Committee to agree delivery plan for 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund

At the meeting Economy and Infrastructure Committee next week (Thursday 28 May) members will decide how over £3 million of funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will be used over the next 12 months to deliver a positive impact across communities.

The proposed 2025/26 Highland UKSPF Delivery Plan is made up of a range of projects geared to delivering positive impacts across the Highlands, building on the successes of the 2022-25 Delivery Plan and introducing new interventions, all aimed at maximising the return on the 2025/26 investment.

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “At our meeting in February we noted the progress  being made across a range of interventions under the 2022 – 25 UKSPF priorities of Communities and Places, Supporting Local Business and People and Skills. Now we know the Highland allocation for 2025/26, we need to agree a solid delivery plan that will deliver within the timescale as it is critical that funding is used in this current financial year.

“To ensure optimal use is made of our allocation, the report that will be presented to members recommends that we build on the successes of the 2022-25 UKSPF Delivery Plan. This will allow us to include a mix of new and extended initiatives based on impacts projects have had so far, lessons learned, and to tie in with our economic development priorities.

He added: “This funding is a very important additional investment specifically targeted to benefit the people of Highland by supporting communities, businesses, employment and tourism. As a Council, we have been very successful in using UKSPF to support initiatives and community development throughout Highland across a very broad range of applications, so I hope the committee will support the recommendations.”