Agenda item

Update on Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling Up Fund

Verbal report/discussion item

Minutes:

The Business Growth Manager outlined the priorities for the two new funding streams and how Bolsover hoped to benefit.

 

Shared Prosperity Fund

£1.96m has been agreed for the Bolsover area over the next 3 years:

  • Year 1 (22/23) - £238k
  • Year 2 (23/24) - £476k
  • Year 3 (24/25) - £1.248m

 

The Fund is structured around three themes:

Community and Place

 

?        Public Realm

?        Destination management/Tourism

?        Reducing crime and perception of crime

 

Supporting Local Business

?        Business development and local employees

?        Upskilling

?        Diversification

?        Net zero carbon works

 

 

People and Skills

?        Levelling up

?        Moving people into employment

 

A working group has been set up to improve the economic outputs of the District.  The Council is required to submit its proposed Investment Plan for the funding by end of August.  From a long list of potential projects a shorter list of deliverables is currently being agreed.

 

The Growth related priorities that have been put forward for selection are:

Visit Bolsover

This scheme aims to build up the offer available in the District and further improve the website to promote services and attractions available.  There will be a full social media campaign.  A Place Audit will be completed to establish exactly what is available by way of attractions and accommodation.  This will link with the Community Rail/Leisure work looking at sustainable transport and cycling trails with the potential for an E-bike hub to capitalise on the cycle network.

 

Derbyshire Accelerator – Visitor Economy

Working directly with MPDD to develop a destination management scheme to improve the national and international profile of the area.  Greater specialist support for visitor economy businesses.

 

Business Support via EM Chamber.

This will focus on support for net zero carbon initiatives (Net Zero Accelerator); financial advice and support (Financial Accelerator); development of digital solutions/efficiencies (Made Smarter Accelerator); a business growth scheme via grant funding.

 

Small Business Support Scheme

Led by Clowne Enterprise.  This is needed as a result of the pandemic to support diversification; improved business survival; 1-2-1 support; peer mentoring.  Including a Digital High street Accelerator and Start-up to Scale Accelerator.

 

Business Growth grants

As per previous grants schemes, funding to support expansion, job creation, business improvements.

 

Oxcroft House

Capital costs of refurbishments

 

If these are all chosen, £1.2m of the £1.96m will be directed at growth and there is clear agreement to focus on a smaller number of bigger impact schemes.  Lots of information has been gathered from businesses via the grant distribution process during the pandemic which is helping to shape this future delivery.

 

Levelling Up Fund

Officers were currently working on proposals with a submission deadline of 6th July.  The focus of the submission will be Bolsover Town with specific emphasis on the purchase, demolition and redevelopment of the Coop site.  Ideas in the proposal focus on:

  • Diversification of the high street
  • Development of an art/exhibition space, to include pop-up exhibits
  • A theatre/performance space including cinema screen
  • Indoor Market area
  • A soft play area
  • A café/food vendor’s area – this could be similar to venues in Sheffield City Centre such as Cutlery Works where multiple vendors are present, boosting the night-time economy
  • Public realm works in keeping with heritage/conservation of town centre
  • Shop front improvement scheme
  • 5G network coverage – potential providers have been identified and the Council is looking at the work by Notts County Council in relation to their 5G Sherwood Forest project.

 

Councillor Kirkham queried if there would be additional EV charging provision.

It was confirmed this is taking place separately through works with Environmental Health on air quality.  Some provision was already in place within the town centre.

 

Councillor Derek Adams left the meeting during Minute No LOC08-22/23.

 

Members thanked the officer for the detailed briefing and it was agreed that the current development plans be circulated to Members for further comment prior to the completion deadline in July.

 

Moved by Councillor Jen Wilson and seconded by Councillor Tom Kirkham.

RESOLVED that

(1)  the funding update be noted.

(2)  the Business Growth Manager circulate the current development/action plans for further comment prior to submission.

 

(Business Growth Manager)

 

Supporting documents: