Decision ref
0073 2025/26
Decision date
04/02/2026
Portfolio
Regeneration
Wards
Peasley Cross and Fingerpost, Town Centre
Title
SINA Medical Glass - Grant Funding Agreement Variation
Summary
This decision seeks approval to a variation of the existing Grant Funding Agreement with SINA Medical Glass Limited to fund the 'Medical Glass - Glass Futures 2' project in the St Helens Town Deal programme, which has been approved by Cabinet in the Capital programme FMR3 report of 22 February 2023.
Purpose
This report seeks the approval of a Grant Funding Agreement Variation between St Helens Borough Council and SINA Medical Glass.
SINA Medical Glass is a key part of the St Helens Town Fund programme and aims to establish of glass vial manufacturing in St Helens. The grant is focused on supporting the refurbishment of part of the building and investment in four vial manufacturing machines.
It supports the delivery of a medical glass production facility adjacent to the existing Glass Futures site (within a LCR Life Sciences Innovation Zone Tax Site) that will employ circa 180 people in Phase 1. Utilising £5.5m from the Towns Fund and leveraging circa £23 million private investment in Phase 1, the existing property will be subject to substantial modification to accommodate a manufacturing and packaging facility. Phase 2, which is outside of the scope of this Grant, will deliver a further circa £50m of investment and a further 150 jobs.
SINA has an existing Grant Funding Agreement with the Council for £5.5m that sets out how the grant should be managed. Proposed changes as detailed within the Grant Funding Agreement Variation were approved by St Helens Town Deal Board on 3 October 2025 and 12 December 2025 (see background documents). On 12 December 2025, St Helens Town Deal Board approved re-allocated revenue from project management, legal and property expenses to a new expenditure line 'Property Expenses – Power'. On 3 October 2025 St Helens Town Deal Board approved the revised capital allocations to increase expenditure of £246,958 on property improvements and reductions to services and vial machines 3 and 4.
Background
With effect from the Variation Date, the parties agree to amend the Grant Funding Agreement so that:
(a) Schedule 1, Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 are deleted in their entirety;
(b) A new Schedule 1, Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 as set out in Annex 1 of this Variation Agreement is inserted into the Agreement; and
(c) The definition of Grant Funding Period is amended to ‘means the period for which the Grant Funding is awarded starting on the Commencement Date and ending on 30th June 2026'.
2.2 Except as set out in Clause 2, the Grant Funding Agreement will continue in full force and effect.
2.3 To the extent of any conflict between the terms of the original Grant Funding Agreement and this variation agreement, the terms of this variation agreement will prevail.
Changes detailed within the Grant Funding Variation Agreement were approved by St Helens Town Deal Board on 3 October 2025 and 12 December 2025. On 12 December 2025, St Helens Town Deal Board approved re-allocated revenue from project management, legal and property expenses to a new expenditure line ' Property Expenses – Power'. On 3 October 2025, St Helens Town Deal Board approved the revised capital allocations to increased expenditure of £246,958 on property improvements and reductions to services and vial machines 3 and 4.
Conclusion
The proposed variation to the Grant Funding Agreement with SINA Medical Glass is necessary to ensure continued alignment with the revised financial allocations approved by the St Helens Town Deal Board. Adjustments to budgets will enable SINA to meet the Towns Fund spending deadlines and maintain progress on the project.
The variation ensures compliance with public procurement regulations and supports the delivery of the Town Deal Programme without altering the overall, scope, budget, outputs or outcomes. As the accountable body, the Council must formalise these changes through a varied Grant Funding Agreement. Approval of this decision will allow the project to proceed.
Risk Implications
Compliance with Grant Funding Agreement Variation
Measures to Redress Risk
The Grant Funding Agreement Variation contains terms to protect the grant application.
Declarations Of Interest
None
More information
Please contact Dean McGauley on 01744 676602
