A new discretionary fund has been set up to accommodate small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme, following up on the Chancellors promise that the Government will do “whatever it takes”.
Grants will be awarded based on submitted evidence of actual property-related costs incurred by applicants, including rent, service charges, contribution to landlord rates and other specified property costs, as well as evidence of loss of income due to Covid-19.
Whilst the government has given guidance on who is applicable (see below), local authorities have ultimate discretion to give business, charities and societies grants of up to £25,000.
The government has set out clear criteria on eligibility and the fund is therefore available to the following types of businesses in South Ribble:
- Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces which do not have their own business rates assessment will receive up to 6 month’s actual/forecast property costs, capped at £10,000 per applicant.
- Regular market traders with fixed property costs, that do not have their own business rates assessment will receive up to 6 months actual/forecast property costs, capped at £2,500 per applicant.
- Bed and breakfasts which pay council tax instead of business rates will receive up to 6 months actual/forecast property costs, capped at £3,000 per applicant.
- Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief will receive up to 6 months actual/forecast property costs, capped at £10,000 per applicant.
Businesses who have applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will also be eligible to apply for this scheme, but those who have already received support from the Small Business Grant Fund; Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund; Self-employed Income Support Scheme or other Government coronavirus support schemes will not be able to apply.
Katherine Fletcher, MP for South Ribble said:
It is great to hear that the funds across South Ribble local authorities have now gone live. This will massively help those small businesses who have been hit by coronavirus, but might have otherwise fallen through the cracks.
I’d encourage businesses across South Ribble to check the criteria to see if you are eligible and to get in touch if you are having any issues.
Applications for the Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund must be made online by Monday 22 June 2020. For further information and how to apply, please click one of the following links based upon your local authority area:
For South Ribble Borough Council Businesses - www.southribble.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-business
For Chorley Council Businesses - https://chorley.gov.uk/Pages/AtoZ/Covid-19-(coronavirus)-Business-Support.aspx
For West Lancashire Council Businesses www.westlancs.gov.uk/business/business-advice-and-support/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-businesses.aspx
