Decision

The Director of Transformation and Change, has
submitted a report to agree to an increase in grant support for
festive lighting / displays for 2024/25 to account for increased
costs caused by inflation.
 
Following a meeting of Management Board on
13/11/2024, where this Portfolio Holder Report was discussed, it
was decided that the report would be updated to include a way for
organisers to apply for additional funding and that the total
budget be increased to reflect this.
 
Towns which were allocated £4,000 as
their base funding would be eligible to apply for an additional
£1000 whereas those which were allocated £3,000 would
be able to apply for up to £500. This additional funding
would require evidence of match funding from the organisers. The
report was then updated to reflect these decisions and the updated
report has been added to this decision sheet.
 
Decision
 
Subject to the amendments proposed above, the
Leader of the Council agreed:
 

·      
That the revised festive lighting grant scheme be approved to
account for take-up across the town centres, high levels of
inflation and the rise in costs since the previous allocations were
agreed.