Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets and Local Economy & Parking

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

i)        To set up a budget for projects to encourage the restart and success of businesses in Horsham District for a value that, combined with spend on Discretionary Grants, is equivalent to the total of the Additional Restrictions Grant and any subsequent additions the Government makes to it.

ii)       To delegate to the Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation the Cabinet Lead for Finance & Assets and Local Economy and Parking, the Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny and the Leader of the Council the allocation of this projects budget to projects proposed by officers of the County, District and Parish Councils when supported by an adequate business case and delivery plan that can be met before 31 March 2022.

iii)      To approve the allocation of funds for the four projects outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the Cabinet report.

REASON

i)       A budget to spend this money on anything other than grants direct to businesses is needed for the Council to operate within its Constitution.

ii)      A delegation is needed to ensure we can identify and approve projects at speed to maximise the benefit our economy obtains from this Government grant.

iii)     Council approving these projects is the quickest way to get funding into these projects because using the delegation would need further discussion.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets and Local Economy & Parking reported that a budget was sought from Council to enable Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) money, which was not needed for the Discretionary Business Grants scheme, to be spent on projects to support the business economy in Horsham District. 

The Council had set up the Discretionary Business Grants scheme to enable the ARG to be distributed amongst relevant businesses.  The Cabinet Member advised that in order to receive a further tranche of ARG, the Council was required to spend its existing allocation and this proposal would allow the surplus to be allocated to new and existing projects.

The Cabinet Member also proposed that the allocation of the budget be delegated to the Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with himself, the Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny and the Leader of the Council.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

i)     To set up a budget for projects to encourage the restart and success of businesses in Horsham District for a value that, combined with spend on Discretionary Grants, is equivalent to the total of the Additional Restrictions Grant and any subsequent additions the Government makes to it.

ii)    To delegate to the Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation the Cabinet Lead for Finance & Assets and Local Economy and Parking, the Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny and the Leader of the Council the allocation of this projects budget to projects proposed by officers of the County, District and Parish Councils when supported by an adequate business case and delivery plan that can be met before 31 March 2022.

iii)    To approve the allocation of funds for the four projects outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the Cabinet report.

REASON

i)     A budget to spend this money on anything other than grants direct to businesses is needed for the Council to operate within its Constitution.

ii)    A delegation is needed to ensure we can identify and approve projects at speed to maximise the benefit our economy obtains from this Government grant.

iii)   Council approving these projects is the quickest way to get funding into these projects because using the delegation would need further discussion.