9
There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the submission of an application on behalf of the Council to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund to support the delivery of the AMIDS South project. The Programme Director – City Deal and Infrastructure gave a presentation to the Board on the scope of the bid proposals.
The report intimated that the Levelling Up Fund was a competitive fund with funding distributed to places across the UK on the basis of successful project selection. The Fund aimed to invest in local infrastructure that had a visible impact on people and their communities. The report detailed the three themes under which bids could be submitted - transport; regeneration and town centre investment and cultural investment.
The report noted that the Council and its partners were delivering an ambitious regeneration agenda, focussed on creating the infrastructure and business environment that would generate economic growth, jobs and ensure that the area was in a fairer, more inclusive place where people, communities and businesses could thrive. The report outlined that the delivery of AMIDS included transport infrastructure. However, this infrastructure did not extend to all nearby settlements where ideally the AMIDS workforce would be accommodated or whose residents might be expected to benefit most from the economic and employment opportunities being created. The report proposed that there be a bid to the Levelling UP Fund under the transport theme in relation to the AMIDS South proposal as detailed in the report. Bids were required to be submitted by noon on 18 June 2021. It was noted that a successful bid would provide £38.73 million funding for the project representing 90% of the total estimated project costs and the report outlined how the Council would meet its funding contribution. In addition, officers were actively progressing other potential additional avenues of funding that might be secured to assist in the project delivery which should they be successful would reduce the prudential borrowing requirement from the Council.
The report indicated that other projects for submission in future years of the Fund would be developed, including a potential bid which would support the aims and objectives of the Paisley Community Trust in the delivery of their project in Paisley Town Centre.
It was proposed that reference to the area's deprivation status be included within the bid. This was agreed.
DECIDED:
(a) That the Chief Executive be authorised to submit a bid to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund under the Transport theme, as outlined in the report, for £38.73 million of funding and that the requirement in doing so it be agreed that the Council commit to the provision of a local authority contribution as detailed in the report;
(b) That it be noted that the draft final bid application and outline business case were available to members for their review in advance of this meeting as required, and in recognition of the tight timescales for their development; and that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council be authorised to make any minor changes that might be necessary prior to submission to the UK Government on 18 June 2021;
(c) That the written support of Gavin Newlands MP, the Constituency MP for the area covered by the bid be noted, in line with the bidding guidance, and also the written support of a wide range of partners across Renfrewshire in support of the Council's proposed application as detailed in the report;
(d) That it be noted that a presentation on the scope of the bid proposals was provided at this Board meeting;
(e) That it be noted that even if this bid should be successful, that the Council was still eligible to make two further bids in future years of the Levelling Up Fund and that officers would continue to work to develop options for consideration by members in due course; and
(f) That reference to the area's deprivation status be included within the bid.