Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 12, 2025

Purpose:

Content: 10.1 The purpose of this report is to seek approval to become accountable body for £250,000 of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) funding and to award grant funding of up to £245,000 of that funding, combined with STF Towns fund Revenue funding, to South Pennine Community Transport (SPCT) as part of the Stocksbridge Town Funds (STF) programme.   The full grant agreement will consist of both capital and revenue funding. The capital element has been considered and approved by the Finance and Performance Policy Committee on the 20 January 2025 and consists of capital funding of £615,900. This report seeks approval of the revenue amount only, which is £10,000 – STF Revenue Funding, £235,000 - SYMCA Revenue Funding and associated revenue fees.   The full grant amount will be used to enable the purchase of up to four buses in total, together with operational funding to deliver an enhanced and new bus service in the Stocksbridge area for the next 5 years. After the five year funded period, funding will be complete, and the service is expected to be self-sustaining. No further support will be provided.     10.2 RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:-   (a)  approves the Council becoming accountable body for £250,000 of Transport Innovation Fund funding from SYMCA;   (b)  approves the Council awarding revenue grant funding of up to £245,000 and entering into a grant agreement with South Pennine Community Transport as detailed in this report, and note that the full grant amount is £860,900 when the capital element of £615,900 is included; and   (c)   approves the Council using up to £100,000 Stocksbridge Towns Funding to cashflow the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Hopper Bus project until the Transport Innovation Fund Agreement is completed with SYMCA and grant claims submitted and funding received.     10.3 Reasons for Decision     10.3.1 By issuing a grant agreement for the revenue support to the grant fund recipient the Council is facilitating the delivery of a key project within the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Investment Plan.     10.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected     10.4.1 Alternative Option 1: Not accept the revenue funding to support the Hopper Bus Project or approve provision within the grant agreement.   This option would likely result in a missed opportunity to make use of £250,000 allocated TIF funding from the SYMCA to provide transportation services in Sheffield.   This option would result in SPCT being unable to pay operational costs to support the STF Hopper Bus service. In this circumstance, the Council would not proceed with either capital or revenue funding award, and the service would not run.   This would be contrary to the identified priorities of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board.