Coronavirus-info

The Council has received a top up of just over £96,000 to run a discretionary scheme in support of Business most severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant.

The Council will provide support of £1,500 for up to 65 eligible business.

Businesses will be required to demonstrate a significant business impact on trade during the months of December 2021 and January 2022. This could include where businesses have endured significant cancellations, reduced trade or increased costs. Evidence will be requested for applicants prior to payments. Where evidence cannot be provided or is deemed insufficient the application will not be approved.

As a guide a significant impact may be deemed to be a financial impact of greater than £1,000 during this period.

Examples of businesses that may be eligible include hair and beauty businesses, personal care services e.g. sports massage or podiatry, transport firms supporting the hospitality trade e.g. taxi and private hire, and suppliers to the hospitality and leisure trade.  This list is not exhaustive.

Businesses must be an occupant of a rateable premise and be the ratepayer of that premise. You will be required to input your business rates account number into the application. The application system will not let you progress without this.

The following exclusions apply:

• Any business that have received funding through the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG). Business that have yet to receive confirmation from the Council of an award under the OHLG may wish to apply for this grant and declare as such.
• Retail
• Takeaways. Where the business caters for offsite events e.g. weddings, office seminars etc. you may qualify, subject to evidence being provided.

A business will be ineligible for this grant, if:

• It is in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a strike-off notice or under notice
• It has reached the Business Grant Subsidy Allowance limit. You will be required to confirm under which subsidy allowance you are receiving the grant. The three subsidy categories are:

• Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance - You’re allowed up to £335,000 (subject to exchange rates) over any period of 3 years.
• COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance - You’re allowed up to £1,900,000.COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance - If you have reached your limits under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance and
• COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance, you may be able to access a further allowance of funding under these scheme rules of up to £10,000,000, provided certain conditions are met.

Further guidance on the Subsidy Allowance limit can be found here 

APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED

Grant income received by the business is taxable. The Council notifies HMRC of all grants paid.

The information provided in this application may be shared with other government departments and private agencies for debt recovery and fraud prevention purposes. The Council’s privacy policy for Covid-19 Business Grants can be found here