To allocate monies from budget efficiencies to support response to Covid-19

Record of Decision Taken by Katherine Marriott on 15 December 2021

Authority for decision

Authority of the RBC constitution Part 3 Scheme of delegation page 25:

Delegated authority of Chief Executive:

• in consultation with the Leader and the appropriate Cabinet member with responsibility for the service area concerned, to authorise the taking or carrying out of action, notwithstanding anything in the Council's Standing Orders or Financial Regulations, where he/she considers that circumstances exist that make it expedient of necessary for action to be taken prior to the time when such action could be approved through normal council procedures. A report on such action, and the circumstances justifying the exercise of the delegated powers, shall be made to the next meeting of the Cabinet or the Council as appropriate.

Decision

To approve the use of a further £110.000 to be met from budget efficiencies to supplement the budget available of £138,755 to support both the hospitality and hair beauty sectors to increase support following the government’s announcement to move to Plan B restrictions.

Reasons for decision

To support local business.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Considered as per the attached note in terms of business sectors excluded not impacted as much by Covid variant; also with the objectives of speed of payment, to avoid fraud, with finite resources.

Conflicts of interest and any dispensation

None identified.

 

Monitoring Information

Key decision?

No

Confidential/ Exempt (if yes, please state paragraph)?

No

Do General Exception or Special Urgency Rules apply to this decision?

Yes

Consultation has taken place with the Section 151 & Monitoring Officer?

Yes

The Leader, Deputy Leader or relevant Portfolio Member have been consulted?

Yes

 

Signed

Katherine Marriott

 

 

Further Business Support Proposal - 15 December 2021

1. We currently have £138,755 in Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) available. You would have seen my email earlier in the week proposing a scheme of support and an application process. Given the worsening situation with Omicron and the likely impact on the hospitality and hair and beauty sectors at this important time of year it is proposed that these sectors receive further support.

2. Below gives an estimate based on rateable properties using proposed awards linked to rateable value. This will use all of the remaining ARG and require additional budget. It is proposed that there is a further use of in-year budget efficiencies amounting to £110k to support both the hospitality and beauty sectors.

Hospitality and beauty sector grant information

RV	Hospitality	Award	Total (RV band)	Hair / Beauty	Award	Total (RV band)
Under £5k	11	£500	£5,500	71	£500	£35,500
£5k to £10k	32	£750	£24,000	45	£750	£33,750
£10k to £15k	18	£1,000	£18,000	11	£1,000	£11,000
£15k to £30k	26	£1,500	£39,000	6	£1,500	£9,000
£30k to £40k	11	£2,000	£22,000	1	£2,000	£2,000
Over £40k	13	£3,000	£39,000	2	£3,000	£6,000
Total	-	-	£147,500	-	-	£97,250

 

Total spend : £244,750

Total funds: £138,755

RBC cost: £105,995

 

3. Other points to note in terms of the criteria of award:

• Only for businesses that occupy business rateable properties.
• Hospitality sector included (for example, in-premises food and drink consumption).
• Hair/beauty sector included (includes nail bars).
• In residence since since at least 01/04/2021 (to avoid necessity for a new application and pre-pay checks).
• Currently in in occupation/trading.
• Ease of payments and acting quickly with less risk of fraud - we have already paid the cases listed above so if the scheme is approved, payments could be in bank accounts before the end of the week.

4. Area excluded:

• Non-essential retail.
• meeting places (for example, village halls).
• Support industry (including taxis, many of whom seem to have diversified with food deliveries etc) - would require separate application and checks.
• Leisure, sports pavilions etc.