A range of initiatives across 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute are continuing to progress thanks to the final tranche of funding from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.
Earlier this year, councillors approved the final year’s allocation from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to support a range of existing projects already under way in the region.
With the scheme in its final year, the UK Government had previously confirmed that the transitional year’s funding – a replacement scheme is likely to run from 2026/27 – would reduce by 40% from previous years.
At a meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee, councillors received updates on the progress of projects that will continue to benefit from the final allocation of £1.4 million from the UKSPF.
These include schemes offering employability support, capital projects delivering community spaces and sports facilities, support for extra-curricular activity in every secondary school in 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute, work to develop tourism as well as the development of a robotics course at Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
At the meeting, it was also confirmed that work has begun on an evaluation of the 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute UKSPF programme, encompassing both the initial phase (2022-2025) and transition year (2025-2026).
Using independent analysis, the evaluation will consider the lasting impact of projects on 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute communities and organisations and assess lessons learned by the council throughout the UKSPF process, including the quality of collaboration with partners and investment planning.
The 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute UKSPF investment plan focuses on three key priorities: communities and place; supporting local business; and people and skills, with activities delivered by a mix of council teams and third-sector external partners.
Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, said:
“The UKSPF programme has provided valuable funding for a range of initiatives that support our communities, benefit local businesses, and boost skills development across the region.
“With this being the final year of the scheme, it makes sense for the reduced amount of funding to be channelled into existing projects from the initial phase of the UKSPF which are already delivering for our people and towns.
“Undertaking a full evaluation of the scheme while it is still active will allow us to work with project partners and assess its effectiveness which will help to ensure that lessons learned are taken forward to any UKSPF successor programme.â€
