Purpose

To seek Cabinet approval to accept the
Rochdale allocation for 25-26 and agree the list of projects to be
delivered

Content

The Cabinet considered a report of the
Director of Economy and Place, which sought approval to accept and
spend the Flexible Local Authority Grants for 2025/26.
 
The Town Funds Manager was
in attendance to present the information and to address the
questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.
 
The Officer informed that the Flexible Local
Authority Grants had replaced the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
Scheme which had ran between 2022 and
2025. Rochdale would be set to receive £1,264,521.06 for
2025-26 in the form of a revenue grant, some of which could be changed to capital grant.
 
The grants were part of the Greater Manchester
(GM) Integrated Settlement – an agreement between Greater
Manchester Combined Authority and central government which consolidated funding across more
than 20 different funding streams covering housing, regeneration,
local growth, local transport, adult skills, retrofit, and
employment support.
Rochdale Borough Council was required to act
as accountable body for the Flexible Grant programme.
 
Resolved:

That the £1,264,521.06 funding
for 2025/26 be accepted and it be agreed for the Council to act as
the accountable body for the funding;
That delegated authority be given to
the Director of Economy and Place in consultation with the relevant
portfolio holder to spend the grant as per the project list
outlined in the report;
That delegated authority
be given to the Assistant Director
Legal, Governance and Coroners to enter into relevant agreements
for receipt of the Local Authority Flexible Grant.

 
Reason for decision:
The Flexible Grant programme was a government
regeneration initiative administered through the Greater Manchester
Combined Authority and was part of the Integrated Settlement.
Acceptance of the grant funding would enable
the council to progress key projects (See Project List at section
5.5 of the report). The grant funding would need to be formally accepted by the council.
 
Alternatives considered and rejected:
Do nothing. Failure to sign the grant
agreement and accept the funding would mean losing out on the £1.2m funding.
It was a condition of the funding that the
council acted as Accountable Body and provided an
“assurance” function to assist Greater Manchester
Combined Authority to make sure the money was spent appropriately.