On 1 May 2020 the government announced it was allowing local authorities to develop policies to pay discretionary grants to local businesses affected by COVID-19.
Initial guidance was issued by central government on 13 May 2020, version 2 was published late on 22 May 2020 and a set of Frequently Asked Questions was published on 27 May 2020. Whilst local authorities are able to decide their own policies, government has asked that four specific types of businesses are prioritised for the grant, and has specified three mandatory criteria all applicants must meet in order to receive the grant.
As funding is limited this policy is restricted to those businesses the government has specified are a priority plus businesses the council consider to be local priorities. Full details of eligible businesses and the eligibility criteria are below.
Eligiblity:
Government’s mandatory criteria:
Any business or trader wishing to claim the grant must first meet the government’s mandatory criteria:
1. They are not eligible to claim a grant (regardless of whether they have actually claimed a grant) under:
a. The Small Business Grant Fund
b. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund,
c. The Fisheries Response Fund,
d. The Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme,
e. The Zoos Support Fund, and/or
f. The Dairy Hardship Fund
2. They were trading on 11 March 2020 from the premises they are claiming the grant for, and
3. They were not in administration, insolvent or subject to a striking off notice either on, or since, 11 March 2020.
Additional eligibility criteria:
In addition to the mandatory criteria, any business or trader wishing to claim the grant must also pass the council’s initial eligibility checks:
4. They are operating or trading within the boundaries of the Borough Council’s area,
5. They have fixed, ongoing, property related costs,
6. They can demonstrate they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis which has impacted their business, and
7. They are not a Precepting Authority of any local authority
Any business or trader failing to meet the criteria above is not eligible to claim a Discretionary Grant. Only one grant is payable per business / trader under this policy.
