Issue details

Type: Information Only

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 04/06/2020

This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.

Reason for urgency:
The Discretionary Grants FAQs was only published on 26 May 2020, and prior to that it had not been possible to anticipate the timescales needed to complete a Cabinet report with the necessary detail.
Government has notified local authorities that funding through this scheme needs to be administered and disbursed as soon as possible and ideally from the beginning of June. Delaying further will mean that the council cannot implement its grant scheme until July at the earliest. In that time there is a high risk of businesses failing due to their urgent need for grant funding to support them to survive during the Covid-19 crisis.
Any delay to the Grant Scheme going live will result in a higher risk of business failure as small firms urgently need grant support to remain viable during the Covid-19 period. Furthermore, if the decision does not take immediate effect the council will risk not implementing its grant scheme within the government’s stated preference of June 2020.

Considered on: 15 Jun 2020 by Cabinet

Lead member: Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Growth

Lead director: Director - Inclusive Regeneration and Employment

Contact: Kaya Chatterji, Economic Development Manager, Employment, Skills and Enterprise Email: kaya.chatterji@brent.gov.uk Tel: 020 8937 6673.