Purpose

Accept new Sport England Place Universal Offer
grant award

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:
1)   
accept the SE PUO grant award of £475,420 in accordance with
the award offer letter dated 22 December 2025;
2)   
enter into any agreements required by SE to accept the funding.
3)   
enter into a funding agreement with St Helens Borough Council for
£475,450 to disburse the funding to St Helens Borough
Council.

Alternative options considered

Not accepting this grant is not considered an
option, as MSP’s host the Council agrees to accept grants
awarded to them (including for local authorities for whom it
operates as the host organisation, such as St Helens) as part of
the host agreement. It would also have a significant impact on MSP
and put the employment of 16 staff at risk were the funding not
accepted.
 
The Council funding this is not an option as
the grant covers another Local Authority area.