On 13 July 2022, the Policy, Resources and Economic Development (PRED) Committee granted delegated authority to the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Chair of PRED Committee, to prepare and submit an Investment Plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). On 1 August 2022, Brentwood Borough Council submitted its UKSPF Investment Plan. On 5 December 2022, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) confirmed that they had concluded the validation of the Brentwood Investment Plan.

Due to tight time constraints, a paper for decision was taken to the Community, Environment and Enforcement (CEE) Committee on 19 December 2022 to delegate authority to the Strategic Director to accept the 2022/23 UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant of £51,262 and to delegate authority to the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Chairs of the CEE and PRED Committees, to allocate funding for 2022/23 in line with the council’s submitted UKSPF Investment Plan.

A memorandum of understanding was subsequently signed by the council’s Chief Executive and returned to DLUHC on 20 December 2022 to accept the 2022/23 UKSPF grant of £51,262.

An AMENDMENT was MOVED by Cllr Lewis and SECONDED by Cllr Naylor for the deletion of the words “Chair of” for Recommendation 1 and 2.  After a discussion, the amendment was withdrawn by the mover and seconder. 

Members were asked to:

R1. Delegate authority to the Strategic Directors to accept the 2023/24 UKSPF grant of £102,524 and the 2024/25 UKSPF grant of £846,214.

R2. Delegate authority to the Strategic Directors, in consultation with the Chair of PRED Committee, to distribute funding from 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2025 in line with the council’s submitted UKSPF Investment Plan.

R3. Delegate authority to the Strategic Directors, in consultation with the Chair of PRED Committee, to revise UKSPF budgets as required between 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2025.

After a full discussion, Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Poppy SECONDED the recommendation in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY.