In April 2022, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) prospectus. The UKSPF is a central pillar of the UK government’s levelling up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.
See UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus (GOV.UK)
The fund focuses on three key investment themes:
- community and place
- supporting local business
- people and skills (in 2024 to 2025)
Having been approved by Cabinet (agenda for Cabinet 5 July 2022) and submitted to government in July 2022, in December 2022, government approved our Investment Plan for the borough, setting out how we propose to spend the £1 million funding in our communities over the period up to March 2025. In our first year (2022/23) we focussed on delivering quick-win projects and preparing for 2023/24. Our main successes in year one were:
- the purchase of our mobile CCTV cameras for use in areas of anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping across the borough
- activities for young groups and clubs in areas of deprivation
- the assessment of our leisure facilities in order to reduce their carbon footprint
- progressing plans for the regeneration of Tonbridge town centre to create a more attractive and successful heart to the town
- the setting up of a Shopfront and Vacant Unit Improvement Scheme that supports our independent retailers and food and drink businesses
- the establishment of a West Kent Business Support Programme to support small and start-up businesses across Tonbridge and Malling, Sevenoaks district and Tunbridge Wells borough
For Year two, we achieved a number of positive results, including:
- the mobile CCTV cameras were located in six ‘hot-spots’ across the borough, helping to reduce anti-social behaviour.
- the Shopfront and Vacant Unit Improvement scheme awarded funding to 18 projects across the borough, 16 of which were delivered within the financial year.
- the creation and launch of a Community Development Grant scheme – 22 projects were awarded grants in Round 1 of this scheme, supporting organisations such as Larkfield Football Club, West Kent Mind and the East Malling Centre.
- a further round of our successful Green Business Grant scheme was launched with eight projects awarded grants for 2023/24. seven projects delivered within the financial year.
- The West Kent Business Support Programme has supported nearly 600 businesses, with 1-to-1 business mentoring support given to over 60 businesses. The West Kent Expo 24, which took place at the River Centre in Tonbridge in March 2024, was also part of this programme.
- The installation of a bee friendly bus shelter on Quarry Hill Road in Tonbridge.
In the first two years of the programme, 100% of the allocated funding has been spent delivering positive benefits for the local community and businesses.
For Year three (2024/25), our programme includes the following projects:
- a further round of our Green Business Grant scheme – opened in January 2024, with 11 projects awarded grants for 2024/25.
- The Shopfront and Vacant Unit Improvement scheme – opened in January 2024, with funding awarded to 20 projects for delivery in 2024/25.
- Green Retrofit of our Leisure Centres – aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of our buildings.
- Safer Sustainable Car Parks – aimed at improving the safety of our car parks through improved lighting.
- A further round of our Community Development Grant scheme to support local good causes.
- Skills development projects to help people furthest from the workplace to gain volunteering and work experience.
Rural England Prosperity Fund
In May 2023, the Borough Council was informed by government that it had been successful in applying to the Rural England Prosperity Fund. In total the Borough Council will receive around £440,000 over two years to support rural businesses and communities.
Using this funding allocation, the Borough Council has partnered with Sevenoaks District Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to set up the West Kent Rural Grants Scheme . The funding for Tonbridge and Malling in 2023/2024 was allocated to 12 rural projects. The scheme opened up again on 07 November 2023 for projects looking to deliver during 2024/25, and as of April 2024 approximately £200,000 remains in the funding pot for applications.
