Agenda item

With reference to article 8 of the minute of the previous meeting of 13 March 2024, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of City Regeneration and Environment which sought approval for the proposed allocation of grant funding of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

UKSPF Communities & Place

(a)      award up to £91,078.58 to Aberdeen Performing Arts for the Repointing and Exterior Restorations at His Majesty’s Theatre project;

(b)      award up to £85,000 to Aberdeen City Council for Phase 2 of the Denis Law Trail, subject to final business case;

(c)      award up to £75,000 to Belmont Community Cinema for the Belmont Community Cinema project;

(d)      award up to £14,391.60 to Cairncry Community Centre for the Community Café Refurbishment project;

(e)      award up to £100,000 to Granite City Taekwondo for the Tillydrone Community Centre Upgrades project, on the condition that they receive permissions from ACC by 1st July 2024;

(f)       award up to £99,945 to SHMU for the Redevelopment to Station House project, on the condition of confirmation of match funding;

(g)      note that an additional 7 applications were received for the Communities and Place priority totalling £944,431.00 which were not recommended for approval;

(h)      note that if the above are approved then the Communities and Place priority is now fully allocated; and, as such

(i)       approve that any underspend which are returned from projects be reallocated to any other previously approved project supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund within the same priority, which may require additional resources, following consultation with the Convener and Vice Convener of the Finance & Resources Committee; and

UKSPF Local Business Support

(j)       award up to £40,000 to Aberdeen City Council for the Culture Aberdeen Network Coordination Service;

UKSPF People & Skills

(k)      award up to £161,970 to ABZWorks for the Startup Accelerator Programme Project in partnership with Robert Gordon’s University;

(l)       award up to £133,887 to ABZWorks for the Sparking Change: Aberdeen Project in partnership with Aberdeen University;

(m)     note that if the above are approved then the People and Skills priority is now fully allocated; and, as such

(n)      approve that any underspend which are returned from projects be reallocated to any other previously approved project supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund within the same priority, which may require additional resources, following consultation with the Convener and Vice Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

that the Committee:-

(1)    approve the recommendations contained within the report; and

(2)    instruct the external funding team and estates team to support Cults Library to secure external funding in line with their timescales and instruct Chief Officer -  City Development and Regeneration to provide an update by December 2024 to the Finance and Resources Committee.

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

that the Committee:-

(1)    note the contents of the report;

(2)    agree that the SNP Administration has been using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Communities and Place to fund its revenue programme as to date £1,468,225 of the £3,339,887.82 allocation has been allocated to capital and revenue fund projects associated with Aberdeen City Council;

UKSPF Communities & Place 

(3)    instruct the external funding team and estates team to support Cults Library to secure external funding in line with their timescales and instruct Chief Officer -  City Development and Regeneration to provide an update by December 2024 to the Finance and Resources Committee. 

UKSPF Local Business Support 

(4)    instruct Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration to explore options to ensure that Aberdeen retains its Purple Flag and to  report back to Finance and Resources Committee in  August 2024.

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

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.