Belfast Council to write to UK government for assurances on levelling up EU replacement fund
Belfast Council is to write to Angela Rayner and Hilary Benn to ask for assurances that a key “levelling up” fund will continue after its cut-off point next year.
A DUP motion at a Belfast City Council committee meeting airing concerns about the Shared Prosperity Fund has been carried unanimously at City Hall.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is central to the UK government’s “Levelling Up” agenda, first published during the Boris Johnson government in 2022.
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It is providing £2.6 billion of new funding for local investment until March 2025, with all areas of the UK receiving an allocation from the fund through a funding formula rather than a competition. This formula has been a source of controversy since its inception.
The Fund has replaced EU money since Brexit, and this has been a particular source of contention in Northern Ireland. Within Northern Ireland, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £126,854,145 of new funding for local investment to March 2025.
At the Belfast Council Standards and Business Committee meeting this week, elected members from all parties agreed to the motion by DUP Councillors Jordan Doran and Ian McLaughlin.
The motion states: “This council notes the significant role that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has played in supporting local communities across Belfast. The Fund has been instrumental in addressing regional disparities and fostering economic growth, social cohesion and employability.
“This council further notes with concern that the current funding period for the Fund is set to conclude in April 2025, with no clear indication of its future beyond this date. The uncertainty surrounding the continuation of this vital funding threatens to disrupt the progress made in addressing the long-standing disparities faced by our communities.”
The motion adds: “Given the importance of the Fund to the continued development and prosperity of our city and its residents, this council commits to writing to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
“(This is to) provide immediate clarity on the future of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund post April 2025, and ensure that any future funding arrangements are at least equal to, if not greater than, the current levels of support provided by the Fund.
“(They have to) engage in meaningful consultation with community partners to ensure that the needs and priorities of our communities are adequately reflected in any future funding frameworks.
“This council also commits to working collaboratively with other local authorities, regional bodies, and stakeholders to advocate for the continuation and enhancement of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, ensuring that Belfast continues to thrive and grow."
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