Decision details

A funding scheme to support rural businesses has been offered to the Council by Defra to be administered on behalf of the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership. The fund will total £1 million. Funds made by the Council will be made as grants and ‘bankroll’ the scheme. The Council will then reclaim funds from the funder, Defra by 31 March 2015.

To agree that the Council administers the Rural Economy Grants scheme on behalf of the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Approval for the Council to enter such a funding scheme is required pursuant to Part 3A (Delegation of Executive Functions) of Wiltshire Council’s Constitution. 

To:

(i)               Do nothing. If Wiltshire Council does not enter the funding scheme then            £1 million of investment will be lost for local businesses.

(ii)              Administer the Rural Economy Grants scheme on behalf of the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership as proposed.

Officers consider that the benefits from administering such a scheme would ensure significant economic impetus in the rural economy.

The scheme would complement The Enterprise Network project which is providing incubation space for start up businesses.

Defra has offered a Funding Agreement to Wiltshire Council for up to £1m of grant aid to distribute to expanding and start-up micro-businesses over the forthcoming period to               31 December 2014.

The scheme is funded under the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 (RPDE).

It will be available in rural Wiltshire and Swindon local authority areas, but not available to non-rural businesses. It is available to the areas due to the presence of the Swindon & Wiltshire Rural Growth Network pilot.