4 - Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2022
Renfrewshire Council · 14 June 2022
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 14 June 2022 and its agenda
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 14 June 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 National government funding of regeneration projects and programmes has expanded over the last year as both the Scottish and UK Governments have announced new funding programmes. The Leadership Board of June 2021 agreed to a set of priorities for projects that officers will pursue the delivery of through applications to appropriate funding programmes and by utilising capital budget available from the Council budget. This report updates the Board on progress over 2021 in delivering on these priorities and presents the programmes being developed in 2022. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Board: (i) Homologates the decision of the Director of Finance and Resources to accept the grant offer from the Scottish Government Place Based Investment Programme of £1.038 million for 2022/23. (ii) Notes the progress and continuing actions to deliver projects from the range of regeneration funds identified in the report. (iii) Notes the submission of the Kibble/St Mirren Foundation wellbeing project to this year’s round of applications for the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. _________________________________________________________
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3. Background 3.1 The funding of regeneration projects and programmes has been reliant on support from national government, often with ‘match-funding’ coming from the Council. The main and longest running fund is the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) through which the Council has secured support for the Russell Institute, Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub and for Paisley Museum. The RCGF also supports projects run by other organisations (with the grant being passed to the Council to manage), with the projects promoted by Linwood Community Development Trust, Active Communities, Johnstone and PACE Youth Theatre being supported very recently. 3.2 The RCGF is an annual competitive fund with applications coming from all 32 Scottish local authorities plus the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company. The fund is always substantially over subscribed, meaning that many projects that are put forward are not funded. As a response to this the Scottish Government in 2019 launched the Town Centre Fund which was quickly superseded by the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP). This is a five year programme to enable projects to be funded at a local authority level. In 2021/22 £1.195m was awarded with in £1.038m being available for 2022/23. 3.3 Earlier this year the Scottish Government announced that the RCGF application for PACE Youth Theatre’s ‘Exchange’ Theatre in Paisley has been successful. This followed considerable work over 2020 and 2021 to build up the project, its business case and its regeneration outcomes. The award of £800,000 now forms a substantial element of the capital funding required to deliver the project (based in the former Mannequins nightclub building on New Sneddon Street) and has had the effect of unlocking at least one further large grant award from the Garfield Weston Foundation. Officers continue to work closely with PACE to realise the project. 3.4 In September 2021 the Leadership Board approved a set of priorities for the Place Based Investment Programme. Progress is summarised below. Table 1 Place Based Investment Fund Projects 2021 awards, summary update at May 2022 Project summary Launch Appl’ns Awards Complete 1. Renfrewshire Shopfront Improvement Scheme (2021) - Grant scheme to support shop front improvements Sep’ 2022 Design Tender On-site Complete 2. Heritage Renewal Programme - Support for building restoration to town centre buildings i. 5 George Place, Paisley restoration and refurbishment October 2022
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Design Tender On-site Complete ii. 32 High Street (The Liberal Club), Paisley restoration and refurbishment Sep’ 2022 April 2023 3. Prominent Building Repair - Urgent repairs to key buildings i. Oakshaw Church Tower July 2022 Oct’ 2022 ii. St Matthews Church, Paisley July 2022 Sep’ 2022 4. Start-Up Street, Renfrew at Dunlop Crescent, Renfrew – refit of vacant shop units Aug’ 2022 5. Lighting Programme - extending work on town centres lighting - buildings, lanes and spaces using LED technology i. John Neilson Institute, Oakshaw June 2022 July 2022 6. Active Communities – supplement to delivery of Health and Wellbeing hub - capital costs 4. Capital funding for regeneration projects 4.1 The Leadership Board of September 2021 covered in detail the full range of alternative external capital funds currently available. This range has extended this year with new funds announced by Government and other agencies. The current funding environment of relevance to regeneration activities in Renfrewshire is therefore the: Levelling-Up Fund (UK Government) available to 2024/25. Shared Prosperity Fund (UK Government) see separate report to this Board, current round to 2024/25. Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) (Scottish Government), awards by application, annual funding rounds. Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) (Scottish Government), awards by application, annual funding rounds. Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP), (Scottish Government), annual direct awards to local authorities.
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Heritage and Place Programme, (Historic Environment Scotland), new programme round open in 2022. National Heritage Lottery Fund – various programmes that can combine with the Heritage and Place Programme. Water Environment Framework, (SEPA), projects instigated by SEPA as part of River Basin Management Planning, projects must now have ‘place’ outcomes. 5. Actions for 2022 5.1 The recent launches of regeneration funding streams set out above have shown that being in a strong position to react to opportunities as they arise will give the Council and other Renfrewshire organisations a much greater chance of securing funds, mobilising and delivering projects efficiently and effectively. Projects must tackle quality of place, neighbourhoods, new purposes for town centres, climate change adaptation, zero carbon infrastructure and the reprovisioning of property and space at a large scale. 5.2 In 2022 we are making preparations to: i) Submit a LUF bid for Renfrew town centre focussing on the Victory Baths and former Renfrew Police Station. ii) Submit a RCGF bid in support of Kibble and the St Mirren Foundation’s proposals for a Wellbeing Centre on vacant land adjacent to the St Mirren Stadium. iii) Submit an ‘Expression of Interest’, and if accepted a Stage 1 application, for a Heritage and Place Fund programme focussing on the heritage of Renfrewshire’s villages. iv) Support a SEPA Water Environment Framework feasibility study for the deculverting of the Candren Burn and associated landscape works in Ferguslie. v) Prepare programmes for the VDLIP for projects associated with ‘The Making of Ferguslie Park’, and potentially other communities, for submission in 2023. vi) Advance feasibility work through the Shared Prosperity Fund to develop business cases for future Place Based Investment Programme and Council capital programme work, particularly relating to climate resilience projects in town centres, energy efficiency in community assets and the potentials for redevelopment and future funding bids for Johnstone town centre.
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vii) Deliver a 2022/23 programme of projects from the Place Based Investment Programme – continuing the work to support heritage building repairs, town centre/architectural low carbon lighting and specific projects this year to include: Ferguslie ‘Green Line’ walking and active travel route The Sculpture House – refurbishment of Craigielea House as artists studios, Blackstoun Road, Paisley Projects emerging from work on improving active travel links to major employment locations around Renfrewshire 5.3 A separate report on this agenda deals with the submission of the LUF bid for Renfrew. 5.4 Further reports will be brought to the Economy and Regeneration Board as and when grants offers are made from funders. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – Government grants awarded to the Council are monitored in accordance with the terms and conditions of grant. The Council will liaise with the Scottish Government to comply with drawdown and financial reporting requirements. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community Planning – Reshaping our place, our economy and our future: Renfrewshire Council is working with stakeholders to maximise the opportunities for regeneration and economic recovery/growth. Building strong, safe and resilient communities: working in partnership with local groups and organisations to achieve positive outcomes. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets Any acquisitions, leases or licenses required to enable project delivery using any funding awarded will progress through the recognised Council processes and with relevant Board approvals. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality and Human Rights (a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights.
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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. An Equality Impact Assessment is being prepared as part of the project requirements. 8. Health and Safety – None. 9. Procurement – A programme of contract processes will be developed with the advice of the Council’s Procurement team to secure effective and best value project delivery. 10. Risks - None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. Cosla Policy Position - Not applicable. 13. Climate Risk - No identified impacts at present. __________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers 1. Report to Leadership Board, 15th September 2021 - Place Based Investment Fund 2021/22 2. Report to Leadership Board, 16th June 2021 – Regeneration Funds, Bids Update – Priority Themes 3. Report to Leadership Board, 2nd December 2020 - Extension to the Scottish Government Town Centre Fund 2020 – 2021. 4. Report to Leadership Board, 19th June 2019 – Town Centre Capital Fund. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Stuart McMillan, Regeneration Manager Tel: 07958 009520