Council pays out support grants to businesses required to close in lockdown

The latest Local Restrictions Support Grant is a payment for the six-week period from January 5 that is specifically for eligible businesses that are liable for paying business rates, with grants of £2,001, £3,000 or £4,500 available, depending on rateable value.

In addition, those same businesses will receive the Closed Business Lockdown Payment, a one-off top-up payment of either £4,000, £6,000 or £9,000.

Businesses which have successfully applied since November for a Local Restrictions Support Grant should not apply for these latest grants. The council has emailed all relevant businesses to ask if any circumstances have changed, and automatic payments will follow this week. 

Both grants are only available to businesses required to close under the current lockdown restrictions, which include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality sectors.

The council is currently developing a discretionary support scheme under the Additional Restrictions Support Grant, to help further businesses during the lockdown, which will be launched in early February with the application form made available on the website.

Local Restrictions Support Grants have already been paid out for eligible businesses that were required to close whilst Norfolk was under Tier 4 restrictions, from Boxing Day to January 4.

Alongside handing out grants, the council is encouraging all businesses in the borough to complete a short Covid Impact Survey, to help focus efforts on current and emerging issues as accurately and effectively as possible.

Responses will directly inform both conversations and economic response and recovery work with partners from Government, New Anglia LEP, other local authorities and local business groups. Take part at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/2021CouncilSurvey.

Cllr Carl Smith, the council leader, said "We are pleased to have received further funds from the Government to help our local businesses during this third lockdown, which will be paid out shortly. 

"If you are a business with any immediate concerns, then please get in touch. Information and support about the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice is available on our website which is updated regularly."

For businesses which have not applied for a Local Restrictions Support Grant since November but think they may be eligible, the criteria and application form can be found at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-businesses.