Issue - meetings

In December 2022, government approved the Tonbridge and Malling UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan which sets out a series of projects to help create a better borough for residents and businesses. One of the projects within the plan is the funding for the Green Business Grant Scheme. This report sets out the scheme in detail and seeks approval to launch it in the coming months.

Following Government approval of the Tonbridge and Malling UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan, which set out a series of projects to help create a better borough for residents and businesses, details for a further round of the Green Business Grant Scheme 2023/24 were set out in the report.

It was reported that £66,000 of UKSPF funding had been allocated towards this Scheme in the Tonbridge and Malling Investment Plan. There was no requirement for the Borough Council to provide any match funding for this particular programme, although it was envisaged that around £25,000 of Business Rates Retention Pilot Reserve Funding would be used to contribute towards the Scheme in 2023/24.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the report be noted;

(2)             the UKSPF Green Business Grant Scheme, as set out in Appendix 1, be endorsed;

(3)             the Capital Plan and Revenue Budget be updated accordingly; and

(4)             delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in liaison with the Leader of the Borough Council to approve any necessary minor changes to the Scheme that might be required for the purposes of clarity.

Decision Notice D230017CAB

Following Government approval of the Tonbridge and Malling UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan, which set out a series of projects to help create a better borough for residents and businesses, details for a further round of the Green Business Grant Scheme 2023/24 were set out in the report.

It was reported that £66,000 of UKSPF funding had been allocated towards this Scheme in the Tonbridge and Malling Investment Plan. There was no requirement for the Borough Council to provide any match funding for this particular programme, although it was envisaged that around £25,000 of Business Rates Retention Pilot Reserve Funding would be used to contribute towards the Scheme in 2023/24.

Members welcomed the proposals to support businesses in the low carbon and renewable energy economy and to provide help in lowering the carbon footprint of business premises.  The Scheme was open to all independent businesses that operated from commercial premises and all were encouraged to promote the initiative as widely as possible.

After careful consideration of the legal and financial and value for money implications, Cabinet

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the report be noted;

(2)             the UKSPF Green Business Grant Scheme, as set out in Appendix 1, be endorsed;

(3)             the Capital Plan and Revenue Budget be updated accordingly; and

(4)             delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in liaison with the Leader of the Borough Council to approve any necessary minor changes to the Scheme that might be required for the purposes of clarity.