Purpose

To seek approval to enter into
a service level agreement with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough
Council (BMBC) and to accept a UK SPF grant to deliver the UK
Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) funded Business Productivity and
Digitisation Project.

Content

Approves the
Council:-
 
·       
Entering into the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC) to deliver the
Business Productivity and Digitisation Project as set out in the
report; and

 
·       
Accepting a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) grant of
£296,894 to deliver the Business Productivity and
Digitisation Project.

Reasons for the decision

The SLA is required
in order to deliver the Business
Productivity and Digitisation project and contribute towards the
outputs for UKSPF approved by the Economic Development and Skills
Committee. The grant will also contribute towards the
Council’s costs. 
 

Alternative options considered

Barnsley MBC are required by the terms of the
agreement with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
(SYMCA) to enter into SLA’s with all Local Authorities to
deliver their elements of the project.
 
An alternative form of delivery for Sheffield
would result in a delay in providing much needed support to
businesses in relation to their productivity and digitisation
challenges.
 
It would also mean there was less alignment
with the themes developed in the SYSPF Investment Plan and might
not be supported by SYMCA.