13. DirApp - Pride in Place - FINAL - post ELT - 15-01-26
North Ayrshire Council · 27 January 2026
Back to Cabinet — 27 January 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 27 January 2026 Cabinet Title: Pride in Place Impact Fund Purpose: To seek approval for the approach to the Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF) and the geographic allocation of the programme. Recommendation: That Cabinet: a) Approves the proposed delivery methodology and approach to the allocation of the PiPIF; and b) Agrees to receive a further report updating on the progress of the PiPIF allocation. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 In September 2025, the UK Government announced the new Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF) which will see £1.5m of capital funding over two years being invested across North Ayrshire, alongside 94 other places across the UK. The fund aims to support the development of shared community spaces, revitalise local high streets and improve public spaces. 1.2 PiPIF aims to complement the Pride in Place Programme through the provision of immediate support. It is a flexible fund which recognises Local Authorities and local stakeholders are best placed to manage investment to increase pride within their neighbourhoods and communities. 1.3 Cabinet agreed on 2 December 2025 that PiPIF would target areas of North Ayrshire which have not benefited from Pride in Place funding which includes Plan for Neighbourhood funding. It is proposed that PiPIF will be delivered in three ways: a direct allocation to participatory budgeting in the eligible localities, a community funding allocation and direct council led delivery of projects informed by the Regeneration Delivery Plan and associated strategies and plans. 2. Background 2.1 The Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF) was announced on 25 September 2025, with a prospectus published outlining the methodology, allocation and delivery mechanism for the funding. North Ayrshire Council was directly awarded £1.5m of capital funding to deliver on the PiPIF priorities. Funding will be released equally across two financial years, with £0.75m to be received in 2025/26, and a further £0.75m in 2026/27. Given the timing of the funds being released, UK Government has confirmed that funds to be
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received in 2025/26 can be carried forward. Full financial commitments are required by the end of March 2027 with delivery to follow shortly thereafter if required. 2.2 The PiPIF aims to support three core objectives which the proposed delivery methodology seeks to deliver across: • Community Spaces: investing in community facilities gives local people greater control over the spaces that matter to them. Refurbishing or taking ownership of underused but valued buildings. • Public Spaces: enhancing public spaces e.g. playparks, streetscape, signage, public art – encouraging people to spend time outdoors, build relationships and take part in local activities. • High Street and Town Centre Revitalisation: making town and city centres more attractive and welcoming, attracting people and supporting local businesses and economies. 2.3 Local Authorities are the accountable body for the funding and are required to work closely with local stakeholders to identify and invest in interventions which meet local need. Funding is to be managed within existing governance frameworks of local authorities, with oversight of the Section 95 Officer. Local authorities are also required to engage with their local MP and stakeholders on how the fund is to be spent, ensuring complementary activity across the local authority. 2.4 The indicative timeline for reporting of the fund can be summarised as follows: • 16 February 2026: Local Authorities to return a progress summary; an initial spend forecast across the three objectives for September 2025 to March 2026; and a forecast for the full PiPIF to March 2027. • Financial reporting will then be required on a six-monthly basis to MHCLG from May 2026 to closure of the fund. 2.5 The strategic approach proposed for PiPIF agreed by Cabinet on 2 December is to target areas in North Ayrshire which have not benefitted from other Pride in Place Programme Funding. The Three Towns were confirmed on 12 December 2025 as the Neighbourhood for the Pride in Place Programme. The proposals for delivery and allocation therefore exclude the Three Towns and Irvine Localities as they are in receipt of Pride in Place Programme and Plan for Neighbourhoods funding allocations respectively. 2.6 The proposed approach targets the remaining localities and is allocated proportionately by population. It is proposed that PiPIF will be delivered through Participatory Budgeting contributions to the identified localities, community funding through a competitive grant fund and direct council delivery of small-scale regeneration projects in line with the identified fund objectives and the needs of the communities. There are a number of existing grant funds administered by the Council such as the Communities and Place Fund and the Community Investment Fund (CIF). Officers will explore appropriate methodologies of administering and disbursing the proposed grant fund to align with Locality Planning.
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2.7 The Council and local communities have undertaken extensive engagement and will draw from these plans to deliver on the needs of communities which have already been identified. The Regeneration Delivery Plan, alongside Locality Plans, Place Plans and Place Frameworks, demonstrate the community priorities which will inform the project selection alongside engagement with the local MP, Elected Ward Members, Locality Partnerships and Community Stakeholders. 2.8 To align with the short funding timescales and type of projects supported by the Fund, it is proposed that Council Led projects be allocated 60% of the funding to ensure impactful delivery. Officers have conducted an initial call for projects across Council services informed by and to further complement the above plans. The local MP has been consulted on the proposed approach. 2.9 The proposed allocations are summarised as follows: Total Value Population 2022 Data Location Council Led Community Grant Fund £0.514m 23,128 North Coast Locality £0.308M £0.206M £0.439m 19,697 Garnock Valley Locality £0.263M £0.176M £0.356m 15,707 Kilwinning Locality £0.214M £0.142M £0.111m 4,611 Arran Locality £0.067M £0.044M £0.015M N/A Participatory Budgeting £0 £0.015M £0.065m Project officer support – 2 Year Temporary Post £1.500m Overall Total 2.10 The proposed delivery timescale for the programme is outlined below: Task Delivery Timescale Projects Identified through review of current community plans and cross service engagement. Winter 2025/Spring 2026 Community Stakeholder and Elected Member Update Spring 2026 Participatory Budgeting Autumn 2026 Programme Closure March 2027 3. Proposals 3.1 That Cabinet: a) Approves the proposed delivery methodology and approach to the allocation of the PiPIF; and b) Agrees to receive a further report updating on the progress of the PiPIF.
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4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 The PiPIF is a 100% capital fund. The PiPIF programme notes the intention to use the Financial Assistance power under Section 50 of the UK Internal Market Act to fund areas directly whilst working with the Scottish Government to determine the most appropriate delivery structure. Human Resources 4.2 Staff resource will be required to support the delivery of the fund. The cost of this will be partially met through the funding award, as outlined above and supported through additional council resources. Legal 4.3 The legal implications of the PiPIF will be considered through its development and Legal advice taken as necessary. Legal agreements will be developed on a project- by-project basis as required with support from Legal Services. Negotiation in relation to land and building acquisitions will be undertaken as necessary with support from the Council’s Legal Services and Property Management and Investment Service. Mechanisms such as Compulsory Purchase Orders will be considered on a case-by- case basis, where considered appropriate. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 The fund aims to support town centre regeneration and promote economic development. The UK Government’s methodology for allocation considers metrics covering skills, pay, productivity and health alongside the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. This approach aims to ensure funding is directly award to the areas which will benefit most. The development and implementation of the PiPIF will provide opportunities to: • Reverse economic, social and physical decline and reduce socio-economic disadvantage within neighbourhoods; • Tackle long term vacant and derelict land and buildings thereby reducing their levels and impact on the community; and • Build community wealth and tackle local deprivation through the regeneration of the neighbourhoods by maximising the potential of land and assets. An initial screening will be undertaken to establish if an Equality and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment is required for individual programme elements on a case-by-case basis. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 The development of PiPIF will enable the delivery of projects aimed at revitalising the most ‘in-need’ neighbourhoods in North Ayrshire. This could include promoting and improving active travel, reducing vacant and derelict land and carbon reduction measures. This aligns with the priorities of the Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy
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and the commitment to reduce carbon emissions through declaration of a Climate Emergency. This will also contribute to the ambition to achieve net zero by 2030. Key Priorities 4.6 The development and implementation of PiPIF will support all four of the Council Plan’s priorities and strategic aims of: • Wellbeing: To transition to a wellbeing economy, delivering prosperity, wellbeing and resilience for local people. • Communities and Local Democracy: We will have active, inclusive and resilient communities. • Climate Change: To achieve net-zero by 2030. • A Sustainable Council: A Community Wealth Building Council that is efficient and accessible, maximising investment and focusing resources towards our priorities. Community Wealth Building 4.7 PiPIF has the local community at the heart of their methodology. The programme aims to ensure investment is targeted at local priorities and empower local communities to contribute to the regeneration of neighbourhoods across North Ayrshire. A Community Wealth Building approach will be adopted in the delivery of the PiPIF, ensuring it contributes across the pillars of: • Land and Assets: by supporting equitable land development and the development of underutilised assets for community use. • Procurement: through the inclusion of appropriate community benefit of local supplier clauses within projects; and by considering phasing and programming of projects to create local supply chain opportunities and support delivery by smaller scale and local contractors where appropriate. • Fair Employment: by supporting the creation of employment opportunities particularly within the construction sector. Where North Ayrshire is procuring services, through our enhanced Community Benefits approach we will seek to ensure the creation of local training and work experience opportunities. Consideration will also be given to delivery through employability programmes where appropriate. • Financial Power: by investing in neighbourhoods and leveraging additional external investment. Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) 4.8 None. United Nations Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 4.9 None. Consumer Duty 4.10 None.
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5. Consultation 5.1 PiPIF aims to ensure that local people are at the heart of decisions, through the requirement for engagement with stakeholders on where the PiPIF should be spent. The local MP has been consulted on the proposed approach to the Fund. The programme will be informed by previous engagement exercises and additional stakeholder engagement to ensure priorities of the identified communities are being met. It will build on work to date, Locality Partnership’s priorities, the Regeneration Delivery Plan and previous consultation exercises and be informed by engagement with the local MP, Elected Ward Members, Locality Partnerships and Community Stakeholders. The Fund will be promoted through and updates will be provided to the identified Locality Partnerships. RUSSELL McCUTCHEON Executive Director (Place) For further information please contact Claire Fitzsimmons, Senior Manager Regeneration, on 01294 315305. Background Papers Cabinet Report – Pride in Place Programme, 2 December 2025