To gain approval to accept and spend the Welcome Back Fund (WBF) amounting to £172,188 from the Ministry of Home, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG).  This fund builds on the Re-opening of the High Street Safely Fund through an extension to the existing contract, providing support to enable local recovery from Covid 19.

As per the action plan included in Appendix A which will form part of the revised funding agreement, the funds will be utilised for a communications campaign to attract visitors and encourage residents to buy locally whilst following government guidance.  The funding will also support activities to make the market towns and Hereford city centres welcoming and safe places.

a)    The council accepts the Welcome Back Fund offered by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government totalling £172,188;

b)   the approach to delivering the grant funding be approved (as set out in appendix A); and

c)    authority be delegated to the interim director for economy and place to sign the grant funding variation and, following consultation with the cabinet member for economy and environment and the S151 officer, to make any operational decisions required to ensure the successful delivery of the scheme.

1.            Do nothing: The council could reject the grant funding offered.  This is not considered an option as businesses across the county need support to mitigate the impact of Covid 19 by introducing a range of measures designed to help restart the local economy.