Council wants to change plans to spend for £270K Government funding

An Essex council hopes to reallocate more than £200,000 from the government for projects that are different from the way the cash was expected to be spent before it is forced to be handed back. Castle Point Council plans to use the £270,700 given to the council by the Government for uses that are other than that stated in the funding agreements. Back in April 2022, the Government allocated £1million to Castle Point Council as part of its £2.6billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding for Castle Point was allocated to be paid to the council over a three-year period to March 2025. If the cash is not spent or plans are not agreed upon for it to be used, it will be forced to be handed back by March.

The council plans to use £210,000 for community projects such as a sensory garden in Benfleet, open space improvements in Benfleet, playground improvements in Benfleet. The council proposes to splash £35,000 to prepare a tourism and cultural strategy. A small sum of money amounting to £2,500 remains as part of the funding and the authority wants to use it for promoting high street businesses across the borough.

A council officer's report states that some of the young people “do not have the basic skills” for English, maths and basic construction, and it is proposed that £35,000 is used for training in functional skills in English, maths and basic construction for young people studying the CSCS qualification so they can work safely in construction and move onto green skills training in construction. The officer’s report states it is important that the council makes full and effective use of the resources it has at its disposal, and the authority “risks reputational harm if it was to fail to deliver projects from UKSPF and have to return unspent monies.”

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A council officer’s report ahead of the meeting said: “The proposal has potentially positive impacts across the characteristics of age, disability and gender. This is because investment in open spaces will improve the range of activities available for young people. The proposal extends to lighting of routes across Benfleet Playing Fields, which improves the perceived safety of this route for women and girls, as well as those from other minority groups.

“Additionally, the proposal to invest means those young people lacking functional skills can gain those skills and gain skills in the construction sector. Youth workers had reported that young people, particularly young men, were being exploited in this sector. They were being offered below-minimum wage day rates for labouring on construction sites without the necessary health and safety training or equipment. This intervention should empower these young people to know their rights and access proper employment in construction.”

The council is set to discuss the plans at a cabinet meeting on November 20.