Agenda item

Report HPR2021/007

The Council had received payment of £6,646,720 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The sum would form the Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which would be used to provide financial support to local businesses through grants and business support functions.

The report outlined a Phase 2 proposal for supporting businesses in the borough using the BIDs and libraries as a vehicle for this support.

Further information of a private and confidential nature was contained in the accompanying Part 2 report on the agenda.

Councillor Benington raised concerns about the amount of money allocated to Bromley Central Library.  Bromley, Orpington, Penge and Beckenham town centres all had successful BIDs which could deliver many services to their members. He requested that some money be distributed to isolated libraries that had room for small businesses i.e. the Crays, Chislehurst, Petts Wood and Biggin Hill libraries.

The Town Centres and BID Development Manager reported that consideration was given to libraries best placed to deliver the service based on capacity to accommodate the service, demand for the service and accessibility of each location.

Bromley and Orpington had the physical capacity to accommodate the service and both were in locations with good transport links making them accessible to many other parts of the borough.  As these libraries were in Bromley’s largest town centres they would also encourage additional footfall supporting the Council’s priority of vibrant and thriving town centres.

Although the business lounge facility would only be offered at Bromley and Orpington libraries, the remaining elements of the ‘Start Up Bromley’ project would be offered throughout all libraries in the borough.

Councillor Sharma emphasised the need for assistance  to be given to all businesses not just those within town centres. The Interim Assistant Director of Culture and Regeneration assured him that funding for BIDs was not additional funding. It was to support them through the work that they already carried out to make sure that town centres could reopen safely and efficiently again. The Small Parades Initiative was still being administered.

The Town Centres and BID Development Manager gave the following responses to further questions from Members:-

·  The Council had worked in conjunction with GLL to ensure that funds were allocated correctly.

·  Two proposals were set out in the report – one supported small independent businesses within BID areas and the other related to providing support to start-up businesses across the borough through the Programme of Support. The one-to-one sessions, showcase events, seminars, the business lounge and business network were being offered through all libraries across the borough and open to all businesses.

The Chairman asked if alternative funding could be allocated to provide a facility at Biggin Hill library along similar lines to that offered at Orpington Library. In response, the Interim Assistant Director informed Members that while it may be possible to acquire additional government funding in the future, at the present time no budget was available. She agreed to look into this matter further.

RESOLVED that the Executive be recommended to:-

1)  support the approach to provide support to businesses in the borough using the BIDs and libraries as a vehicle for this support; and

2)  approve the allocation of up to £700k from the ARG to the BIDs in the borough and £217k from the ARG to the library contractor, GLL.