by Wickhambrook Parish Clerk
A message to Parish Clerks from Cllr John Griffiths, Leader at West Suffolk
Dear Town & Parish Clerks
I hope this finds you well.
This email is to make you aware of a new business grant that we are launching today for those customer facing businesses that remain open but have seen their takings severely impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
As you know, earlier in the month we launched grant schemes for closed businesses and over the last couple of weeks, the team has been in touch with a large number of businesses, including many who are eligible for the closed grants – and we are continuing to invite applications.
We have, of course, also been speaking to many customer-facing businesses that are allowed to stay open, as they provide essential products or services, but who have seen their business massively affected as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions.
With that in mind, we have now launched the Additional Restrictions Grant Open January and February – and I would ask that you direct businesses to www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/c19business where they can read the full details of the scheme, check their eligibility and apply.
The new Additional Restrictions Grant will be available to businesses in this list that can show a significant loss of income alongside continuing fixed business costs:
- Food retailers with a rateable value of below £51,000, including small supermarkets, convenience stores and corner shops. This includes butchers, bakers, greengrocers, fishmongers, and delicatessens
- Market traders selling essential goods
- Off-licences and licensed shops selling alcohol
- Mobility and disability support shops
- Newsagents
- Food takeaways
- Post offices
- Laundrettes and dry cleaners
- Bicycle shops
- Vehicle repair and MOT services
- Petrol stations
- Taxi and vehicle hire businesses (with premises)
- Meeting room and conference facilities
- Non-urgent medical or health services, including services relating to mental health
- Businesses supplying repair services as their main business
- Day nurseries and pre-schools
- Pet day-care facilities
Eligibility criteria applies. The grants will be available predominantly but not exclusively to businesses in the rates system. Other businesses in home, mobile or shared premises that are open and delivering customer facing services can however still apply. Businesses will be required to demonstrate the severe impact of Tier 4 and lockdown on their business and applications must be made on the Council’s website before 15 February 2021.
The Council has identified a list of types of business that it would not expect to be eligible, but who can still apply if they can demonstrate they meet the eligibility criteria. The full list of these is available on the council’s website.
Businesses in the manufacturing, construction, professional services and other sectors whose main business is not dependent on customer contact will not be eligible to apply for this scheme.
We will again be communicating this support by writing to business organisations, issuing a press release and running a social media campaign.
As with the other grants scheme, I would ask that if you are contacted by a business that you direct them to the website at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/c19business which details this and the other grants schemes available. The various schemes also include contact details should a business need to speak to a member of the team to seek further clarification or raise an issue.
I hope that the above is helpful and thank you for your continuing support in these undoubtedly challenging times.
With best wishes as always,
John
Cllr John Griffiths
Leader of West Suffolk Council