Issue - decisions
To award £100k UKSPF capital funding to the BioRenewables Development Centre for investment to support the Bio Yorkshire Initiative through the Rural England Prosperity Fund
18/06/2024 - To award £100k UKSPF capital funding to the BioRenewables Development Centre for investment to support the Bio Yorkshire Initiative through the Rural England Prosperity Fund
As part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund York
has been allocated £400k capital from the Rural England
Prosperity Fund (REPF) to implement an investment plan that was
agreed by DEFRA in January 2023. This funding can be spent only in
designated rural areas as shown on the DEFRA MagicMap, and only on
capital items. 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. 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.
As part of our York REPF investment plan, the Executive Member and
Partnership Board agreed to invest £100k in the BioRenewables
Development Centre (BDC) at Dunnington, with the objective of
providing tangible support to the Bio Yorkshire initiative which is
a joint project of the University of York, Askham Bryan College and
FERA Science. BDC is a subsidiary of the University of York and
would invest the funds in equipment and facilities at their
Dunnington site which would enable companies to pilot production of
new industrial products utilizing waste from other processes.
Discussions with BDC have led to a final plan for investing this
funding in facilities in Dunnington which will expend the
capabilities of the centre. Design work has included detailed
consideration of the Council’s requirements under the Subsidy
Control Act 2022. Legal have concluded that the proposed investment
is permitted under the Act.
The grant requires completion of a Best Value form as it has not
been awarded through a competitive process. This form has been duly
completed.
Decision:
To award £100k UKSPF capital funding to the BioRenewables
Development Centre for investment to support the Bio Yorkshire
Initiative through the Rural England Prosperity Fund.