Decision details

To approve the National Lockdown Business Support Policy Addendum (Local Restrictions Business Support), detailing additional support to be administered by the Council, for businesses impacted by Tier 2 and 3 restrictions introduced from 2 December 2020.

This policy has been developed following guidance from Government.

Local authorities are responsible for delivering Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) funding to eligible businesses, as detailed within the National Lockdown Business Support Policy. Following the end of National Lockdown arrangements on 02 December 2020, government has released new guidance setting out how local authorities will administer LRSG to support businesses falling within Tiers 2 and 3 within the system of local tiered restrictions, introduced from 2 December 2020. In order to formalise arrangements for carrying out this function in line with government guidance, the Chief Executive, in exercise of the emergency delegation in paragraph 4.4 of the Scheme of Delegation in Part 3 of the Constitution, and the emergency delegation approved by the Leader of the Council on 30 March 2020, authorising the Chief Executive to exercise all executive functions, or to authorise specified officers to exercise any such functions, and after consultation with the Leader of the Council:-

1  Approves the National Lockdown Business Support Policy Addendum (Local Restrictions Business Support), including details of how LRSG (Closed) and LRSG (Open) grant schemes will be administered to support local businesses impacted by Tier 2 and 3 restrictions introduced from 2 December 2020

2. Authorises the Chief Finance Office to approve future individual discretionary grants for small businesses, as set out within the policy.

Due to the Covid 19 emergency and the need for the Council to administer these grants in line with Government guidance and to support local businesses impacted by the pandemic and subsequent restrictions.

None.  The Council is responding to Central Government direction.