Issue - meetings

Report HPR 2021/048

The London Borough of Bromley had now distributed all the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding received from Central Government to support businesses in the borough during the Covid 19 pandemic. As a consequence of successfully distributing these moneys in advance of 30^th July 2021 the Council had received an ARG top-up of £2.611m to further support businesses. The report set out recommendations for spending this top up funding.

The Chairman of the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee, Councillor Christopher Marlow, stated that his Committee would be considering a report on Covid costs and expenditure at their meeting in October.

In response to questions from Cllr Angela Wilkins, it was confirmed that sporting organisations would have the opportunity to apply for grants as part of the cultural programming strand, and that although the business lounges were located in Bromley, Orpington and Biggin Hill it was hoped to provide surgeries though other libraries across the borough.

Councillor Peter Morgan, Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and housing reported that town centre footfall in Bromley had returned to pre-pandemic levels, and although there were empty units these were largely due to the failures of national chains rather than any local issues. The grants were providing effective help to smaller local businesses.

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee at its meeting on 8^th September 2021 and the Committee supported the recommendations.

The Leader thanked the staff in the Regeneration and Finance Teams for their work on the ARG scheme.

RESOLVED that

(1) The distribution of £2.611m grants to businesses and business support across the borough across the five grant programmes detailed in the report be approved: existing start-up businesses, new start-up businesses, business expansion, business growth and cultural programming.

(2) Authority be delegated to the Director of Housing, Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing to determine grant criteria and application processes as required, in line with the Department for Busines, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) guidance.

(3) Authority be delegated to the Director of Housing, Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing to move funding between the five grant programmes to best respond to demand and to ensure the full £2.611m is distributed.

Report HPR2021/048

The London Borough of Bromley had now distributed all the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding received from Central Government to support businesses in Bromley during the Covid-19 pandemic.  As a consequence of distributing these monies in advance of the 30^th July 2021 the Council had received an ARG top up of £2.611m to further support businesses. The report set out recommendations for the spend of the top up funding.

The Committee expressed its thanks to Officers for their excellent handling of the distribution of funding under very difficult circumstances and the Chairman highlighted how much the funding had meant to businesses within the Community.

The Chairman suggested that it may be helpful to track the number of jobs created by businesses in receipt of the funding.  The Assistant Director for Culture and Regeneration confirmed that through the application process bids with more job creation would be prioritised and jobs created would be tracked.

RESOLVED: That the Executive be recommended to:

1. Approve the distribution of £2.611m grants to businesses and business support across the borough across the five grant programmes detailed in this report: Existing start-up businesses, new start-up businesses, business expansion, business growth and cultural programming.

2. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation to determine grant criteria and application processes as required, in line with the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) guidance.

3. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation to move funding between the five grant programmes to best respond to demand and to ensure the full £2.611m is distributed.