Issue - meetings

This report outlines the background and seeks approval to the proposed approach for Brent’s Local Authority Discretionary Grants Scheme.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)        approve the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Scheme for Brent as set out in this report, using the eligibility criteria specified in sections 4.2, 4.6, and 4.11 of the report and agreeing a single tier grant payment of £5,000.

(2)        delegate to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment the administration and award of grants under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Scheme.

Councillor Shama Tatler (Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning) introduced the report seeking approval to the arrangements and criteria for administering the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Scheme.  Members were advised that the scheme had been established as part of the Governments response to Covid-19 in order to provide a mechanism for supporting small businesses outside the scope of the original Covid-19 business grant schemes, with the amount of funding provided for Brent totalling £3.3million.

Cabinet noted the mandatory criteria set by the Government along with the discretionary criteria, which the Council had the ability to consider and apply, as detailed in section 4 of the report with the proposal to offer a single tier grant of £5,000 per business.  Whilst it was felt this would provide the best balance between breadth and impact members recognised that the overall level of funding available was likely to cover business seeking to apply and as a result it was noted that lobbying of Government on the support being made available matter would need to continue.

In commenting on the criteria, members were keen to ensure that the distribution of funding was undertaken as quickly as possible recognising the need, at the same time, for the necessary checks to be completed to ensure businesses met the relevant eligibility criteria. It was also confirmed that businesses who had received alternative business support grants (other than access to the furlough scheme) would not be eligible to apply.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      approve the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Scheme for Brent as set out in this report, using the eligibility criteria specified in sections 4.2, 4.6, and 4.11 of the report and agreeing a single tier grant payment of £5,000.

(2)      delegate to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment the administration and award of grants under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Scheme.