Acceptance of Community Renewal Fund grant for

North Yorkshire

REPORT TO; The Corporate Director Business and Environmental Services (BES); Corporate Director - Strategic Resources, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) and Executive Member for Open for Business, County Councillor Derek Bastiman.

DECISION DATE: 17 November 2021

SUPPORTING ANNEX: notification from MHCLG

PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Executive Member for Open to Business, in consultation with the Corporate Director - Business and Environmental Services to authorise the Corporate Director – Strategic Resources to accept the funding to North Yorkshire County Council of £768,876 of Community Renewal Funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

BACKGROUND TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION

Early in 2021 the Government announced the launch of the Community Renewal Fund, a national revenue based fund to support business, jobs, skills and communities throughout the UK.  North Yorkshire County Council was identified as the lead authority for the fund in North Yorkshire and as such was required to compile and submit project applications up to a value of £3m per district area.  Projects would subsequently be appraised and assessed by the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, and funding awarded to NYCC to support successful applications. Any funding awarded is to be fully spent by 31 March 2022.

On 18 June, on behalf of organisations in North Yorkshire, the County Council submitted a number of projects to the then MHCLG for funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund.  The submission was approved by the Council Executive on 8 June 2021.

Following project appraisal by the newly named Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, North Yorkshire County Council was notified on 03 November 2021 that one of its projects has been awarded funding:

Project Name                                                                                      Project Value

Delivering a Carbon-Negative Energy System in North Yorkshire,   £768,876

Due to delay in appraising applications the project completion date has been revised to 30 June 2022.  The funding will be paid to the Council in two equal payments, the first following grant acceptance and the second following project completion. 

LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE COMPLIANCE

The acceptance of Community Renewal Fund Grant is not subject to legal or procurement regulations other than for those organisations successful in being awarded funding and undertaking projects.

A governance structure has been set up for the management of the fund and the Director for Business and Environmental Services has been identified as the Senior Responsible Officer.  Contracts with grant recipients, monitoring and payment of grant funding to successful organisations will reflect the terms and conditions set out by MHCLG.  No payments will be made to successful projects prior to funding being received from Government.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Executive Member for Open to Business, in consultation with the Corporate Director - Business and Environmental Services to authorise the Corporate Director – Strategic Resources to accept the funding to North Yorkshire County Council of £768,876 of Community Renewal Funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Report Author:

Mark Kibblewhite, Senior Policy Officer

Date: 17 November 2021