Decision details

To seek Cabinet approval to enter into borough agreements with London Borough of Ealing to secure funding from the Department of Levelling Up’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver the Supply Ready Programme and People & Skills priority programme.

To also seek Cabinet approval to commence the relevant tender activities and enter the relevant contracts to deliver the programme objectives.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the Corporate Director of Place and the Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business, Employment and Property and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with London Borough of Ealing to secure £151,500 funding from the Department of Levelling Up’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) through the Greater London Authority (GLA) to deliver the Supply Ready Programme to support businesses secure public sector contracts;

(2)            the Corporate Director of Place and the Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business, Employment and Property and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with London Borough of Ealing to secure £474,115 funding from the Department of Levelling Up’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) People and Skills through the Greater London Authority (GLA) to prioritise and deliver programmes to improve Harrow skills and job brokerage, and to support residents and businesses;

(3)            authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, following consultation with the Director of Finance, Portfolio Holder for Business, Employment and Property and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to approve the tender packs at a future date for the Supply Ready and People and Skills programmes;

(4)            authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, following consultation with the Director of Finance, Portfolio Holder for Business, Employment and Property and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to award the contracts following a compliant procurement process for the Supply Ready and People and Skills programmes.

Reason for Decision:  The GLA issued an open call for funding application bids under the UKSPF Business Support programme.  The London Boroughs of Harrow, Ealing and Hillingdon submitted a joint Supply Ready (West London) bid, which was successful.  The London Borough of Ealing is the accountable body for the bid. Entering into a Grant Funding Agreement with the London Borough of Ealing will enable businesses based within the London Borough of Harrow to access support from the Supply Ready programme which will assist them to secure public sector contracts.

The GLA has allocated the People and Skills allocation of London’s allocation of the UKSPF to Sub-regional partnerships.  The accountable body for the West London Alliance is the London Borough of Ealing.  Entering into a Grant Funding Agreement with the London Borough of Ealing would enable the London Borough of Harrow to secure a direct allocation of the People and Skills allocation.