Decision details

Re-Opening High Streets Safely Allocated Funding

Reference: D52654

Decision Maker: Director of City Development

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

To approve the acceptance of the proposed offer of COVID-19 Re-Opening High Streets Safely Fund from MHCLG of £701,850 by signing the agreement so claims can be progressed.

 

To delegate the approval to make claims from the fund to officers with delegated authority under City Development’s existing Sub delegation scheme.

 

Decision:

The Director of City Development has:

a) Noted the contents of the supporting report and the advice contained within it.

b) Approved the acceptance of the proposed offer of COVID-19 Re-Opening High Streets Safely Fund from MHCLG of £701,850 by signing the agreement so claims can be progressed.

c) Delegated the approval to make claims from the fund to officers with delegated authority under City Development’s existing Sub delegation scheme.

d) Agreed, in consultation with the Chair of the Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board that the decision should be exempt from call-in due to the reasons outlined in paragraph 4.5.2 of the report (Special Urgency Provision).

 

Reason Key: Financial Impact>£500K;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

If the decision has not been published in the List of Forthcoming Key Decisions for at least 28 clear days, the reason why it would be impracticable to delay the decision:: Given that MHCLG have stipulated a cut off date after which the offer is withdrawn and only provided a short window of response, it is necessary to provide a decision as quickly as possible, in order for the allocation to be legally valid and approved for claims. It would be impractical to defer the decisions sought until they have been included in the List of Forthcoming Key Decisions for 28 clear days, as the condition of accepting the offer is within 14 days . In the circumstances, and in accordance with the Council’s special urgency procedure, the chair of the Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board has been consulted and has agreed that the decisions are urgent and cannot be reasonably deferred. MHCLG have provided a specific condition that the allocation offer must be signed by 19th January 2021, or the acceptance of the offer by the Local Authority is deemed invalid.

If exempt from Call-In, the reason why Call-In would prejudice the interests of the Council or the public:: It is proposed that the decisions sought by this report should be declared as being exempt from Call In on the basis that they are urgent and that any delay in implementing them would seriously prejudice both the Council’s and the public’s interests. If the decisions sought were delayed this would mean the Council’s acceptance of the offer would be deemed invalid, as it would be outside the timeframe specified. The significant expenditure incurred by the Local Authority in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic would not be claimable. The decisions sought could not have been made earlier due to the timeframe of 14 days set out in the proposal by MHCLG. The offer was issued on 5th January 2021, requiring a response by the 19th.

Other reasons / organisations consulted

Executive Member briefing

Consultees

Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment

 

Contact: John Ebo 0113 378 7750 Email: john.ebo@leeds.gov.uk.

Publication date: 15/01/2021

Date of decision: 15/01/2021

Accompanying Documents: