Agenda, decisions and minutes

No members of the public registered to speak.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent items.

Finance

To consider a new delegated authority to the Head of Revenues for the implementation of a local discretionary grant scheme as part of the measures to combat coronavirus.

Resolved:

That authority is given to the Head of Revenues, in consultation with the Leader, Finance Portfolio Holder, Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Head of Legal & Democratic Services and Head of Finance, to formulate, implement and if necessary amend a local policy for administration of the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

Consideration was given to the report of the Finance Portfolio Holder which sought approval for a new delegated authority to the Head of Revenues for the development of a new discretionary grant funding scheme to be implemented by the Council.

Local authorities would be required to administer a discretionary grant fund targeted at small businesses with high property-related costs but which fell outside the eligibility criteria for the existing business grant schemes as part of the national measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Resolved:

That authority be given to the Head of Revenues, in consultation with the Leader, Finance Portfolio Holder, Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Head of Legal & Democratic Services and Head of Finance, to formulate, implement and if necessary amend a local policy for administration of the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

Planning

To consider the impact of COVID-19 on the Council’s Car Parking function in relation to the proposed easing of lockdown restrictions

Resolved:

1.  That the Council’s pay and display tariffs are reinstated with effect from 22 June 2020 (or 7 days after such other date as the Government prescribes that non-essential retail may commence) and

2.  Except that, for a period of one month from the date established in recommendation 1, the tariff charge for up to two hours continues to be waived in all of the Council’s pay and display car parks.

Consideration was given to the report of the Planning Portfolio Holder which considered proposals for the Council’s pay and display car parks in response to the gradual relaxation of lockdown arrangements related to Covid-19.

The suspension of car parking charges were introduced as a response to lockdown measures. These lockdown measures were now being eased and the latest government guidance indicated that some shops in town centres would be able to open for trading again with effect from 15 June.

It was recommended that for a transition period of one month, an element of free parking be retained to support visitors returning to the town centre as shops begin to reopen.

The Planning Portfolio Holder proposed an alteration to the recommendation to reflect the updated government position in relation to the date on which the easing of lockdown measures for shops would commence. The meeting consented to this alteration without discussion.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Resolved:

1.  That the Council’s pay and display tariffs are reinstated with effect from 22 June 2020 (or 7 days after such other date as the Government prescribes that non-essential retail may commence) and

2.  Except that, for a period of one month from the date established in recommendation 1, the tariff charge for up to two hours continues to be waived in all of the Council’s pay and display car parks.