Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk & Director of Major Projects (TO FOLLOW).

The Committee considered a joint report of the Town Clerk, Chamberlain, Director of Innovation & Growth, and City Surveyor concerning the details of a COVID Business Recovery Fund, intended to support small businesses in the City affected by the pandemic.

Members welcomed the report and commended officers on the pace with which the proposals had been developed following the Fund’s establishment at the previous week’s meeting of the Court of Common Council.

During discussion, the following points arose:

·           It was agreed that the Deputy Chairman of Finance should be added to the informal “sounding board” of Members outlined in the report and at recommendation 3.

·           In relation to the criteria at paragraph 19 subsection (vi), assurances were sought and provided that the City Corporation’s own SME tenants would be able to apply for grants where eligible, and that the Corporation would be proactive in this respect. Clarification was also sought in respect of those businesses which might not qualify solely due to unsupportive landlords. Officers advised that one of the intentions of the scheme’s design was to put pressure on landlords to engage with their businesses, assisting them in gaining additional grant funding: it was, clearly, in the interests of landlords to have viable tenants. The lack of stipulations around the level of support within this particular clause would also aid in that respect.

·           In response to a query around a similar ongoing process for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) tenants, assurance was provided that a joined-up approach would be employed to minimise any duplication or overlap of activity.

·           Responding to questions concerning the online-based nature of the application process, officers advised that there would be 1-1 telephone support, as well as computer support in the City’s business library, to assist those with who had difficulties using online systems. However, it was important to maintain the management of the process through an online system as this could be procured in such a way as it would undertake certain checks automatically, thereby improving the speed of the application process.

·           With reference to the question posed at paragraph 19 subsection (ii), Members expressed support for expanding the criteria to include small independent hotel and bed & breakfast accommodation, and leisure and sports facilities.

·           It was confirmed that the target date for launching the Fund for applications would be immediately after the next meeting of this Committee (8 April 2021), pending approval at that meeting of refined criteria for the final scheme.

RESOLVED: That Members:-

1.     Agree to the outline scheme design Option B, as set out in the report.

2.     Support the scheme eligibility criteria to be used as set out in paragraph 19, including the expansion at (ii)(a).

3.     Agree to establish a small Member Sounding Board to provide guidance to officers as the scheme is established and implemented (such membership to comprise the Chair and Deputy Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee, and the Proposer of the Court Amendment. 

4.     Authorise officers to procure external provider(s) for financial viability assessments, with approval to support the recommended procurement option, should it be needed, delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman of Policy and Resources Committee.