Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. The purpose of this report is to set out the selection criteria applied in assessing requests and allocating the funds from the Capital Funding Programme.

1.2. This paper seeks formal approval of the selection criteria referred to above.

2. Contextual information

2.1. The County Council's Policy and Resources Capital Programme has for some years included an annual provision for capital projects in support of economic prosperity.

2.2. The budget is administered by the Economic Development Office and is focused on supporting projects which further economic development and prosperity in the county. The aim is to support a stable and robust local economy, aid business competitiveness, encourage growth of small firms and business start ups and to act as a catalyst for targeted capital investment with the emphasis on the older urban boroughs.

2.3. A Programme has been in operation for some years and has supported internally generated schemes under the following broad headings:

(i) Rural Regeneration;

(ii) Deprived and Urban Areas; and

(iii) Small Firms Accommodation.

2.4. For the current year it was thought useful to invite applications to the fund from District Councils, which are also actively engaged in developing projects in support of economic prosperity. The criteria for the assessment of these projects is proposed as follows in order of priority:

(i) all proposed expenditure must be capital in nature;

(ii) must demonstrate potential for furthering economic development and prosperity in Hampshire;

(iii) potential for aiding business competitiveness;

(iv) potential for encouraging small firms growth and business start-ups;

(v) investment in older urban areas with pockets of deprivation;

(vi) projects to be run and managed by the applicant and the County Council's resources are not to be relied upon;

(vii) sound exit strategy so as not to impose long-term commitment on the County Council; and

(viii) match funding (external projects only).

2.5. It was thought desirable to refrain from an overly prescriptive approach so as to allow for a variety of projects to come forward and the criteria therefore are left deliberately broad.

3. Finance

3.1. The 2009/10 Capital Programme, agreed in February 2009, includes £31,000 for Economic Development projects. In addition, at its meeting on 27 July 2009 Cabinet agreed to the carry forward of £126,000 from 2008/09 in respect of similar projects which were unable to be started. Therefore the total amount available for 2009/10 is £157,000.

4. Performance

4.1. Each of the selected projects put forward for funding from the Capital Funding Programme will be administered and delivered by the proposing party.

4.2. The County Council Economic Development Office will monitor the delivery of these projects by means of regular progress reports from the project administrator (every six months from the commencement date).

5. Recommendation

5.1. That the selection criteria for assessing funding requests from the Capital Funding Programme set out at 2.4 of the report be approved.

2185Rpt/972/LH

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. Not applicable.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. Not applicable.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

Not applicable.

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

Not applicable.