Issue - meetings

To receive an overview, by way of presentation, on the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). This will also include an update on the year 3 delivery plan.

The Group received a presentation, and NOTED, an update from the Economic Development Team Leader providing an overview of the Shared prosperity Fund (SPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Year 2 and the Year 3 Delivery Plan.

This included the following summary information:

Love Your Town Centre

‘Love Your Town Centre’ was a flexible funding mechanism offering small grants through a competitive bidding process with four strands aimed at improving the town centre and increasing the vibrancy and vitality of our three main markets towns: Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton.  This included:

a)    Shopfront Enhancement Schemes.

b)    Vibrant Town Centre Scheme.

c)    Vacant Shop and Business Growth Scheme (Year 2 onwards).

d)    Digital High Streets Scheme (Year 2 onwards).

e)    For year two, we also contributed towards the Cullompton Heritage Action Zone public realm enhancement project.

The Cullompton Scheme had funding from GED to support delivery of the HAZ shopfront scheme.  The team intends to use the underspend returned to us towards a new shopfront scheme that aligns with the Tiverton and Crediton schemes and it had already received two enquiries.

Vibrant Town Centres

This had been a popular scheme and helped to support 68 events and activities in our town centres.

In addition to the events supported and grants offered outputs, the scheme also supported 10 volunteering opportunities.

The scheme continued this year with the first round already complete and more events and activities funded including the Tiverton Literary Festival, Crediton’s Big Boniface Bash and an arty party in Cullompton amongst others.  The next round was in the autumn, which would complete the programme for this year.

Across the LYTC scheme, through engagement with the team, we have achieved additional outputs of 15 businesses receiving non-financial support (including signposting, advice and guidance) and supported 12 businesses who were taking on empty units.  9 commercial properties were improved within year 2 and the remaining applicants are on schedule to complete their improvements this year.

This year, all four schemes would continue with open applications for shopfront, digital high street and business growth.

Field to Fork

This focused on promoting direct supply, ‘buy local’ campaigns and linking local food producers and businesses.

There are three key strands to this project:

·         Buy Local Campaigns

·         Networking Support

·         Showcasing Events

The ‘Meet the Producer’ project supported 14 of our producers and their food retailers as presented at the last PDG.  The Team would continue this project this year focusing on food tourism businesses.

Under networking support, the team funded free membership (for 12 months) for local food businesses with Food Drink Devon (FDD). FDD was a Community Interest Company, membership organisation was made up of hospitality, retail, food and drink producers and support businesses from the County.  Their aim was to support and promote members and raise Devon’s culinary profile as a whole.

Off the back of the Membership scheme, we also worked with FDD on ‘Meet the Expert’ networking events including an event in Westpoint towards the end of the financial year.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12