Issue - meetings

A report from the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth is attached.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the urgent report which sought approval to a modification to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) programme prospectus to ensure full deployment of the resources provided by Government. Following further allocation of resource under the ARG the Council has a total of £5.73m to distribute to businesses which would be distributed to provide direct support for immediate and long term recovery. In response to a Member’s suggestion, it was agreed that a wide view would be taken as to how best to advertise the opportunity.

Decision:

That the Phase 3 prospectus is approved.

Reasons for the decision:

The ARG (Phase 3) prospectus identified a series of new categories of support which have been designed to work alongside the timetable Government had set-out nationally for the ultimate lifting of restrictions by June 2021. The strategic approach of the Council contains a much greater focus on supporting the business community in a recovery phase and in particular our key town centres, which must overcome the impact of being largely closed for the past 12 months.

Other options considered and rejected:

None; this phase has been designed to reflect local and national priorities and to ensure that the ARG is strategically allocated to support those most severely impacted in line with the roadmap and recovery plans.