Last Friday, the first round of the new UK Share Prosperity Fund was opened. Back in 2019, the Government gave a clear commitment to replace the cumbersome and overly restrictive EU structural funds once Brexit was complete with our own UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This was intended to support industry in more deprived parts of the country and to ensure that we see new industries and better-paid jobs in places like Cornwall, rather than just seeing prosperity collect around the Home Counties.
I campaigned to leave the EU and I want us to decide our own regional policy and have the freedom to design our own grant schemes that really work for places like Cornwall. However, with the power to set our own policies of economic regeneration comes the responsibility to get it right and that means national government replacing the support that used to be offered through the EU but engaging Cornwall Council far better and giving them far more freedom to use the funds effectively for Cornwall.
Cornwall Council is now inviting any organisations - businesses, community organisations, public bodies, and partnerships - that can contribute to its Good Growth ambitions to come forward with their project ideas. The Council is asking bids to focus on several key themes including boosting productivity, spreading opportunities, restoring a sense of community and belonging, and empowering local leaders. The full list of categories can be found by heading to ciosgoodgrowth.com/.
This is the first opportunity to secure SPF funding from the three-year programme that will see over £132 million distributed. Further funding opportunities and support programmes will be launched in the autumn including support for communities to develop solutions to address their levelling up needs and a Community Levelling Programme to deliver more projects. Projects that are received in response to any of the open invitations to bid prior to the 2nd of September will be considered at the first Economic Prosperity Board meeting in October 2022. All funding decisions will be based on how projects deliver against the Good Growth ambitions set out in the CIoS SPF Good Growth Investment Plan.
This new funding will be tailored to fit Cornwall’s needs and bring additional powers and more investment that is needed to help regenerate our communities. Since I was first elected twelve years ago, I have made clear that economic regeneration in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle was my number one priority so it is very positive to see that the Government is delivering the vision for how we can improve all areas not just focusing on the large cities such as Manchester or London.
Local Success at the Commonwealth Games:
I was delighted to see local athlete Molly Caudery secure a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Molly vaulted 4.45m beaten only by Nina Kennedy from Australia. To do this following an injury earlier this year makes the achievement all the more remarkable. When I competed for Cornwall Athletic Club (some years ago) her father was a very talented decathlete, and it is great to see Cornwall bring a medal home.
