Issue - meetings

            The Board considered an update report on the work of the Regeneration Non Town Centres (RNTC) Team in securing external funding resources into Halton. The report outlined:

·         an update on the team’s priorities/key activities;

·         emerging issues in external funding;

·         funding statistics for 2012 to end March 2017;

·         an update on the implications of Brexit on the ESIF programme; and

·         a summary of a recent IDOX report on the External Funding function in local authorities.

Members noted the following key headlines which included details on:

·         the demonstrable increase in competition for external funding streams, underlined by the success rate of bids submitted having reduced in 2016/17;

·         evidence that local authorities with an external funding function/team were more successful in accessing funding;

·         an increase in availability of funding for visitor economy and cultural activity, including heritage and the arts;

·         the development of a Training Programme by the External Funding Team for Council staff and partners; and

·         evidence that the level of demand for funding support was increasing.

            Arising from the discussion the Board requested a further report which provided information on the expenditure of £9m European Funding previously awarded to the Council towards regeneration.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    the report be noted; and

2.    the continued approach to securing external funds be endorsed.