Issue - meetings

          The Board considered the annual update on the work of the Programmes Office in securing and managing external funding resources. The report provided an annual update on the Programmes Office key activities and priorities and the funding statistics for the period 2024-25. Development and Investment Services was split into two halves: funding & development and monitoring and compliance which was increasing in the amount of work that needed to be done. The Team was aiming to get a ‘fair share’ of funding for Halton from Central Government and raise the borough’s profile. In the future, funding will come from the new Pride and Place Fund from the Government.

          The following additional information was provided in response to Member’s questions:

• As Halton has a castle, this should be promoted more as historical buildings were very popular with tourists from abroad. As the first constructed canal in the country, it was noted that the Bridgewater Canal should be promoted too.
• Officers run a project called ‘Destination Halton’ which worked with the Liverpool combined authority.
• A new place strategy was being worked on to encourage tourism and improve the area for residents.
• Officers do not instigate tourism these projects, but these projects should be able to access the incoming Pride and Place Fund.
• Historically, Halton did not get funding and the reason given was that Halton was not diverse enough in what they had.
• League tables that showed what areas received in terms of funding were not produced anymore.
• For future projects, officers agreed to look at holding a member seminar to inform members on how funding could be obtained.
• As Halton is not a priority area for National Lottery funding, there had been a decline in people applying for their funding in the borough.
• Halton got 7.9% of UKSPF due to the level of deprivation in the borough.
• Officers asked councillors or members of community groups to contact them their email address (funding@halton.gov.uk) if they wanted help to access funding.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.