That the Corporate Director Strategic Services be authorised to accept the grant award of £531,942.67 from DEFRA for food and essential supplies’ schemes in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

*PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.*

Decision taken by Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his emergency delegated powers and in consultation with the Executive Member for Stronger Communities, the Corporate Director - Strategic Resources and the Assistant Director - Policy, Partnerships and Communities.

Under his delegated decision making powers in the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the Council, the Executive or a committee.

The Chairmen of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Chairman of the Council have given their respective consents to emergency decisions by the Chief Executive Officer in response to the Covid-19 pandemic being treated under the Special Urgency Procedure and being exempt from call in where timescales do not permit observance of the usual access to information timescales. Such consents were published in the blanket exemptions’ notice dated 27 April 2020.

This matter was treated under that blanket consent notice as it was an unexpected grant from DEFRA which had to be accepted within 5 days of receipt of notification.

Acceptance and allocation of the grant will allow the Council to respond promptly to local needs and to assist in the urgent delivery of services to the public arising from the ongoing impact of the Covid19 pandemic.