Agenda item

The Leader to presented the report to Cabinet colleagues, highlighting the Council’s progress on shortlisting of projects for the UK Community Renewal Fund that would be submitted to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government by 18 June.

In March, the Conservative government announced in their budget they would be launching the UK Community Renewal Fund, which was the precursor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022 and would replace the EU Structural Funding, which Newport and South East Wales benefited from in the past.

This was all part of the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda which included the Levelling Up Fund that was also presented at Cabinet.

The purpose of the Renewal Fund was to support local communities and the economy focusing on four themes:

1.      Investment in Skills;

2.      Investment for local business

3.      Investment in communities and place

4.      Supporting people into employment

Additionally there was also emphasis for applicants to demonstrate how their projects would support decarbonisation and climate change agendas.

The UK Government announced that 100 places (local authorities) across the UK would have priority in accessing the Fund based upon their index of economic resilience. 

Unfortunately, Newport had not been identified as a priority area but was still able to submit a shortlist applications to the Fund.

Each local authority could submit any number of applications up to the combined value of £3 million.

Organisations from the private, public including local authorities, charities, not for profit and education establishments were able to apply for the funding through an open invitation. 

In April, Newport Council launched its invitation to organisations to submit their application by the 21 May through its website. 

Applicants were asked not only to demonstrate how they would support the four themes identified in the UK Government prospectus but how they would also support Newport’s priorities which were included in its Public Services Board (One Newport) Wellbeing Plan, the Council’s Corporate Plan, the Council’s Covid Recovery Aims and other key strategic priorities such as climate change.

Despite the short timescales imposed by the UK Government for local authorities to set up and invite organisations to apply, and organisations to submit their applications, we received 11 applications totalling £3.4million.

The range of applications received from organisations were of high quality and all could have easily supported the strategic priorities for the City of Newport.

Myself as Chair of the Public Service Board, alongside Councillor Hughes (Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development), Beverly Owen (Chief Executive) and partner representatives from the Public Services Board have assessed the applications.  The scores for shortlisting were based upon their criteria of meeting national and local strategic priorities, the social value and outcomes that would benefit Newport’s communities and economy, and ensuring the projects were inclusive of the communities and groups across Newport.

The Leader was pleased to confirm that that Assessment Panel have determined that the  following shortlisted applications were successful and should be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

§  Business in Focus

§  Ffilm Wales Cymru

§  TrosGynnal Plant (TGP )

§  Pobl

§  Maindee Unlimited

§  Newport Now

§  University of South Wales (USW)

§  Volunteering Matters

Councillor Rahman declared an interest as a Trustee of Maindee Unlimited at this juncture and therefore took not part in the decision.

On behalf of the Panel, all of the organisations had provided applications that could have been submitted to the UK Government and it was a very challenging and thorough examination to shortlist the applications that would be submitted.

Unfortunately, this would not guarantee that the applications submitted by the Council would be successful in obtaining the funding from the UK Government and we would all have to wait until July to find out the outcomes of the evaluation process.

Whether the organisations were successful or not and also for those organisations that were not shortlisted, the Leader took the opportunity to thank everyone for taking out their time to submit their applications.  The Leader also wanted to encourage all the organisations to consider continuing to deliver their proposals for Newport as they would all have an impact on improving people’s lives.  

The Leader also encouraged them to seek other opportunities to access grant funding that was offered by the Welsh Government and other Welsh bodies, which could help them achieve their goals.

In conclusion, a further update would be provided to Cabinet and the Public Service Board on the outcome of the evaluation process by UK Government and when the Shared Prosperity Fund was launched next year, Newport would once again look to support organisations to access the funding. 

Cabinet Member Comments:

With reference to Volunteering Matters, Councillor Mayer stressed the importance of helping the most vulnerable and referred to the shared community hub’s advertisement asking for support as well as helping the most vulnerable in their search for jobs. 

Councillor Hughes also mentioned the positive impact the funding would have on the city if the bidding submission was successful.

Councillor Harvey echoed Councillor Mayer’s comments and wanted to assure residents that Newport City Council would be supporting the most vulnerable.

Councillor Cockeram also echoed the comments of his Cabinet Member colleagues.

Decision:

Cabinet endorsed the progress of work undertaken by Newport Council and recommended the shortlisted applications, which would be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.