Decision details

The purpose of this report is:
1)To seek approval to implement the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme in accordance with the latest government guidance;
2)To adopt the local scheme known as the Gedling Borough Council Additional Restrictions Grant - Business Support Scheme 2021/22 to act as guidance for the administration of the approved grants;
3)To delegate, to the Director responsible for Revenues Services, the authority to determine grant eligibility, in accordance with the Government’s guidance and the Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant – Business Support Scheme 2021/22.
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 Additional Restrictions Grant – Business Support Scheme 2021/22, but which provide key benefit to the local economy of the Borough of Gedling.
5)To establish the budget to allow the payment of the grants.

Recommendation(s)
THAT:
1)the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is implemented in accordance with the latest government guidance;
2)the local scheme known as the Gedling Borough Council Additional Restrictions Grant - Business Support Scheme 2021/22 is adopted to act as guidance for the administration of the approved grants;
3)a delegation is provided to the Director responsible for Revenues Services, for the determination of grant eligibility and payment award, in accordance with the Government’s guidance and the Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant - Business Support Scheme 2021/22 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 Additional Restrictions Grant - Business Support Scheme 2021/22 but which provide key benefit to the local economy of the Borough of Gedling;
5)that a budget of £623,800 is established by virement to allow the payment of the grants, to be funded by Government grant.

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.

An alternative to the proposal to adopt the local scheme known as the Gedling Borough Council Additional Restrictions Grant Business Support Scheme, would be to adopt alternative eligibility criteria. However, this scheme has been drafted in accordance with the Government guidance and in consultation with other Nottinghamshire Councils and in consultation with the Council’s Leader and 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.
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.