Decision details

As part of its response to the disruption caused by COVID-19, Central Government has announced funding and outline guidance for the distribution of the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open). These grants are paid to businesses that are open but impacted in the way they can trade by the various tier restrictions.

Local authorities are responsible for delivering grants to businesses and have discretion over the design and implementation of their local scheme. The LRSG (Open) funding for local authorities, has been calculated based on data supplied by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) with allocations made for all properties registered as hospitality, accommodation and leisure.

This discretionary scheme sits alongside support for businesses which are ordered to close, which is the LRSG (Closed) scheme. Payments for closed businesses are fixed by Central Government, and will be fully funded by them.

Dacorum will receive £351k as a tier 2 authority for the period 2^nd December to the 19^th December when the authority moved in to tier 4 and future grant awards will be announced.

To formally approve the adoption of the policy based on the principles and criteria detailed within the body of this report to implement a LRSG (Open) scheme across Dacorum.

Approval is sought through PH Decision in order to expedite decision-making and ensure that payments can be made to eligible businesses as quickly as possible.

Authority to make decisions of this type has been delegated to Portfolio Holders by Cabinet decision CA/78/17.