourism Plan 2024-27. £500,000 Early Winter 2025
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Page 3 of 4 4.4 Following the consideration of information provided by officers, the Scottish Government has recently advised that an allocation of £300,000 will be provided to the Council under PBIP for 2024/25. Subject to Board approval, it is anticipated that this allocation will be used to match fund and support the delivery of projects identified in Table 1. ___________________________________________________________________ 5. Next Steps 5.1 Officers will continue to monitor national funding programmes and external funding sources to support delivery of the variety of additional projects under development and which align with the Council’s Placeshaping ambitions. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – PBIP allocation will be utilised to match fund the projects identified in Table 1 above. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None 3. Community/Council Planning – Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy – The delivery of projects supports the Council’s wider placeshaping agenda, improving quality of place, our neighbourhoods and town centres. 4. Legal – None 5. Property/Assets – None 6. Information Technology – None 7. Equality & Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – None 9. Procurement – None 10. Risk – None 11. Privacy Impact – None
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Page 4 of 4 12. Climate Risk – Implementation of the project within Renfrewshire will support the Council’s Plan for Net Zero through enhanced active travel linkages and supporting living well locally. 13. Children’s Rights – None 14. Cosla Policy Position – None _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Regeneration Funding Bids Update. Economy and Development Policy Board, 19 March 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Euan Shearer, Regeneration and Place Manager euan.shearer@renfrewshire.gov.uk Tel: 07483 136235