Decision details

Purpose of Report: To provide a retrospective report on schemes and related approvals on a range of business support grants and rate relief funded by Government. This is a follow up report to the urgent ‘Coronavirus Update Including Support to Businesses’ report to be presented at Executive on 13 January 2022.

The Executive Member will be asked to note the detailed schemes and associated delegated approvals.

Resolved:

a)   That the adoption of the Government’s Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant (OHLG) made at Executive on 13 January 2022 (as detailed in paragraphs 6 – 10 and Annex A of the report) be noted;

b)   That the Officer Decision of 2 February in delivering the new Omicron ARG scheme (as detailed in paragraphs Paragraph 11 – 14 and Annex B & C of the report) be ratified;

c)   That the Officer Decision of 21 January in delivering the new CARF scheme(as detailed in paragraphs Paragraph 16 – 20 and Annex D & E of the report) be ratified;

d)   That the delegation of any future changes resulting from government guidance in relation to all schemes in this report be given to the Chief Finance Officer (s151), Director of Economy & Place and Director of Customer & Communities in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

Reason:     To provide financial support to the city’s businesses during the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and the impact of the Omicron Variant.