Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity (Deputy Leader) to submit a report introducing the Economic Recovery Programme for Melton.  The report proposes a comprehensive package to support the local economy as it  recovers from the Coronavirus pandemic.

This item was deferred until the Cabinet meeting to be held on 21 April 2021 due to changes in government guidance.

This item was deferred until the Cabinet meeting to be held on 21 April 2021 due to changes in government guidance.

Councillor Higgins, the Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity (and Deputy Leader) commented that

·         The expected timescales of the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) were being brought forward by a whole year to end of March this year and the impact of this needed to be profiled and assessed as to how this compared with what was originally planned

·         Officers were monitoring this position and information would be provided as soon as this was able to be assessed as to what the package entailed

·         Therefore the report was delayed until the April meeting of Cabinet

·         In the meantime, information was available for businesses on the website

·         Over 200 of the Borough’s businesses that employ 15 people or more would receive grants over the next week, totalling £250k

·         The Council had listened to businesses from March last year and learnt with them how to provide support which was not always about money. He paid tribute to the Bid which had supported independent businesses and added that there had also been thought as to supporting other types of business such as taxi drivers

·         Thanked Lee Byrne and the team and said that the officers’ support to businesses had been outstanding and they had made themselves fully available including weekends to help business owners receive funding.