Decision details

‘Phase 1’ of the scheme was introduced via officer delegations and followed the Government advice / guidance for each scheme. ‘Phase 2’ was introduced following Executive on 14^th July 2020 and at that meeting Councillor Ellesmere reported that a Phase 3 report would be tabled at the August Executive.

However, a letter from Government was received on 23^rd July 2020 meaning that that timetable needs to be shortened to enable the funding to be paid out locally by 28^th August 2020 rather than paid back to Government. As a consequence, the decisions in this report are recommended to be made under Portfolio Holder decision making powers and exempt from call-in.

To authorise the Chief Executive to amend the Discretionary Grant Scheme policy as set out in Appendix 1 to enable a Phase 3 application process to start, in accordance with Section 2 of the report, and to authorise the Chief Executive to administer and determine the grants to the four categories of business set out in paragraph 2.4(v) of the report;

To authorise the Chief Executive to retrospectively amend the Phase 2 Policy to remove the right of appeal against any refusal of a grant application.

Reasons for decisions: To set an appropriate policy framework for Phase 2 of the Discretionary Grant scheme and to administer / determine the grants;

To enable arrangements to be made for the administration of Phase 2 applications within the Government’s new timetable.

Note: This decision has been certified as being exempt from call in to enable the process to start and grants to be issued prior to the Government’s new deadline for the use of the money.