In addition to the grants for businesses paying small business rates and for those in the retail, hospitality and leisure industry, the government has provided further funds to local councils for them to make discretionary grants to small business affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Typically the grants will be up to £10,000, but could be as much as £25,000. Importantly those who have received a payment under the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) are eligible for this grant as well.
Cotswold District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council are accepting applications from 1 June to 14 June with grants made from 26 June by way of an online submission. It will be necessary to check the application details with your local council (see links below) but it would appear that the timeframe for applications is limited and prompt action will be needed. The application process is likely to vary between councils but may require evidence of ongoing business property costs and reduced turnover.
Cotswold District Council
West Oxforshire District Council
Further details about the grants are set out below.
The funds are intended to prioritise the following types of businesses, but the list is not exhaustive
- small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces, who do not have their own Business Rates assessment
- regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own Business Rates assessment
- Bed and Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of Business Rates
- charity properties in receipt of Charitable Business Rates Relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief
Councils are also able to apply local discretion to include 'Businesses that supply goods or services to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses'.
Eligibility
You can apply for a discretionary grant from your local council if your business:
- has suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis
- has relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs
- is not eligible for any other support schemes. This excludes the job retention scheme (Furlough) and the Self Employed Income Support Scheme
Businesses will not be eligible if they:
- were not trading on 11 March 2020,
- are in administration, insolvent or had a striking-off notice issued,
- have business property costs, for example, Rateable Value, Annual Rent or Annual Mortgage costs, above £51,000,
- are eligible for other covid-19 related grants, for example, Small Business or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grants
- would be taken over the state aid limit by the grant
Please get in touch if you would like help making an application