Issue - meetings

Report to follow

This report will outline the financial support scheme for businesses during local lockdown, the rules of which are set by government but include an element of local discretion for businesses with no rateable value, and will ask the Executive Member to approve the York scheme.

Resolved:  (i)      That the details of the government’s scheme be noted.

                   (ii)      That the council scheme and discretionary scheme attached at Annex A to the report be approved.

                   (iii)     That the value of the discretionary payment (£750, as set out in paragraph 12 of the report) be approved.

Reason:     To provide financial support to financially affected businesses in York during any local lockdown.

The Executive Member considered a report which outlined the financial support scheme for businesses required to close during any local lockdown restrictions put in place to manage coronavirus. 

Under the government scheme, first announced on 9 September, the council would receive two elements of funding:

a)   Funding to meet the cost of payments to businesses with a rateable value (RV), based on an assessment of the number of eligible hereditaments and

b)   An additional 5% for discretionary grants to businesses with no rateable value, or those not required to close but severely affected by lockdown.

Payments of up to £1,500 could be made in each case for each three-week qualifying period.  For discretionary payments, a fixed sum of £750 was recommended.  Details of the council’s scheme were set out in Annex A, with government guidance in Annex B.

In response to questions from the Executive Member, Officers confirmed that:

·        The actual sum to be provided by government for discretionary grants was not known at this stage

·        The amount of funding for businesses with RV was fixed and could only be challenged if there was a miscalculation.

The Executive Member commended the team for their quick response to the government announcement.

Resolved:  (i)      That the details of the government’s scheme be noted.

                   (ii)      That the council scheme and discretionary scheme attached at Annex A to the report be approved.

                   (iii)     That the value of the discretionary payment (£750, as set out in paragraph 12 of the report) be approved.

Reason:     To provide financial support to financially affected businesses in York during any local lockdown.