South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership to receive £9.3m funding to level up

The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership are to receive £9.3 million from the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help level up the community by building pride in place and increase life chances across the UK.

Following Brexit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) invests in local communities by helping to regenerate communities , tackle economic decline, and reverse geographical inequalities – with areas in greater need receiving more support. It is designed to match previous long-term European Union structural funding while handing decision-making powers on how the money is spent to councils instead of regional agencies.

The new funding covers the next three years. This aligns with Levelling Up White Paper missions, one being ‘By 2030, pride in place, such as people’s satisfaction with the place they live and engagement in local culture and community, will have risen in every area of the UK, with the gap between the top performing and other areas closing.’

Council leaders have welcomed the news that as part of the overall £2.6 billion levelling up funding has been awarded to their areas. Boston Borough Council to receive £2.2m, East Lindsey District Council £4.4m and South Holland District Council £2.7m.

Councillor Paul Skinner, Leader of Boston Borough Council, Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council and Councillor Gary Porter, Leader of South Holland District Council, said: “We are incredibly pleased to have been awarded this funding and be given the opportunity to work innovatively at a local level with other public and voluntary organisations, businesses, wider stakeholder partners and local people to ensure this is spent in ways to boost our local economies for the benefit of all our communities.”

“The three key areas for us are communities and place, supporting local businesses and people and skills. Our aims for the funds is to allow us to help boost productivity and therefore pay, jobs and living standards by helping to grow the private sector, spread opportunities and improve public services, restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, and empower local leaders and communities.”

The partnership awaits further guidance to be issued in Summer 2022.