Decision details

Purpose of report: To inform the Executive Member of decisions made to adapt the Additional Restrictions Grant payments following changes to Government advice regarding restart grants.The Executive Member made decisions regarding this funding in January 2021, including a provision, should Government advice change:
“Should any element of this scheme be changed by subsequent government guidance it is proposed that the Executive Member delegates the decision under this scheme to the Chief Finance Officer (s151) in consultation with the Executive Member Finance and Performance/Executive Member Economy & Strategic Planning, with changes approved retrospectively in public at the next available Executive Member decision session”
These circumstances have arisen, and this report will enable the Executive Member to approve the changes retrospectively in public as required.

The Executive Member will be asked to approve the revised ARG allocations in the light of changed Government guidance regarding restart grants.

This item has now been deferred to 14 June 2021 to allow for further consideration of the decision making process of non-urgent items while social distancing remains in place.

Resolved: That retrospective approval be given to the decision taken by the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with  the Executive Members for Finance & Performance and Economy & Strategic Planning on 16^th April 2021 as follows:

Using the amounts allocated per 28 day period as agreed on 12^th November 2020 and 18^th January 2021, to provide restart grants to businesses on the basis of the Government’s Roadmap steps as follows:

·        Businesses reopening at Step 1: No further grant (reopening already provided for in grant paid from 1st March to 31st March) 

·        Businesses reopening at Step 2: One payment of 11 days at the agreed amounts plus a fixed payment of £200 (£396 to those with no premises, £724 - £1,379 for those in premises)

·        Businesses reopening at Step 3: One Payment of 46 days at the agreed amounts (£821/£2191-£4,929)

·        Businesses reopening at Step 4: One payment of 81 days at the agreed amounts (£1446/£3859-£8,679).

Reason:     To support to York businesses which are affected by the Lockdown restrictions but not eligible for Restart Grant funding