Issue - meetings

Coronavirus Support to Businesses

This paper provides the Executive Member for Finance & Performance in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy & Strategic Planning with the new Omicron business grants schemes for approval. The paper also includes the officer decisions on the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) and the new Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) made on 21 January and 2 February respectively for ratification.

Additional documents:

Decision:

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.

Minutes:

The Executive Members considered a report that presented with them with the new Omicron business grants schemes for approval. The report also includes the officer decisions on the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) and the new Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) made on 21 January 2022 and 2February 2022 respectively for ratification.

The Head of Customer and Exchequer Services explained the funding received for each of the schemes. He noted that all reliefs will need to have been applied by 30 September 2022 and the council would be writing to businesses to inform them of their eligibility.

The Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning noted that the system had become complex and he thanks officers for their work on this. He also noted the work of the Economic Growth team in providing advice to businesses. He thanked the Federation of Small Businesses, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, York Business Improvement District, Traders Associations and York Retail Forum for putting messages across to businesses. He noted the importance of the inclusion of many businesses in receiving the grants. The Executive Member for Finance and Performance noted the importance of getting funding to businesses speedily and he thanked staff for their work. It was then;