Issue - meetings

Issue - meetings

European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF)

Meeting: 06/10/2015 - EXECUTIVE (Item 49)

49 European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF) pdf icon PDF 112 KB

 

To provide a comprehensive overview of the funding opportunities available through the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) and to inform on the ESIF bids under development by Central Bedfordshire Council.

 

Decision:

1.      That the approach to bidding for ESIF funds, maximising opportunities by working with partners in the South East Midlands and beyond, and identifying appropriate match funding to support this, be approved.

2.      That Central Bedfordshire Council continue to act as a lead partner for bids under the ESIF programme, specifically a £3.9m European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) bid and an European Social Fund (ESF) bid of approximately £16.8m, including match funding over three year programme periods.

3.      To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Business and the Section 151 Officer to proceed with the development and submission of the ERDF and ESF bids, in consultation with the Executive Members for Regeneration and Education and Skills.  If successful, the final approval to enter the Bid Agreements would rest with the Executive.

Minutes:

 

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Regeneration that provided a comprehensive overview of the funding opportunities available through the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF).  The report also explained the ESIF bids under development by Central Bedfordshire Council.

 

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to bid for ESIF to support residents and businesses. 

 

RESOLVED

 

1.      that the approach to bidding for ESIF funds, maximising opportunities by working with partners in the South East Midlands and beyond, and identifying appropriate match funding to support this, be approved;

 

2.      that Central Bedfordshire Council continue to act as a lead partner for bids under the ESIF programme, specifically a £3.9m European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) bid and an European Social Fund (ESF) bid of approximately £16.8m, including match funding over three year programme periods; and

 

3.      to authorise the Director of Regeneration and Business and the Section 151 Officer to proceed with the development and submission of the ERDF and ESF bids, in consultation with the Executive Members for Regeneration and Education and Skills.  If successful, the final approval to enter the Bid Agreements would rest with the Executive.

 

 

 


Meeting: 20/08/2015 - SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (Item 24)

24 EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL INVESTMENT FUNDS (ESIF) pdf icon PDF 155 KB

 

To receive a report on the European Structural Investment Funds.

 

Minutes:

 

The Head of Investment and Employment delivered a report and presentation which highlighted funding opportunities available through the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) and informed Members of bids the Council intended to make.

 

In light of the presentation Members discussed the importance of these bids to the economic regeneration of Central Bedfordshire. The Director for Regeneration and Business confirmed that appropriate bidding for funds was critical in terms of employment and skills for the future. The bids and funding underpinned the supply chains behind key skills and the Council was committed to ensuring people were appropriately skilled in order to meet employment demand. The Executive Member for Regeneration also confirmed that securing the funding supported the priorities of the Council to be a great place to live and work. Business support and adult skills were funded via the DWP and ESIF grants and so didn’t cost the Council any money. The measure of match funding with services instead of money was also very economical.

 

In response to a Member query the Head of Investment and Employment confirmed that a management information (MI) system was currently in place but due to the need to work with more partners it was not fit for purpose. Members expressed concerns that the additional pressure placed on the IT department would be significant and as a result consideration was necessary as to how this would be addressed. The Head of Investment and Employment explained that Corporate Services had recommended the option of outsourcing the MI system and this was being explored with Corporate Services. Members requested that the Council’s IT Strategy be made available to them and it was confirmed that this item would be delivered at the Corporate Resources OSC in October 2015.

 

The Chairman requested that caution be taken when securing funding as it was important to ensure projects were fully funded throughout their term.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Committee support the approach to bid for ESIF funds and that details of IT pressures be provided to Members via the Corporate Resources OSC at their next meeting.