Grants for shop signs

The Scheme is being operated by Erewash Borough Council and is funded from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

1. Introduction

1.1 This document is designed to assist applicants to apply for the Empty Shop Signage Grant Scheme. Copies of the guidance and registration form are available on Erewash Borough Council’s website:

Aim

1.2 The aim of the Grant is to support new traders and businesses within Erewash and is one of a number of initiatives that form a wider regeneration programme for the borough funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The scheme will provide a boost to the local economy by providing grants of up to a maximum of £2,000 to eligible applicants.

Who can apply for a Grant?

1.3 The Grant is open to businesses occupying vacant ground floor retail units in the town centres of Ilkeston and Long Eaton. In Ilkeston this covers Bath Street and South Street. In Long Eaton this covers High Street, Market Place and Tamworth Road (no further south than Broad Street).

1.4 Eligible applicants can apply for a grant of up to £2,000 towards the costs of shop front signage.

2. How you apply for a Grant

For the purposes of this section “you” means “The Applicant” and “us or we” means Erewash Borough Council.

2.1 You can download a Registration Form from the Council website or request one from the Economic Development (ED) Team. You complete the form and submit it to the ED team by email or post. They will let you know if you are eligible and tell you what you need to do next.

2.2 You will need to have a bank account in your business name into which we can pay the Grant by bank transfer, following approval.

2.3 You will submit completed forms and supporting documents to us by email or post addressed to the Economic Development team.

2.4 Applications should be made before premises are occupied.

3. How we will assess your application

3.1 All grants will be made at the sole discretion of Erewash Borough Council. All grants will be subject to availability of sufficient funding. Erewash Borough Council will not be committed until the formal acceptance of the offer of the grant by the applicant. The Council will consider Applications on a first come, first served basis. The scheme will run between July 2023 and March 2025, subject to sufficient funds.

3.2 You need to give details of any grant funding your business has received over the past 3 years. This is required due to subsidy control rules that govern how much public money a business can receive over a given time.

You will need to provide a quote and design for the signage (please see point 5 below for design guidance).
You will need to provide a copy of the lease for the unit in question.

4. How you will be informed of the grant decision

4.1 We will notify you of your eligibility for the scheme in writing.

4.2 The Conditions Offer letter will ask you to submit further documentation and information to the Council in order for the application to be processed.

4.3 The Grant will be conditional on the submission and approval of this information. An offer of Grant will then be made.

4.4 The Grant monies will be paid to successful applicants once designs are approved and background checks are carried out, and any necessary consents are in place.

4.5 You must inform Erewash Borough Council upon completion of the works which should be carried out prior to the business opening and within 60 days of the grant award.

4.6 Applicants must hold Public Liability Insurance.

4.7 Grants are discretionary, and Erewash Borough Council reserves the right to withhold payment of the grant in whole or part if any of the terms and conditions has been breached.

4.8 Payment will be subject to you having satisfactorily complied with all terms and conditions of the scheme.

4.9 Payment of the grant will be made into your business bank account (or ‘trading as’ account) via BACS.

4.10 If the costs of the proposed project exceed the maximum grant awarded, Erewash Borough Council is not obliged to increase the grant amount. You may, however, choose to spend more than the Grant on the overall scheme with your own funds.

4.11 You will agree for Erewash Borough Council to involve you in publicity, e.g., press releases, case studies and photographs and reports related to the Grant.

4.12 You will agree to take part in any monitoring and produce relevant information as requested.

4.13 You will agree to use the Grant only for the signage works specified in the grant offer letter.

4.14 If you are VAT registered your grant will be assessed on the net cost of eligible projects; if you are non-registered it will be on the gross cost. If you do not know whether you are VAT registered, you must seek advice from HM Revenue & Customs.

4.15 Erewash Borough Council, its officers and agents shall not at any time be held liable to any person in relation to any loss or damage arising, either directly or indirectly, as a result of compliance by you with these terms and conditions of grant. Award of the grant does not imply that Erewash Borough Council is expressing a view regarding your business or its products/services nor that it accepts responsibility for any debts, or liabilities incurred by you or your business.

4.16 Erewash Borough Council reserves the right to recover all or part of the grant it has provided if:

You are found to have improperly tried to influence the decision of any officer or Elected Member of Erewash Borough Council in the award of a grant;

Any information provided in the forms or other correspondence is found to be substantially incorrect, misleading or incomplete;

You fail to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this scheme.

4.17 We will check whether you have any outstanding debts owed to Erewash Borough Council. If it is found that such debts exist, Erewash Borough Council reserves the right to withhold grant payment until such debts are cleared.

4.18 We will share data with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) of the UK Government who have provided the funding for the scheme. Data supplied in the Application Form will be held on the shared database in accordance with Data Protection legislation.

4.19 We sometimes need to share your information within the Council or with other organisations. We will only share your information when necessary and when the law allows us to. For processing and administering your grant application and payment we may need to share your information with:

- In certain cases we may also share your information with other individuals and organisations for the purpose of the prevention and detection of fraud.

Our full privacy notice is available at www.erewash.gov.uk/privacy

5. Design Guidance

Designs will be expected to accord with the following design guidance. This is of particular relevance as the town centres fall within Conservation Areas (designated for their heritage value). It should also be noted that some proposals would require Advertisement Consent (further details below).

RELEVANT EXTRACTS FROM THE COUNCIL’S SHOPFRONT SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT (SPD):

4 Design Approach

The design of the shopfront should take into account the rhythm and characteristics of the street in which it is located.  Many shopping areas within the Borough contain a variety of building styles.

15 Projection and Hanging Signs

In addition to fascia signs many businesses advertise their premises with the use of projecting and hanging signs. The Borough Council will resist inappropriately designed projecting box signs, especially if they are internally illuminated. Plastic, aluminium and non-traditional materials do nothing to enhance or preserve the character and appearance of a conservation area. Therefore, the Borough Council will encourage the use of hand painted hanging signs constructed in either wood or metal. The Borough Council will generally resist applications for hanging signs that are located above fascia level.

18 Illumination

In nearly all cases illuminated signs require advertisement consent from the Borough Council.There are two basic ways of illuminating signs and these are ‘internally’ and ‘externally’. Both forms of illumination can easily ruin the appearance of a shopfront and detract from an area. The Borough Council will generally resist applications for internally illuminated fascias, box signs and ‘halo’ signs (individual lettering which is illuminated around the edges) in conservation areas, on or near listed buildings and in residential areas. In cases where it is essential for the sign to be visible at night and the level of street illumination is poor, preference will be given to the use of reflected light from discretely positioned spotlights or external lighting units, provided they are not over-elaborate in design and kept to a minimum.

19 Lettering

The most pleasing and sympathetic approach to signage is the use of individual letters either painted or fixed to the backdrop of the fascia or façade. The size and style of the lettering will mainly be determined by the depth of the fascia and the proportions of the building. The Borough Council will encourage hand painted signs on certain properties. Where upper floor premises are being used for a different business, the Borough Council will resist applications for new external signs other than on the ground floor fascia or façade. As an alternative the Borough Council will encourage the use of lettering on the glass of upper floor windows or wall plaques, constructed out of traditional materials, placed at ground floor level.

If you are unsure as to whether you will require Advertisement Consent the Borough Council encourages you to provide details at an early stage and the council will provide advice as to whether this is required.

The full SPD document can be downloaded in the planning pages.

1. Introduction

This document sets out the criteria, terms and conditions for the operation of an Empty Shop Signage Grant Scheme (“the Scheme”) by Erewash Borough Council (“the Council”)

1.1 Definitions:

Agreement: these terms and conditions together with the Conditional Offer Letter and Grant Offer Letter

Applicant: the business owner applying for a Grant under the Scheme

Application Form: the form completed by the Applicant applying for the Grant, including project proposal

Conditional Offer Letter: the letter from the Council to the Applicant outlining what the Applicant needs to do to receive the Grant

Grant: the grant awarded under the Scheme to the Applicant as more particularly detailed in the Grant Offer Letter

Grant Offer Letter: the letter from the Council to the Applicant offering the Grant

Aim

1.2 The aim of the Grant is to support new businesses and traders within Erewash towns and is one of a number of initiatives within a wider regeneration programme utilising the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (“UKSPF”) to distribute Grants.

1.3 The scheme will provide grants of up to a maximum of £2,000 to businesses to install new signage in accordance with this Agreement.

Financing

1.5 The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is providing the funding for the UKSPF. The Grant is managed and administered by the Council.

Who can apply for a Grant?

1.6 The Grant is open to businesses occupying vacant ground floor retail units in the town centres of Ilkeston and Long Eaton. In Ilkeston this covers Bath Street and South Street. In Long Eaton this covers High Street, Market Place and Tamworth Road (no further south than Broad Street).

1.7 Eligible applicants can apply for a grants of up to £2,000 towards the costs of shop front signage.

2. The Application Process

How applicants can apply for a grant

2.1 Registration Forms and related information can be found on the Council website www.erewash.gov.uk/... or can be requested from the Economic Development (ED) team. Applicants will need to complete the registration form and submit it to the ED team by email or post.

2.2 The council will check the address is eligible (as per 1.6) and that the proposed business use does not require planning consent and issue a conditional offer letter.

2.3 Applicants will then need to submit the following:

a) a quote and design for signage works

b)  a copy of the lease for the unit in question

c) business bank account details

e) A signed copy of these terms and conditions

2.4 Signage works must be carried out in accordance with approved drawings as per 2.3 a). These drawings will be appended to the grant award letter.

2.5 If the Applicant is successful the Grant will be paid into a business bank account by bank transfer. No other method of payment will be offered. This will be subject to Fraud checks.

Timeline for Applications

2.6 Completed forms and supporting documents should be submitted to the Council by email or post addressed to the Economic Development team by no later than 31st January 2025. Interim application deadlines may be specified by the council.

3. The Assessment Process

3.1 Each application will be judged on its own merits, as to how well it meets the Scheme’s aims and eligibility criteria (as set out in the Applicant’s Guide). The Council will reserve the right to vary the level of Grant or reject an application and will not be obligated to enter into discussion on individual applications.

3.2 All Grants will be made at the sole discretion of the Council. All Grants will be subject to availability of sufficient funding from the UKSPF. The Council will not be committed until the formal acceptance of the Offer by the Applicant.

3.3 For subsidy control purposes, applicants will need to declare what grant funding the business has received in the past 3 years.

4. How will applicants be informed of grant decision?

4.1 The Council will notify each Applicant of its decision in writing. If an application is approved the Council will make an offer of grant by sending you a Grant Offer Letter which will specify: the name of the eligible Applicant; what the Grant is to be spent on; the amount of the Grant that will be awarded; and the terms and conditions under which the grant is being offered (“Offer of Grant”).

5. The Terms and Conditions of the Grant

Works eligible for grant funding

5.1 The Grant is not retrospective and therefore cannot be used for the reimbursement of goods/services purchased before the date of the Grant Offer Letter.

5.2 The Council must be notified immediately of any variations needed to the Offer of Grant and before any variation to the application takes place.

5.3 Variations to the Agreement must be approved in writing prior to such work commencing. The Council reserves the right to refuse the Grant for changes to the specification which it deems not appropriate for the Scheme.

5.4 Works must be carried out in accordance with approved designs.

Payment of grant

5.5 Grants are discretionary, and the Council reserves the right to withhold payment of the Grant in whole or part if any term or condition of the Agreement has been breached.

5.6 Payment will be subject to the Applicant having satisfactorily complied with all the terms and conditions of the Agreement and passing all fraud checks.

5.7 If the costs of the project exceed the predicted amount that is stated within the Application Form, the Council is not obliged to increase the Grant amount.

5.8 Payment of the Grant will be made into the Applicant’s business bank account via BACS.

Requirements on Applicants awarded grant  

5.9 Applicants will use the grant only for the works specified in the grant offer letter.

5.10 Works must be carried out prior to the business opening and within 60 days of the grant award.

5.11 The applicant must inform the council once works are completed.

5.12 Applicants will agree for the Council to involve them in publicity, e.g., press releases, case studies and photographs and reports related to the Grant.

VAT

5.12 Applicants who are VAT registered will have their Grant assessed on the net cost of eligible projects; and non-registered applicants on the gross cost. If the applicant does not know whether they are VAT registered or not they must seek advice from HM Revenue & Customs.

Erewash Borough Council liability

5.13 The Council, its officers and agents shall not at any time be held liable to any person in relation to any loss or damage arising, either directly or indirectly, as a result of compliance by the Applicant with these terms and conditions of Grant. Award of the Grant does not imply that the Council is expressing a view regarding the business or its products/services nor that it accepts responsibility for any debts, or liabilities incurred by the Applicant or the business.

Repayment of grant

5.14 The Council reserves the right to recover all or part of the Grant it has provided to the Applicant if:

• The Applicant is found to have improperly tried to influence the decision of any officer or Elected Member of the Council in the award of a Grant.
• The business is sold or ceases to trade for whatever reason within a 6 month period from receipt of the Grant.
• The business relocates outside the boundaries of Erewash within a 12-month period from receipt of the Grant.
• Any information provided in the forms or other correspondence is found to be substantially incorrect, misleading or incomplete.
• The Applicant fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Debt

5.15 A check will be made to ascertain whether the Applicant has any outstanding debts owed to the Council. If it is found that such debts exist, the Council reserves the right to withhold Grant payment until such debts are cleared.

Data Sharing

5.16 Data will be shared with DLUHC of the UK Government who have provided the funding for the Scheme. Data supplied in the Application Form will be held on the shared database in accordance with Data Protection legislation. We will hold, process, and store your information in accordance with Data Protection Law.

5.17 We sometimes need to share your information within the Council or with other organisations. We will only share your information when necessary and when the law allows us to. For processing and administering your Grant application and payment we may need to share your information with:

- Project partners including the Erewash Partnership; or

- In certain cases we may also share your information with other individuals and organisations for the purpose of the prevention and detection of fraud.

Our full privacy notice is available at www.erewash.gov.uk/privacy

Subsidy Control

5.18 In this clause the following defined terms are used:

• Group means the Applicant, and any other persons under common ownership or common control (as defined in section 8 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022) including any subsidiary or holding company from time to time of the Applicant, and any subsidiary from time to time of a holding company of that company.
• Minimal Financial Assistance means a subsidy given under the MFA provisions;
• MFA Provisions means sections 36 and 37 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022;
• SAFA Provisions means the provisions on granting ‘Small Amounts of Financial Assistance” set out at Article 364(4) of the UKEU TCA as incorporated into domestic law by section 29 of the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020;
• Subsidy Control Rules means all laws of the United Kingdom limiting State Subsidy including the Subsidy Control Act 2022, any relevant secondary legislation and government guidance, and any relevant case law of the courts and tribunals of England and Wales interpreting or regarding the application of such laws and to the extent relevant, the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the EU Withdrawal Agreement together with such rules, agreements, protocols and laws as may replace them from time to time;
• State Subsidy has the meaning given to the term “subsidy” in section 2 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022; State Aid De Minimis Rules means Commission Regulation EU No. 1407/2013 of 18 December 2013 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid, and Commission Regulation EU No. 360/2012 of 25 April 2012 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid granted to undertakings providing services of general economic interest;
• UK-EU TCA means the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Agency Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the other part, signed on 30 December 2020, including such amendments as are agreed between the parties from time to time.

5.19 The Applicant shall:

• comply with the Subsidy Control Rules;
• ensure that the requirements of the Subsidy Control Rules are met in relation to the project;
• if requested, confirm to the Council’s satisfaction that all requirements of the Subsidy Control Rules are met in relation to the project; and keep a written record which confirms that it has received a subsidy by way of Minimal Financial Assistance, the date on which the grant was given (being the date of this Agreement and the value of the grant, and maintain such record for three (3) years following the date of this Agreement.

5.20     The Applicant acknowledges that the Grant is being given as Minimal Financial Assistance. The Applicant has confirmed to the Council that receipt of the Grant will not result in the Applicant and/or its Group having received subsidies under the State Aid De Minimis Rules and/or the SAFA Provisions and/or the MFA Provisions in the elapsed part of the current (up to the date of this Agreement) and two previous Financial Years which when cumulated are valued at more than £315,000.

5.21 The Applicant shall not take any action, or fail to take any action, or (insofar as is reasonably within its power) permit anything to occur that will cause the Council to be in breach of its obligations under the Subsidy Control Rules.

5.22    The Applicant shall provide such assistance as is requested by the Council to enable the Council to comply with its obligations under the Subsidy Control Rules. Where the Council requests information or documents from the Applicant under this clause 5.22, the Applicant shall provide them within 5 working days of request. The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that the Council may be required to disclose information that it has received from the Applicant without consulting the Applicant pursuant to its obligations under the Subsidy Control Rules.

5.23     No payments shall be made to the Applicant if it becomes subject to a recovery order following a decision of any competent court or tribunal declaring any State Subsidy illegal or incompatible with the Subsidy Control Rules.

5.24     The Council may vary or withhold any or all of the Grant and/or require repayment of Grant already paid, together with interest from the date of payment, if:

• the representations and warranties made by the Applicant under this agreement do not remain true and correct;
  any State Subsidy given by the Council is used for a purpose other than the purpose for which it was given;
  variation, repayment or recovery is, in the reasonable opinion of the Council, required under or by virtue of the Subsidy Control Rules; or
• the Council is otherwise required to vary, repay or recover the Grant in whole or in part by any court or tribunal of relevant jurisdiction and the interest rate payable will be set by the Council at a level sufficient for the Council to comply with any such requirement or obligation.

Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999:

The Agreement does not and is not intended to confer any contractual benefit on any person pursuant to the terms of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

6. Governing law

6.1       The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

7. Entire agreement

7.1       The Agreement (together with all documents attached to or referred to within it) constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties in relation to the Grant and supersedes any previous agreement or understanding between them in relation to such subject matter.