Supplementary Pack 1
Argyll and Bute Council · 25 April 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 25 April 2024 and its agenda
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Argyll and Bute Council Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal Agus Bhòid Executive Director: Douglas Hendry Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT Tel: 01546 602127 Fax: 01546 604435 DX 599700 LOCHGILPHEAD 19 April 2024 SUPPLEMENTARY PACK 1 ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL - ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, KILMORY, LOCHGILPHEAD AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on THURSDAY, 25 APRIL 2024 at 10:30 AM I enclose herewith item 12 (UK SHARED PROSPERITY FUND - VIBRANT & LIVING SPACES GRANT FUND - ALLOCATION OF FUNDING) which was marked to follow on the Agenda for the above meeting. Douglas Hendry Executive Director ITEM TO FOLLOW 12. UK SHARED PROSPERITY FUND - VIBRANT & LIVING SPACES GRANT FUND - ALLOCATION OF FUNDING (Pages 3 - 8) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth Argyll and Bute Council Contact: Hazel MacInnes Tel:01546 604269 Public Document Pack
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 25 APRIL 2024 UK SHARED PROSPERITY FUND – VIBRANT AND LIVING SPACES GRANT FUND – ALLOCATION OF FUNDING 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 On 11th August 2022, Policy and Resources Committee agreed the Investment Plan for Argyll and Bute Council’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF). The Investment Plan included an allocation of £304,262 of capital funding to create a Vibrant and Living Spaces Grant Fund. This report asks Council to approve the projects recommended for funding to allow successful projects to start delivery, as under the current criteria for the UKSPF funding, projects need to be completed and fully drawn down by 31st March 2025 with no opportunity for grant funding to be carried forward into the 2025/26 financial year. 1.2 Following an open application process, Argyll and Bute Council received 38 applications from community organisations across Argyll and Bute. In total, this amounted to a funding request of £1,328,612.31. Following closure of the fund, a robust assessment process took place in line with the UK Government and Council guidance issued to applicants. For projects which met the minimum scoring requirement, it is proposed that funding is allocated to the highest scoring projects, with 9 projects being recommended to be funded as outlined in paragraph 4.2 (Table 1) of this report. 1.3 The total grant awarded under the proposals set out in paragraph 4.2 amounts to £302,974 of grant award and leaves a small surplus of £1,288 which is proposed to be held to enable small uplifts of funding to be awarded to any approved project which may experience price increases or require additional works within the scope of the project. 1.4 It is recommended that Council agrees:- 1. The recommended projects in paragraph 4.2 are taken forward to be offered a grant at the level of funding set out; Page 3 Agenda Item 12
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2. The remaining small surplus is held to address any shortfalls in project budgets as they progress; 3. Delegated authority be given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader and Depute Leader in regard to any necessary future changes required between specific allocations subject to not exceeding the budget available. Page 4
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 25 APRIL 2024 UK SHARED PROSPERITY FUND – VIBRANT AND LIVING SPACES GRANT FUND – ALLOCATION OF FUNDING 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 On 11th August 2022, Policy and Resources Committee agreed the Investment Plan for Argyll and Bute Council’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF). The Investment Plan included an allocation of £304,262 of capital funding to create a Vibrant and Living Spaces Grant Fund. This report asks Council to approve the projects recommended for funding to allow successful projects to start delivery, as under the current criteria for the UKSPF funding, projects need to be completed and fully drawn down by 31 March 2025 with no opportunity for grant funding to be carried forward into the 2025/26 financial year. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that Council agrees:- 1. The recommended projects in paragraph 4.2 are taken forward to be offered a grant at the level of funding set out; 2. The remaining small surplus is held to address any shortfalls in project budgets as they progress; 3. Delegated authority be given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader and Depute Leader in regard to any necessary future changes required between specific allocations subject to not exceeding the budget available. Page 5
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4.0 DETAIL 4.1 Argyll and Bute Council launched an open call for applications on 12th January 2024 with a closing date of Friday 23rd February 2024. The fund was promoted by the Council’s Corporate Communications Team and Community Development Team. Applications were considered from organisations which have a not for profit status (such as registered charity, social enterprise or community interest group) and Argyll and Bute Council received 38 applications in total which amounted to a funding request of £1,328,612.31, more than £1m over the funding available. 4.2 Following closure of the fund, a robust assessment process took place in line with the guidance issued to applicants. For projects which met the minimum scoring requirement, it is proposed that funding is allocated to the highest scoring projects until such time as only minimal funding remains. The following 9 projects are recommended to be funded: Table 1: Recommended projects for the UKSPF Vibrant and Living Spaces Grant Organisation Project Grant requested Grant proposed We Are With You Bute Recovery Hub £17,000.00 £17,000 MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust Improving the World of Trees £37,346.00 £37,346 Cove Sailing Club SCIO Club House Build £49,998.00 £49,998 Mull and Iona Community Trust Dorus Caolas Ulbha – Sound of Ulva Gateway Heritage Interpretation £25,500.00 £25,000 Dunoon Community Development Trust Grow Food Grow Dunoon at Struan Lodge £17,120.00 £17,120 Tayvallich Initiative Ltd Tayvallich Grows £10,098.00 £10,045 Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust Gigha MUGA £50,000.00 £50,000 Project 81 Youth and Community Enterprise Community Garden Room £46,523.85 £46,465 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (Benmore Botanic Garden) Benmore Walled Garden Redevelopment, Phase 1 £50,000.00 £50,000 4.3 The 9 successful projects split across the administrative areas as follows: Table 2: Administrative area split of UKSPF Vibrant and Living Spaces Grant allocation Page 6
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Area Number of Projects Value of Projects Value of Grant Bute and Cowal 3 £235,120.00 £84,120 Helensburgh and Lomond 2 £735,150.85 £96,463 Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands 2 £170,098.00 £60,045 Oban, Lorn and the Isles 2 £67,846.00 £62,346 4.4 Under the current criteria for the UKSPF, projects need to be completed and fully drawn down by 31 March 2025 with no opportunity for grant funding to be carried forward into the 2025/26 financial year. 4.5 The total grant awarded under the proposals set out in paragraph 4.2 amounts to £302,974 of grant award. This leaves a small surplus of £1,288. Since the remaining unallocated value is below the £10,000 minimum grant threshold, we therefore seek to hold this to enable small uplifts of funding to be awarded to any approved project which may experience price increases or require additional works within the scope of the project. 4.6 It is proposed that delegated authority be given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader and Depute Leader in regard to any necessary future changes required between specific allocations subject to not exceeding the budget available. 4.7 Subject to the agreement of Council, we now propose to award grants to the successful applicants in line with the standard grant offer format provided for this fund. Where possible, unsuccessful projects will be signposted to other sources of support and funding. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 As outlined above, an open competitive application process has been carried out to identify potential recipients of the Vibrant and Living Spaces Fund. This has been followed by a robust assessment process in line with guidance issued to applicants. The application and assessment process has now been completed and the highest scoring projects identified. Subject to Council approval, we will now move to the award of grant contracts and work with the projects towards project delivery. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy - projects are expected to support communities providing new and improved facilities which will support Council policy objectives contained within the Local Outcome Improvement Plan, Economic Strategy and others. All projects have been scored against the contribution that they make to Council plans and strategies. Page 7
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6.2 Financial - external funding of £304,262 has been granted to cover the costs of these grants. 6.3 Legal – support from the legal team will be required to review the draft grant agreements which will condition the use of the grants and their associated drawdown and reporting. 6.4 HR - officer time has been required to run the application and assessment process and continued involvement will be required liaising with community organisations in relation to the funding. 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics - all organisations receiving grants will be expected to meet relevant equalities requirements. 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty - the projects will support socio-economic development for those groups who receive funding. 6.5.3 Islands – grants are recommended to be awarded to projects within 3 of our islands – Bute, Gigha and Mull. All island based community organisations had the opportunity to submit applications. 6.6 Climate Change - some of the projects receiving funding will contribute directly to helping to organisations address climate change requirements. 6.7 Risk - the main risk associated with the funding is that projects will not progress as expected and not all funding will be able to be drawn down. 6.8 Customer Service – n/a. 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – all organisations receiving grants will be expected to meet relevant UNCRC requirements. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth 25 March 2024 For further information contact: Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth Fergus.Murray@argyll-bute.gov.uk Anna Watkiss, Senior Planning Development Officer Anna.Watkiss@argyll-bute.gov.uk Page 8