Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. The purpose of this report is to set out the grant criteria applied in assessing requests and allocating the funds from the Smarter Working Centre (SWC) Network Programme.

1.2. This paper seeks formal approval of the grant criteria referred to above.

2. Contextual information

2.1. The SWC network forms part of the County Council's £0.425 million Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) investment in `Recession Response' initiatives approved by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 9 April 2009.

2.2. The SWC network will be independently operated as a local agency-supported (eg Business Link/Job Centre Plus) business hub offering low-cost, bookable by the hour, internet-connected `pay-as-you-go' professional work, meeting and training space for businesses of all sizes. A purpose-designed website will offer real-time booking, a secure payment facility and take-up reports.

2.3. The economic prosperity aim is that start-up businesses, existing home-based businesses, entrepreneurs and commuters will each consider use of an SWC. The availability of such centres is expected to encourage business start-ups, contribute to a reduction in micro-business failure rates and at the same time help reduce peak-time commuting and business travel.

2.4. Smarter Working Centres are being delivered by the eHampshire Partnership with the operational budget administered by the Economic Development Office.

2.5. The SWC grant criteria proposed for the assessment of potential SWC Operator grant applications relate to the following grant application form questions:

(i) company and premises information (Q10);

(ii) the core SWC services that the applicant proposes to offer (either immediately or within 12 months of commencement of operations) (Q11A);

(iii) the optional SWC services that will be offered immediately or within 12 months of commencement of operations (Q11B);

(iv) references and provision and other supporting operational/financial information (Q13);

(v) grant information (Q16 & Q17) including:

a. set up costs definition and substantiation;

b. year one operational costs definition and substantiation;

c. staffing arrangements; and

d. supporting set-up costs estimates/quotes;

(vi) other funding and business data (Q14);

(vii) letter of support from Local Authority or other relevant partner organisation; and

(viii) bank/financial information.

2.6. It is proposed that each key criterion above is awarded marks (from zero to three) resulting in a maximum score of 33. It is proposed that a total score of 24 or more, with no single criteria scored lower than two (two = adequate) should result in a `recommendation for approval'.

3. Finance

3.1. LABGI funding of £100,000 was approved and allocated to the SWC initiative by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 9 April 2009.

3.2. The overall allocated budget above includes a provision for the website development (£8,000) and a further small sum (£2,000) set aside for related marketing and PR activities. A £90,000 match-funding amount has been provided to contribute to operator set-up and year one core operational activities.

3.3. It is proposed that a maximum match-fund amount of £9,000 can be applied for and allocated per applicant - £4,500 for set up costs/£4,500 for year one operational support. The latter is claimable in month 6 and 12 against evidenced and agreed spend.

3.4. Piloting of wireless access-control systems at two locations (£14,000) will come from the separately approved - on 7 October - 2009/10 Capital Funding programme.

4. Performance

4.1. Each of the schemes put forward and approved for funding from the SWC LABGI funds will be administered and delivered by the proposing party.

4.2. The County Council Economic Development Office will monitor the delivery of these projects by means of regular progress reports from the project administrator (every six months from the commencement date). After 12 months' operation, each SWC operator will be formally reviewed against an agreed set of operational criteria. If successful, the SWC will retain its `accredited' status for a further period of 12 months. A fee of £150 will be levied to cover administration costs.

5. Recommendations

5.1. That the selection criteria for assessing funding requests to the Smarter Working Centre Programme set out at paragraph 2.5 of the report be approved.

2231Rpt/1096/TC

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. This has been completed and was reviewed on 11 September by our Departmental EIA representative for completeness.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. Not directly - though may possibly make a small contribution by way of providing a local hub for those in and seeking work opportunities.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

When established, the SWC Network will provide additional opportunities to work and meet close to where individuals choose to live. The initiative encourages more sustainable working practices and should reduce peak-time commuting and to a lesser extent business travel (together accounting for 38% of transport initiated CO₂ emissions).

With the centres being established in existing buildings, this provides limited opportunity to influence building energy-efficiency. However, SWC IT guidelines do suggest low-energy `green' IT solutions.

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

Not applicable.