Decision details

The purpose of this report is:

1)     To seek approval to implement, in accordance with the latest government guidance, the following grant schemes:

i)     Local Restrictions Support Grant (Sector)

ii)    Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open)

iii)   Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed)

iv)   Christmas Support Payment for Wet-Led Pubs

2)     To adopt the local scheme known as the Gedling Borough Council Local Restrictions Business Support (Scheme 2) to act as guidance for the administration of the approved grants, including those where the Council is required to exercise its discretion.

3)     To delegate, to the Director Corporate Resources, the authority to determine grant eligibility, in accordance with the Government’s guidance and the Council’s Local Restrictions Business Support (Scheme 2).

4)     To delegate, to the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Reputation, the authority to determine grant eligibility and award value, in cases where it is considered that there are exceptional reasons to provide support for organisations, which are not specified as qualifying businesses within the Local Restrictions Business Support (Scheme 2), but which provide key benefit to the local economy of the Borough of Gedling.

5)     To establish a budget to allow the payment of the grants where the Council is required to exercise its discretion.

THAT:

1)    the grant schemes detailed in appendices 2-4 of this report are implemented in accordance with the latest Government guidance;

2)    the local scheme known as the Gedling Borough Council Local Restrictions Business Support (Scheme 2) is adopted to act as guidance for the administration of the approved grants, including those where the Council is required to exercise its discretion;

3)    a delegation is provided to the Director of Corporate Resources, for the determination of grant eligibility and payment award, in accordance with the Government’s guidance and the Council’s Local Restrictions Business Support (Scheme 2), with the exception of those grant awards delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Reputation as detailed at 4 below;

4)    a delegation is provided to the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Reputation, for the determination of grant eligibility and award value, in cases where it is considered that there are exceptional reasons to provide support for organisations, which are not specified as qualifying businesses in the Local Restrictions Business Support (Scheme 2), but which provide key benefit to the local economy of the Borough of Gedling;

5)    a budget is established by virement to allow the payment of the grants where the Council is required to exercise its discretion, to be funded by Government grant as follows:

(a)   Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) £17,854.

The Council is expected by Government to award grants in line with the guidance it has published.

The Council is expected by Government to award discretionary grants in line with the guidance it has published and to adopt readily available and easily understood guidance for the administration of those grants.

Delegations are requested to ensure the timely award of the grants, efficient decision making and to avoid the Executive from becoming overwhelmed by applications. It is appropriate that this function is delegated to Officers for determination in line with established guidance and to a Portfolio Holder for exceptions.

Budgets are required where the Council acts as a “principal” in line with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.

An alternative to the proposal to adopt the local scheme known as the Gedling Borough Council Local Restrictions Business Support (Scheme 2), would be to abandon the current scheme and adopt an alternative. However, this scheme is considered to be fit for purpose and a good solution to suit the needs of the local business community taking account of the funding available. Further, to abandon this scheme now would cause delay in payments being made in line with the Government’s intention.

An alternative to the proposal to delegate the authority to exercise the Council’s discretion would be to report each grant case to the Leader for his determination in accordance with the national and local guidance. This would mean that the Leader would have to consider multiple applications over a potentially long period. This would place an unnecessary burden on the Executive and may prevent the timely award of the grants.