Decision details

In December 2024, Thanet District Council received notification from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has been extended for a final year - April 2025 to March 2026. The aim of the UKSPF extension year is to provide a smooth transition from the existing UKSPF programme to a new, future funding framework, yet to be announced.

Thanet has been awarded £546,557 of funding to deliver projects within the priorities of Community and Place; Support for Business; and People and Skills, with Thanet District Council being the lead authority for the programme.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To note that the capital programme will need to be amended to include the capital element of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - a minimum of £69,671. This will be taken to Council at a later date for formal approval;

2.  To approve the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Programme on the basis that it exceeds the council key decision threshold of £250,000;

3.  To delegate authority to the Head of Regeneration and Growth to deliver the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-2026, as detailed in the programme outline in Appendix 2 (to the Cabinet report) with flexibility to move allocations between themes if required.

The council is required to make a formal decision on the basis of allocating new funding into its approved budget, this includes both the revenue and capital funding. Allocating the funding allows officers to deliver the programme against the guidance set-out by central government.

A high level programme outline provides a framework for officers to deliver the programme within, providing flexibility within the programme to allocate funding between themes - as set-out in the guidance.

The 2025-26 programme could start afresh and develop a series of new projects. However, due to the positive outcomes and momentum of existing work, it is not recommended to do this. Timescales will prohibit this option on the basis that there is one year to deliver the programme. This option was not recommended.

The council could do nothing - hand the funding back and do not provide opportunities for the district that are outlined in the UK Shared Prosperity Outline Delivery Plan. This could cause a reputation challenge for the council. This option was not recommended.