Agenda item

Mark Healy, Regeneration & Economy Programme Manager, introduced the applications which, if approved, would allocate all remaining funding in the MSDC Micro Business Grant budget 2019/20. He considered both applications of good merit however the funding would not meet the requirements of their individual requests. Officers would be content with taking the remainder of funding in the existing Micro Business Grant budget 2019/20 however it would only yield a total of £6,723.67. He noted that the cost of granting both applications could be met if the remainder is funded through the MSDC Micro Business Grant budget for 2020/21 as well as 2019/20. He confirmed that he is currently in discussion with officers at West Sussex County Council to see whether they approve of the transfer.

Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services, questioned if all the other applications in Storefront Improvement Grant Scheme are going ahead.

The Regeneration & Economy Programme Manager confirmed that many have been issued and completed. He asked his colleague for the exact figure of applications that were currently underway.

William Hawkins, Economic Development Officer, stated that there were three applications underway and believed that they will all be completed soon.

Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services, suggested that the Panel could agree to grant the full request subject to the available funding. If the funding were not available, the Panel could then subsequently grant the remainder of the balance split between the two applicants.

The Panel were supportive of the Head of Regulatory Services’ proposal.

The Economic Development Officer then presented the report which outlined two applications for the Storefront Improvement Grant Scheme.

The applications which were recommended for consideration and approval by the

Panel are set out below:

The Economic Development Officer presented the application from Flinders Coffee which sought a grant of £4,000 to replace the existing door and surround along with new signage to improve external storefront look.

The Vice-Chairman raised his concerns that the Café has not been open long and felt that the signage may have originally been done on a budget however he was content with supporting the application.

The Panel were supportive of the application.

The Economic Development Officer presented the application from Upmarket22 which sought a grant of £4,000 to fund the renovation of their new storefront following a move of the store.

The Vice-Chairman expressed concern that the Council is funding something that landlord has not done.

The Economic Development Officer confirmed that the business has paid for the property and is soon to be moving in. They will be renovating the current signage anyway and would be moving into the property immediately after that has been carried out.

The Panel were supportive of the application.

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Grants Panel agreed subject to available funding:

1.That a Storefront Improvement Grant of up to £4,000 be awarded to Fine Baps to fund the replacement of the existing signage and awning with new refreshed logo and improve external storefront look.

2.That a Storefront Improvement Grant of up to £4,000 be awarded to Grape & Grain to fund the installation of new signage, replacement of the existing window and the refresh of the existing forecourt.