Issue - items at meetings - Covid 19 ARG Grants for Business Update

Report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee –

(i)             Noted the progress being made to administer the £8.401m Additional restrictions grants, under delegated powers, relating to period from 5 November 2020 to 31 March 2021;

(ii)            Agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture, in consultation with the Acting Chief Finance Officer and recognised representatives of the business community, to determine the criteria and agree processes for issuing the Additional Restrictions Grants using the top-up that government will issue in April, taking account of the need to issue the grants as quickly as possible to assist with reopening of businesses.

49.1    The Sub-Committee considered the report of the The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture which provided an update on the Covid 19 Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) for Business allocated to the council in relation to the second and third national lockdowns and the work that has taken place to administer the funds under the delegated powers of the Executive Director for Economy Environment and Culture which were approved by a Policy & Resources (Urgency) Sub- Committee on the 13 November 2020 and 4 February 2021.

49.2    The Chair noted that there was an amendment from the Labour Group and asked Councillor Platts to propose it.

49.3    Councillor Platts said that she was aware that some businesses had missed out on receiving grants, particularly those that had bought businesses during lockdown and so weren’t listed at Business Rate payers, and so the amendment sought to include ‘recognised representatives of the business community’ in the consultation for the issuing of grants. Councillor Allcock seconded the proposed amendment.

49.4    Councillor Clare asked what engagement had taken place with business leaders so far, and noted that some businesses had said that the allocation of grants was too slow and was concerned that if the Labour Group amendment was agreed that involving more groups in the consultation would slow the process further. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that during the lockdowns the Council had worked with business leaders which included the Economic Partnership, the Federation of Small Businesses, the University and the Voluntary Sector and having made those connections the Council were in open dialogue with them and so got instant feedback on how things were working. Any steps with engaging further with representatives of the business community would delay the allocation of grants and added that the Council did have limited discretion of how money was awarded. The Assistant Director City Development and Regeneration added that the schemes remained much the same and the grants would go to similar businesses.

49.5    Councillor Platts said that if businesses had changed hands during the pandemic then they couldn’t access the grants and so the Council should check with businesses if the process was still fair. In response to a question from the Chair, she said that the number of businesses which had changed hands was low and was probably less than six, and so was unlikely to cause a huge delay. The Assistant Director City Development and Regeneration said he would ask about businesses who may have missed out on the grants and see what could be done to support them.

49.6    Councillor Miller noted that there was a delay in some grants being paid and asked why that was, and referred to paragraph 3.32 of the report and asked why there were differing amounts. The Chair noted that there had been many changes to the grant system, with at least eight big changes and thirteen smaller changes and said that those who had been processing the grants were doing a brilliant job and were working as quickly as possible to process all the grants. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that payments for grants for the current lockdown were being made now and should all be completed by the end of March 2021. With regard to paragraph 3.32 the differences were due to different rateable values of businesses.  

49.7    The Sub-Committee voted on the amendment and it was agreed.  

49.8    RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee –

(i)             Noted the progress being made to administer the £8.401m Additional restrictions grants, under delegated powers, relating to period from 5 November 2020 to 31 March 2021;

(ii)            Agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture, in consultation with the Acting Chief Finance Officer and recognised representatives of the business community, to determine the criteria and agree processes for issuing the Additional Restrictions Grants using the top-up that government will issue in April, taking account of the need to issue the grants as quickly as possible to assist with reopening of businesses.