Decision details
To allocate the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for 2025-26
Decision Maker: Leader
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Decision:
To allocate the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for 2025-26 to projects to benefit the residents and businesses of Cheltenham, being:
Project |
Brief description |
Awarded |
Elmfield Open Space Capital Works |
Self-binding gravel paths and associated SuDs and biodiversity improvements. |
£28,000 capital |
Davallia Drive Open Space Capital Works |
Construction of self-binding gravel paths and swales to improve access into and through the open space. |
£7,500 capital |
Climate change business grants |
Business grants for small (LEDs, insulation etc) and large (ASHP solar) installations, to support businesses achieve net zero (grants will require evidence of proposed carbon savings) |
£35,655 capital |
Enrich: Practical tools for a healthier lifestyle |
The 2024 ENRICH pilot supported 140+ vulnerable individuals in Cheltenham, promoting health equity. Funding will expand sessions for children, families, and over-55s, reducing health inequalities and preventable illness. |
£25,000 revenue |
Building De-carbonisation reports for The Wilson and the Crematorium |
To devise costed plans to reduce carbon in our most carbon intensive buildings, using the Green Deal amongst other funding strategies to support delivery of plans. |
£60,000 revenue |
Flood Warden Network |
Flood warden volunteer network for community resilience to allow continued support and training for the flood warden volunteer network |
£10,000 revenue |
ESRI software – climate risk assessment |
Completing a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) on ARC GIS Pro (provided by ESRI) - annual licence cost |
£2,900 revenue |
Grown in Cheltenham |
Grown in Cheltenham is a targeted growth programme to support promising local SMEs to maximise their economic and impact potential. |
£18,000 revenue |
Marketing and events to support climate change initiatives |
Promotional and marketing materials targeting and supporting local Cheltenham based businesses to achieve net zero goals. |
£5,000 revenue |
Tree strategy |
CBC manages 183 sites and across these 5,751 trees. The Tree Strategy will be the first of its kind for the borough and county, and will provide a valuable resource that maps maturity, condition and diversity. |
£10,000 revenue |
Heritage strategy |
Many places that have adopted a heritage strategy concentrate almost exclusively on the built environment. To make it more relevant to our residents and communities this strategy would look to encompass people, events and objects of significance to Cheltenham’s unique identity - telling the Cheltenham story. |
£10,000 revenue |
Playing pitch assessments |
To commission detailed pitch assessments of the five council-owned sites that need investment to identify improvements required to sustain the level of activity and ensure these are accessible to all. |
£12,500 revenue |
Youth Activity Pass |
The NCLB Youth Activity Pass will give less well-off young people the chance to improve their physical and mental health through accessing a wide range of activities |
£20,072 revenue |
School Ready Scheme |
A project to fund the purchase of primary and secondary school uniforms and equipment to support families for whom the cost of this is prohibitive. This would be supported by events for the community to attend which will then provide access to other services offering financial support. |
£7,500 revenue |
Leckhampton Hills SSSI management plan |
Renew the biological and geological management plan for Leckhampton Hill. This will help preserve and enhance the calcareous grassland escarpment, and other significant habitats and geological features across the site. |
£15,000 revenue |
Reasons for the decision:
Cheltenham Borough Council is allocated
£385,390 UKSPF funding for 2025-26 to deliver a range of
projects within agreed objectives set out here: UK Shared
Prosperity Fund 2025-26: Technical note - GOV.UK
£102,848 of the funding has already been allocated towards
delivery of Cheltenham Growth Hub. This was subject to a decision
taken by Councillor Martin Horwood (Decision - To enter into two
contracts to continue delivery of Growth Hub business support -
Modern Council).
4% of the revenue allocation (£15,415) may be retained by the
council as a contribution to the costs of administrating the
delivery of the funding.
Authority for allocation of the balance was delegated to Councillor
Rowena Hay at the Cabinet meeting on 11 March 2025 (Agenda for
Cabinet on Tuesday, 11th March, 2025, 6.00 pm - Modern Council).
Decisions on funding have been taken in consultation with the UKSPF
assessment panel and Cabinet members and projects to be funded are
in line with both the UKSPF priorities and the objectives of the
Cheltenham Corporate Plan.
Alternative options considered:
To decide not to award the funding.
As UKSPF funding is allocated to all authorities across the
country, the decision not to award the funding or to spend it would
lead to this funding being returned to MHCLG and the benefit of the
outputs of the projects not being received by Cheltenham residents
and businesses.
Declarations: None.
Contact: Helen Mole, Head of Place Marketing and Inward Investment Email: [email protected].
Publication date: 10/04/2025
Date of decision: 10/04/2025
Effective from: 17/04/2025
Accompanying Documents: