Agenda and minutes

To consider the appointment of a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

08/20 – APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR:  The Mayor, Councillor Stuart Martin, was unanimously appointed Chair for the meeting.

(3.32 pm)

COUNCILLOR STUART MARTIN IN THE CHAIR

09/20 – APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  Notification had been received that Councillor Sam Gibbs was to act as substitute for Councillor Chris Aldred (Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission).

(3.33 pm)

Members to advise of any declarations of interest.

10/20 – DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:  There were no declarations of interest.

(3.34 pm)

of the meeting of 12 June 2020.

11/20 – MINUTES: The Minutes of the meeting of the Urgency Committee held on 12 June 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

(Seven Members voted for the motion and there were four abstentions)

(3.35 pm – 3.36 pm)

To determine whether to exclude the press and public during the consideration of any exempt information items.

12/20 – EXEMPT INFORMATION: There was no exempt information.

(3.37 pm)

To consider any questions under Standing Order 27.

13/20 - PUBLIC ARRANGEMENTS - QUESTIONS:  There were no questions to consider under Standing Order 27.

(3.37 pm)

The Revenues, Welfare and Customer Services Manager to submit a written report. 

MATTER DEALT WITH UNDER DELEGATED POWERS

14/20 – PHASE 3 - DISCRETIONARY BUSINESS GRANT SCHEME 2020/21: The Revenues and Income Manager presented a written report which had been prepared by the Welfare and Customer Services Manager which sought approval for the final phase of the Harrogate Borough Council Discretionary Business Grant Scheme 2020/21.  The original scheme had been approved by Urgency Committee on 12 June 2020 and provided support for businesses affected by COVID-19 who were unable to access other grant funding. The third phase proposed further support and the scheme was set out at Appendix 1.

Harrogate Borough Council had been allocated £2,370,250 from the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund, and had the discretion to allocate funding to business types as set out at paragraphs 5.6 and 5.7 of the report.  Following approval of Phases 1 and 2 on 12 June, grants totalling £250,000 had been made to 46 businesses, and a further 30 applications were awaiting approval subject to pre-payment assurance checks.

There was sufficient funding remaining to open for a final phase of new applications.  The proposed scheme for phase 3 opened the scheme to businesses with relatively high fixed premise costs which had experienced a significant fall in income due to COVID-19.  The proposed allocation priorities for phase 3 were set out at paragraph 5.14.  The Revenues and Income Manager reported that the Government had advised that the scheme would close on 28 August and final payments must be made by the end of September.  Any monies remaining unallocated were to be returned to the government.

It had been agreed that the matter was urgent as to wait for Council approval of the policy at the next scheduled meeting of Council would miss the Government’s deadline for the closure of the scheme on 28 August 2020 and would result in businesses not receiving support at a time of economic crisis.

The Revenues and Income Manager responded to questions relating to financial support for market traders and pubs, and gave details of how the final phase of the scheme would be publicised.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):

That   (1) the proposed final phase of the Harrogate Borough Council Discretionary Business Grant Scheme 2020/2021 (Appendix 1) be approved; and

          (2) authority be delegated to officers of the Council as set out in the report to administer the scheme and the Revenues, Welfare and Customer Services Manager to make technical scheme amendments to ensure it meets the criteria set and in line with Central Government guidance.

(3.38 pm – 4.22 pm)

(D)