Agenda item

To determine whether there are any additional items of business to be considered as a  matter of urgency.

Two additional items of business were considered:-

5/22 (a)      Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund

Approval was sought for Sandwell’s policy to administer the Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) arising from new regulations introduced through the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Reason for Decision

The policy would ensure businesses received the financial support they were entitled to. The Council intended to make the CARF scheme as simple as possible and make the awards without the need for businesses to apply. Sandwell Council would therefore, based upon the guidance issued by the government, identify the businesses entitled to the CARF and then award relief directly to their business rates accounts. This would ensure the financial support would be paid to businesses a lot quicker than via an application process. Furthermore, in view of the tight deadlines to expend the grant funding, a decision was required urgently.

Alternative Options Considered

As an alternative to the direct award of CARF, an application process would be implemented which would enable those businesses who felt they might qualify for the relief to apply via an online form.

This would delay getting the financial support out to the businesses who required this financial support and the potential for businesses to miss out on the support by not applying.

As any awards given out were reimbursed to the Council in the form of a Section 31 grant, it was in Sandwell Council’s own interests and local businesses interest to make these awards as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Agreed:-

(1)          that Sandwell’s policy for administering the Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) arising from new regulations introduced through the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities be approved;

(2)          that details of the sum of £7,582,533 that Sandwell has received to support businesses that we identify as meeting the eligible criteria be noted;

(3)     that the Director of Finance be authorised to make any changes necessary to the Business Rates Covid Additional Relief Fund policy in order to ensure all the funding is expended within the time frame.

6/22 (b)      Additional Restrictions Grant 3

                  Approval was sought for Sandwell’s policy to administer the Additional Restrictions Grant 3 (ARG 3) arising from 21 December 2021 announcement from Government to the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England.

                  Reason for Decision

                  On 21 December 2021, the Government announced that a further £102 million would be made available for local authorities, through a top-up to the Additional Restrictions Grant.

         The ARG funding scheme aimed to support businesses severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant, when most needed.

                  All funding must be spent by the 31 March 2022 and as such, the way in which the council utilised this funding must be aligned to available resources; the council’s decision-making processes; and procurement regulations. Flexibility would also be required to enable the council to respond to any changing circumstances over the grant period and therefore this was the reason for the urgent decision.

                  Alternative Options Considered

                  As the government had expressed their preferences on this funding, there was minimal scope for alternative options.  Whilst there was one alternative to increase both grant sizes by £500; to £2500 and £5500 respectively, this would result in less grants being available overall and fewer local businesses would also benefit as a result.

Agreed:-

(1)          that approval be given to Sandwell’s policy for administering the Additional Restrictions Grant 3 (ARG 3) arising from 21 December 2021 announcement from Government to the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England;

(2)          that the Director for Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth and the Director of Finance, be authorised to allocate and administer £406,000 of Additional Restriction Grants 3;

(3)          that the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to make any changes necessary to the Additional Restriction Grants policy in order to ensure all the funding is expended within the time frame.