Agenda item

This report provides details of four applications for funding, which have been submitted to the Council in connection with the Government’s Welcome Back Fund.

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet:

•     Decides which of the applications will progress to the next stage of the Welcome Back Fund process (For reference, the next stage is to submit a detailed Action Plan and Service Level Agreement for consideration by the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government (MHCLG). If the application is approved by MHCLG, then the proposed scheme(s) can then commence).

Cabinet:

•     Agreed that to support the application from Fleet Bid (application 1) and the two applications from Odiham Parish Council (applications two and three) 

•     Agreed to support the principle of submitting a bid as outlined in application four (online ecommerce platform) but required greater clarification as to the details of the option proposed (there was a wide range) and also an assessment of the financial implications that may arise and future budget [pressures and possible on-going commitments placed on the Council. Cabinet agreed to set up a small working group of Cabinet to identify the details of the ecommerce platform before making a final decision and report back to Cabinet with evidence and a full project plan. The report back to Cabinet should set out the full life-time cost of the project.

This report provided details of four applications for funding, which have been submitted to the Council in connection with the Government’s Welcome Back Fund.  Members were advised of the four applications received.

•     Application one from Fleet BID – The installation of parklets which are small areas converted into seating spaces with softening elements such as planting.

•     Application two and three from Odiham Parish - Promotional leaflets and a map of the area and creation of a number of picnic areas.

•     Application four – from Officers at Hart Council to create an online ecommerce platform to promote local shops and business that would cover the whole district.

Subject to Cabinet’s agreement, the next stage would be to submit a detailed Action Plan and Service Level Agreement for consideration by the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government (MHCLG).  If the applications are approved by MHCLG, then the proposed scheme(s) could then commence

Members discussed:

•    The deadline for applications and fund allocation of March 2022.

•     The second phase of funding criteria extension to include promenades and public parks.

•     Questioned the confidence in bids with the community and communications with the wards and divisional councillors to be taken into consideration.

•     Hart branding to be clear to raise popularity and promote Hart.

•     Competitors in the district who already provide an online platform.

•     The prospect of offering long term support.  This fund would be provided for one year with further progress monitoring at the end of the year.

•     Store branding within individual projections.

Members agreed to support all four applications but required greater clarification about details of application four (online ecommerce platform). It was unclear as to what specific platform option was being recommended by Officers (there was a wide range between the three options outlined in the report) and as the report did not outline the benefits of each option, more information was required. Also, there was a concern with regard to the absence of any information that sought to clarify the financial implications that may arise from application 4 including any future budget pressures and possible on-going commitments placed on the Council. Therefore, whilst the principle of an online ecommerce platform could be supported, there was insufficient information available to make a final decision.

DECISION

Cabinet:

•     Agreed that to support the application from Fleet Bid (application 1) and the two applications from Odiham Parish Council (applications two and three) 

•     Agreed to support the principle of submitting a bid as outlined in application four (online ecommerce platform) but required greater clarification as to the details of the option proposed (there was a wide range) and also an assessment of the financial implications that may arise and future budget [pressures and possible on-going commitments placed on the Council. Cabinet agreed to set up a small working group of Cabinet to identify the details of the ecommerce platform before making a final decision and report back to Cabinet with evidence and a full project plan. The report back to Cabinet should set out the full life-time cost of the project.