"The Government must now work with councils and combined authorities to overcome any additional local challenges caused by the delay and make the introduction of the fund a success."
Responding to the Government’s approval of councils’ investment plans for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board, said:
“This vital funding and approval of investment plans is important recognition of local leadership in driving regeneration and transforming local places, which the LGA has consistently called for.
“The Government must now work with councils and combined authorities to overcome any additional local challenges caused by the delay and make the introduction of the fund a success.
“This includes the need for assurances from government that there will be flexibility between years to spend the allocations.
“We look forward to government working closely with local government to ensure these plans are successfully realised and fulfil our shared longer term, local ambitions for levelling up.”