OFFICER DECISION

 

Decision:   To allocate UKSPF funding to CHY Consultancy to run the Construction Skills Initiative through intervention E38

Decision Date: 18th June 2024

Type of Decision: Director                                      Key

 

    Non-Key

X

Portfolio Area that decision relates to:

Leader (inc Corporate Services, Policy, Strategy & Partnerships)

 

Environment and Climate Emergency

 

Economy & Culture

 

X

Finance, Performance, Major Projects & Equalities

 

Children, Young People and Education

 

Transport

 

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.  This delegation was reconfirmed in October 2023 when Executive considered the results of a light touch review of the programme, which included allocating skills funding to the Construction Skills Initiative.  Due to the senior management restructure, the decision has been made by the COO who is able to make any decisions that are delegated to any Directors.

 

Executive considered detailed plans for a Construction Skills Initiative at its February 2024 meeting, noting progress and reiterating their support for the project.  In order to implement the project, which was due to commence in April 2024, a call for expressions of interest was made in March 2024 through the Yortender portal.  Six expressions of interest were received, and the businesses expressing interest were then invited to submit grant funding applications following the process outlined in the York UKSPF Assurance Framework.  The brief for the project split the work into two separate Lots, one focusing on overall project management, the development of the partnership, and supporting CYC to embed new processes to support Employment and Skills plans for major construction projects (£140k), and the second Lot focused on the provision of on-site construction training (£160k).  CHY Consultancy submitted the only proposals,  scoring 79/100 for Lot 1 and 77/100 for Lot 2, above the threshold score of 70/100 for projects to be fundable, for a total value of £299,740. 

 

UKSPF funding must all be spent by the end of the current financial year, when the current programme finishes and any unspent funds must be returned to Government.  It is hoped that future equivalent funding will be available to extend and expand the CSI after that date, with the expectation that this would be through the new Mayoral Combined Authority.

 

Options Considered:

 

Option 1: Award funding to CHY Consultancy

 

Option 2: Reopen the grant competition and seek further applications

 

Option 3: Do not award funds, cancelling the Construction Skills Initiative

 

Options Rejected:

Option 2: As six companies were invited to bid and CHY Consultancy submitted applications of a standard which justify awarding funding, there is no reason to seek further applications.

 

Option 3: The Executive Member, Executive and the Partnership have supported establishing the CSI and we have compliant bids at the standard required to award funding, so there is no reason not to award.

 

Consultation Process:

Consultation took place with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Partnership Board, chaired by Cllr Pete Kilbane, April 2024, and the establishment of the project was approved by them and the Executive Member.

 

Implications

Crime & Disorder

 

 

Equalities

 

Highways

 

Human Resources

 

 

Legal

 

ICT

 

Financial

 

 

Affordability

 

Property

 

Climate Change

 

 

Health

 

Other

 

Environment

 

 

Human Rights

 

 

 

Implications Contact:

 

 

 

 

 

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:

UKSPF funding is available through the E38 intervention, with decisions on implementation delegated to the Corporate Director in consultation with the Executive Member.  Due to the senior management restructure, the decision has been made by the COO who is able to make any decisions that are delegated to any Directors.  The project clearly aligns with the Investment Plan and the underpinning strategic framework.

 

Decision:

Award £299,740 to CHY Consultancy to deliver the York Construction Skills Initiative.

 

Decision Made by: Ian Floyd, Chief Operating Officer

Contact Details: ian.floyd@york.gov.uk

 

On behalf of:  Ian Floyd

To be implemented by:

Simon Brereton

Head of Economy

On Completion – Signed off by:

 

  Ian Floyd, Chief Operating Officer

Date: 18.06.24