Local democracy

Issue - meetings

levelling up

Meeting: 08/06/2021 - Executive (Item 8)

8 BRADFORD COUNCIL'S APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT LEVELLING UP FUNDING pdf icon PDF 122 KB

The Government has recently announced a series of funding programmes for levelling up and economic growth. This includes:

 

-         The Levelling up fund - a £4.8 billion national fund with the aim in investing in high-value local infrastructure.  Of this, Bradford District has potential access to £100 million in capital funding (£20 million per Parliamentary constituency).

-         The Community Renewal Fund – where priority one areas such as Bradford District are entitled to up to £3 million investment to support skills, local businesses and communities and places.

-         The Towns Fund – Keighley and Shipley were selected by government as two of 101 places across England eligible for investment through the Towns Fund. We are currently awaiting a decision from the Government on our Towns Fund proposals for the two towns.

 

The purpose of the report of the Chief Executive (Document “B”) is to outline these upcoming and continuing opportunities and how we intend to make the most of these as an authority for the whole District.

 

Recommended -

 

(1)  That Executive note the information on the levelling up fund. 

 

(2)  That the Council continues to work with Area Committees, MPs, businesses and wider partners on future rounds.

                                                                       

                                                            (Phil Witcherley – 02174 431241)

Decision:

Resolved -

 

(1)  That the information on the levelling up fund be noted.

 

(2)  That the Council continues to work with Area Committees, MPs, businesses and wider partners on future rounds.

ACTION: Chief Executive

Minutes:

 

The Government had recently announced a series of funding programmes for levelling up and economic growth. This included:

 

-         The Levelling Up fund - a £4.8 billion national fund with the aim in investing in high-value local infrastructure.  Of this, Bradford District has potential access to £100 million in capital funding (£20 million per Parliamentary constituency).

-         The Community Renewal Fund – where priority one areas such as Bradford District are entitled to up to £3 million investment to support skills, local businesses and communities and places.

-         The Towns Fund – Keighley and Shipley were selected by Government as two of 101 places across England eligible for investment through the Towns Fund. A favourable decision from the Government had just been announced on the Towns Fund proposals for the two towns.

 

The purpose of the report of the Chief Executive (Document “B”) was to outline these upcoming and continuing opportunities and how it was intended to make the most of these as an authority for the whole District.

 

The Leader was of the opinion that the Levelling Up fund should have been targeted at areas in the north where the needs were greatest and that it should have been allocated regionally rather than through a national bidding process, at short notice.

 

The Leader of the Opposition Group asked questions on behalf of another member regarding the type of business the Council was working with and the criteria used to ensure that it  was prioritising working with companies operating in business areas with significant long-term market growth potential.  She also asked how it was to be ensured that business goals align with the strategy detailed in the emerging Local Plan?

 

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder responded that the Council wanted to work with all businesses large and small and in partnership with the Combined Authority.  Engagement with a range of businesses was anchored in the Council’s economic recovery plan and the West Yorkshire recovery plan. Bids will be assessed having regard to where they will have the greatest economic impact.

 

The Leader of the Opposition Group welcomed the announcement regarding the Towns Fund allocations.  She asked what discussions were taking place with Councillors and MP’s regarding the levelling up bids given the tight time scale for submission.

 

The Leader responded that the Government saw MP’s as the lead on levelling up so discussions had taken place with MP’s.  She added that the Community Renewal Fund was being allocated through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and that all parties could bid for funding.

 

 

Resolved -

 

(1)  That the information on the levelling up fund be noted.

 

(2)  That the Council continues to work with Area Committees, MPs, businesses and wider partners on future rounds.

ACTION: Chief Executive