Government cash to replace EU funding ‘ought to be a lot more’ says Barnsley Council leader

The £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds the previous EU structural and investment funds, and South Yorkshire has received more than £46m.

Barnsley will be given £7.2m of the cash.

Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis said that under EU rules, South Yorkshire would have received additional support of around £900 million over seven years from 2021.

The funding will be used for various projects around the borough, including refurbishment works at Athersley Roundhouse and Hoyland libraries, parks improvements, cost of living grants and tree planting schemes.

Funding will also be used to create better access to town centres and high streets for disabled people.

During today’s (March 22) cabinet meeting, leader of the council Sir Steve Houghton CBE said the funding was a “positive news story'” adding that “it ought to be a lot more, in my view, given where we used to be in terms of European funding.”

Councillor Chris Lamb added: “We welcome this, but it doesn’t even touch what we would have got, had we still been part of the European Union.”

A report to cabinet which outlines where the funding will be spent states: “Over 30 organisations have been funded to support those in need with food, hygiene, sleep and fuel poverty. Funds have also been used to help small charities and trusts with fuel debt.

“We will also expand our crisis support which intervenes when people may be faced with extreme hardship and could become homeless as a result.”