OFFICER DECISION

Decision:   To award a UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant to Aesthetica Magazine Limited for their Reignite the City: Parts I to III project
Decision Date: 24^th April 2024
Type of Decision: Director                                      Key									Non-Key	Y
Portfolio Area that decision relates to:
Leader (inc Corporate Services, Policy, Strategy & Partnerships)					Environment and Climate Emergency
Economy & Transport				X	Finance, Performance, Major Projects & Equalities
Children, Young People and Education					Children, Young People & Education
Health, Wellbeing and Adults Social Care					Housing, Planning & Safer Communities
Background / Decision Summary: York has been allocated £5.1m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to implement the investment plan that was agreed by DLUHC in January 2023. In October 2022, CYC Executive gave delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place to implement this Investment Plan, in consultation with the relevant Executive Members and the York UKSPF Partnership Board.
Options Considered: Six applications were received for E23.  Three failed at Gateway appraisal – two because they did not offer any of the required outputs and outcomes, and one because it aimed to deliver all activity after the March 2025 deadline for completion.  The remaining three applications were appraised on a framework considering impact, deliverability, strategic fit and value for money and given a score out of 100. The highest scoring project achieved a score of 82 and is recommended for funding.  The second project scored 75 and the third 67.
Options Rejected: Not awarding the funding – rejected as the quality of applications justified awarding funding Awarding the funding to projects which were not the highest scoring applications – rejected as we are required to demonstrate best value in funding decisions.
Consultation Process: The York UKSPF Partnership Board were updated on the process at their April 2024 meeting, prior to final scoring. The Executive Member for Economy and Transport was consulted in April 2024 prior to making the decision.
Implications
Crime & Disorder				Equalities			X	Highways
Human Resources				Legal				ICT
Financial			X	Affordability			X	Property
Climate Change			X	Health				Other
Environment				Human Rights			X
Implications Contact: Simon Brereton, Head of Economy
Level of Risk: Acceptable
Wards Affected:
All Wards	X	Fishergate				Holgate			Rural West York
Acomb		Fulford & Heslington				Hull Road			Strensall
Bishopthorpe		Guildhall				Huntington & New Earswick			Westfield
Clifton		Haxby & Wigginton				Micklegate			Wheldrake
Copmanthorpe		Heworth				Osbaldwick & Derwent
Dringhouses & Woodthorpe		Heworth Without				Rawcliffe & Clifton

Comments/Observations:

A public funding competition resulted in bids to deliver a project on supporting the local creative and tech sector business ecosystem (E23).  An Equalities Impact Assessment has been completed for the proposed project.

The grant competition was agreed with the Council’s procurement team as an appropriate and compliant route to allocate funding. The scoring process has followed the UKSPF Assurance Framework that has been agreed with the Partnership Board and our internal audit team.

Decision:

To award £43,000 of UKSPF funding to Aesthetica Magazine Ltd to deliver the Reignite the City: Parts I-III project.

Decision Made by: Neil Ferris, Corporate Director of Place Contact Details: Directorate of Place, West Offices tel: 01904 551448  email: neil.ferris@york.gov.uk
On behalf of: Neil Ferris, Corporate Director of Place
To be implemented by:	Simon Brereton, Head of Economy
On Completion – Signed off by:  Neil Ferris  Corporate Director of Place		Date: 26.04.24