Fenland Council is working to ensure district's businesses are among first to receive financial help from the Government

Fenland District Council has pledged its support for businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

The council is working hard to ensure that all support for businesses announced by the Government in recent days can be quickly facilitated, ensuring businesses in Fenland will be among the first to receive new grants and rate relief.

Councillor Chris Boden,council leader, said: “We realise this is an extremely challenging and concerning time for our cherished businesses and we are committed to doing what we can to support those affected.

“The Government has confirmed that local councils will be responsible for administering the grants to businesses and we are eagerly awaiting further details of this. I want to assure businesses in Fenland that support will be made available as quickly as possible.”

There will be two grant schemes administered by the council. The first scheme will be a grant of £10,000 for businesses receiving small business rate relief and rural rate relief with a rateable value of £15,000 or less.

The second scheme focuses on the retail, leisure and hospitality sector for organisations that do not receive small business rate relief and have a rateable value below £51,000.

This will be a grant offer of £10,000 for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, or a grant offer of £25,000 for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.

The council will be contacting eligible businesses to collect details for grant payments, with a view to payments being made in early April.

In addition to the grant schemes, the council will also be implementing business rates relief measures. Officers are identifying qualifying businesses and will re-issue new business rates bills based on the changes automatically.

Councillor Ian Benney, portfolio holder for economic growth, said: “We know this is an anxious time for everyone and while the major focus is quite rightly on public health, many businesses are having to focus on how they can continue to operate in these extraordinary circumstances.

“With the comprehensive package of financial support from Government, we will do everything we can to support our businesses through this and ensure the impact of COVID-19 on Fenland’s business community is minimised.”

For more information, visit thecouncil’s dedicated coronavirus business advice page at: www.fenland.gov.uk/article/14837/COVID-19-Advice-for-businesses