Agenda item

This Council welcomes the £7.8 million provided by Government to Leeds for the COVID-19 Discretionary Grant Fund but notes that as of 31^st August £4 million was unspent.

Council notes that Local Authorities had significant discretion when it came to setting the eligibility criteria for their discretionary grants. Although the Government encouraged Local Authorities to focus on small businesses which faced high fixed property-related costs and which had missed out on the main business grant schemes due to the way they interacted with the business rates system, Local Authorities were able to pay grants to other kinds of businesses, according to their assessment of local economic need. Council is disappointed that no support has been offered by Leeds City Council to small businesses which operate from the owner’s home, despite neighbouring Councils amending their schemes to do so.

Council also regrets that the administration has decided to reintroduce parking charges across the city, at a time when local businesses could have benefited from visitors being able to park for free.

Council calls on the ruling administration to do more to help businesses recover from the pandemic, including by:

1) Implementing a one-off discretionary payment scheme for businesses as a matter of urgency;

2) Reintroducing free parking in council car parks in the run up to Christmas to boost local trade;

3) Considering how it can develop a local version of the “National Time Out” proposals, so that hospitality, leisure and retail businesses are given a nine-month rent free holiday in order to stabilise their finances.

It was moved by Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Andrew Carter that this Council welcomes the £7.8 million provided by Government to Leeds for the COVID-19 Discretionary Grant Fund but notes that as of 31^st August £4 million was unspent.

Council notes that Local Authorities had significant discretion when it came to setting the eligibility criteria for their discretionary grants. Although the Government encouraged Local Authorities to focus on small businesses which faced high fixed property-related costs and which had missed out on the main business grant schemes due to the way they interacted with the business rates system, Local Authorities were able to pay grants to other kinds of businesses, according to their assessment of local economic need. Council is disappointed that no support has been offered by Leeds City Council to small businesses which operate from the owner’s home, despite neighbouring Councils amending their schemes to do so.

Council also regrets that the administration has decided to reintroduce parking charges across the city, at a time when local businesses could have benefited from visitors being able to park for free.

Council calls on the ruling administration to do more to help businesses recover from the pandemic, including by:

1) Implementing a one-off discretionary payment scheme for businesses as a matter of urgency;

2) Reintroducing free parking in council car parks in the run up to Christmas to boost local trade;

3) Considering how it can develop a local version of the “National Time Out” proposals, so that hospitality, leisure and retail businesses are given a nine-month rent free holiday in order to stabilise their finances.

An amendment was moved by Councillor D Blackburn, seconded by Councillor Forsaith;

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“welcomes the unprecedented efforts made by both central government and local government to support business and employment during the current pandemic.

During this period, where many have needed to work from their homes and continue to do so, it has become very clear that broad band in some areas of the City is not up to the necessary standard. These inadequacies have caused significant problems for small businesses, single traders and many people working from home, including students and pupils trying to access learning materials during lockdown.

Bearing in mind the current level of infection and the likelihood of a second wave, Council believes this situation needs to be resolved urgently. Council, also notes the efforts already made by Leeds City Council, but believes that firm action is required nationally.

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking him and his government to put pressure on the broad band providers to rectify this situation by providing superfast broadband in all areas of the country.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Pryor, seconded by Councillor Marshall-Katung;

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“This Council notes it is on course to allocate over £6.4m of its COVID-19 Discretionary Grants Fund to local businesses across the city by the Government’s deadline at the end of September.

Council is dismayed that the Government has refused our request to extend the deadline for allocating any remaining funding to the end of October.

Council notes the extensive support it has provided to businesses in Leeds in addition to the Discretionary Grants Fund.

With the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme due to soon end, Council believes the Government needs to significantly increase support for businesses and the thousands of individual people in Leeds who have already lost their job or risk losing their job as a result of the pandemic.”

The amendment in the name of Councillor D Blackburn was declared lost, the second amendment in the name of Councillor Pryor was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council notes it is on course to allocate over £6.4m of its COVID-19 Discretionary Grants Fund to local businesses across the city by the Government’s deadline at the end of September.

Council is dismayed that the Government has refused our request to extend the deadline for allocating any remaining funding to the end of October.

Council notes the extensive support it has provided to businesses in Leeds in addition to the Discretionary Grants Fund.

With the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme due to soon end, Council believes the Government needs to significantly increase support for businesses and the thousands of individual people in Leeds who have already lost their job or risk losing their job as a result of the pandemic.