To approve expenditure and approach to delivering the Covid 19 Support for Recovery of the Visitor Economy project.

On 27 May 2020 the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) approved a £444,220 revenue grant to the council to support the recovery of the visitor economy from Covid 19.  The project will support the recovery of the visitor economy (defined as tourism accommodation attractions, leisure, culture, hospitality and retail businesses) through promoting opportunities for day and overnight 'staycation' visits to the county.

That:

(a)       The cabinet member for Environment, Economy and Skills accept the grant and approves the related expenditure (£444,220) of Marches Local Enterprise Partnership funding provided for the Covid 19 Recovery of the Visitor Economy project.

(b)       The cabinet member for Environment, Economy and Skills approves delivery of the project in accordance with the business case approved by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (annex A)

(c)  The Director for Economy and Place in consultation with the Section 151 Officer be authorised to approve expenditure following the appropriate procurement of service providers.

1.         Do nothing – the council could choose not to accept the grant funding.  However, visitor economy businesses who have been severely impacted by Covid 19 would not benefit from the available support.

2.         In developing the business case submitted to the LEP for consideration (annex A), the council and the Herefordshire Business Board considered the option of providing direct grant support to impacted businesses. However, this was discounted prior to submission given the very limited grant funds that could be provided within the available budget on a business by business basis.  Therefore, in submitting the business case to the LEP it was decided that the funds should be targeted at the visitor economy as one of the most severely impacted sectors (instructed to close), and that a marketing and PR campaign would generate trade benefitting all businesses in the sector.  The LEP panel considering the business cases stated that ‘they felt the proposals are both innovative and strategic in their approach and you have developed a very clear /well thought through partnership approach to executing its delivery’.