North and West Cumbria is set to benefit from almost £3.5 million of Government funding.
Members of Cumberland Council’s executive committee met at Allerdale House in Workington yesterday. Tuesday April 8, to consider the offer of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme 2025-26.
Members were recommended to agree to the council acting as accountable body for the 2025-26 funding and to accept £3,463,046 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
They were also asked approve the use of council funds of up to £1.77million if required, so the delivery of the 2025-26 Cumberland programme can begin immediately in the new financial year, in advance of the grant funding being received from government which may not be secured until June.
Council leader Mark Fryer moved the recommendations and members agreed.
The cash is to provide a transition year ahead of wider local growth funding reforms and the allocation combines £639,388 of capital funding and £2,823,659 of revenue funding to spend on projects and programmes aimed at levelling up and overcoming geographical inequalities.
According to the report the spend is spread across three core priorities: communities and place, supporting local business and people and skills, with new themes supporting the Government’s missions.
Key outcomes the council aims to achieve in the 2025-26 programme will be to encourage local engagement and improve health and wellbeing; support new and existing businesses; upskill residents and help them into employment, as well as invest in places and increase visitors to the council area.
The Government has also advised that funding will continue under the Rural England Prosperity Fund through Defra.
