Issue - meetings

UKSPF Communities and Place

(a)      approve the allocations for Communities and Place as detailed in Appendix 1;

UKSPF Local Business Support

(b)      approve an allocation of £258,603 to Aberdeen City Council for the Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme;

UKSPF 25-26

(c)      note that the total amount of £2,346,857 for UK Shared Prosperity has now been fully allocated should the above recommendations be approved;

(d)      authorise the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to approve the reallocation of funding within previously approved projects should any underspends be reported; and

(e)      authorise the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to approve funding for other projects (ie projects which have not been previously approved) up to a total of £30,000 per project should any underspends be reported.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of the previous meeting of 26 March 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of City Regeneration and Environment which sought approval for the proposed allocation of grant funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-26.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

UKSPF Communities and Place

(a)      approve the allocations for Communities and Place as detailed in Appendix 1;

UKSPF Local Business Support

(b)      approve an allocation of £258,603 to Aberdeen City Council for the Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme;

UKSPF 25-26

(c)      note that the total amount of £2,346,857 for UK Shared Prosperity has now been fully allocated should the above recommendations be approved;

(d)      authorise the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to approve the reallocation of funding within previously approved projects should any underspends be reported; and

(e)      authorise the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to approve funding for other projects (i.e. projects which have not been previously approved) up to a total of £30,000 per project should any underspends be reported.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)    agree recommendations (c) to (e) of the report;

(2)    note that the report only provides information in Appendix 3 for those applications that officers recommend for approval, rather than giving Elected Members the full information on all applications contained within Appendix 2 to allow Elected Members a greater opportunity to agree or disagree with officer’s recommendations;

(3)    agree not to support the following applications: Aberdeen Performing Arts application for £48,895; Visit Aberdeenshire’s application for £50,000; Sound Scotland’s application for £24,000; Visit Aberdeenshire’s application for £23,932.40; and amend the total amount awarded to the Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme to £239,059.40;

(4)    agree to support instead the two projects associated with Aberdeen Arts Centre – the Architectural Project at £111,997 and The Technical Upgrade Project at £54,374 – with a total of £166,371 which will deliver better outcomes for the citizens of Aberdeen, noting the report at 3.5 and at 4.5 which notes that “Following the Public Pound Policy is adhered to and relevant checks undertaken to ensure organisations are compliant”; and

(5)    subject to the foregoing, to approve the allocations for Communities and Place as detailed in Appendix 1.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors, Allard, Cooke, Greig and Radley; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Brooks, Farquhar, Malik and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.