Update – Business Interruption Loan Scheme

23rd March 2020 – update

Dear Member

 

There has been a flurry of news and announcements this morning:

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.  I sent the link to the details this morning. In summary:

    • Around 40 lenders (your usual banks etc) will make loans to businesses up to £5 million under this scheme to businesses with £45 million turnover of less.
    • There will be no interest to pay for the first twelve months.  
    • Nor will there be any fees and capital repayments can be deferred.  
    • The loans will be available where businesses would not normally meet the banks lending criteria.  
    • Government is underwriting 80% of the loan. 
    • The interest charged is unclear and will be part of the commercial discussion with the bank and contingent on the usual things such as securitisation etc.  
    • There will be up to six years to repay the loan.
    • If the bank can lend on normal terms it will continue to do so.
    • Banks have advised customers to watch out for frauds and scams

Legislation is now in place to force businesses to close https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-to-enforce-closure-of-businesses-and-other-venues–2

    • Rules have now been implemented to force open venues to close.  This will be done through local authority Environmental Health and Trading Standards Departments with police assistance if necessary.
    • There are unlimited fines for the breach of a notice to close. 
    • Thanks to all members who have closed.  There was a small pocket of companies that didn’t close over the weekend.  We have tried to speak to as many of them we can.  As I explained in my update over the weekend this is incredibly short-sighted and I’m being very polite.  Let me know if any venues are still open.  Also do not be embarrassed about telling your local authority. These people are risking everyone’s livelihoods for a few extra pence as well as jeopardising people’s lives.

Takeaway planning rules have changed

    • For those of you with restaurants and cafes the requirement to apply for change of use to convert to a takeaway has been removed.  You can just do it.  You just have to tell the local council.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-grant-permission-for-pubs-and-restaurants-to-operate-as-takeaways-as-part-of-coronavirus-response

I also just wanted to provide you with a summary of some of the other support measures available to you:

Rates:  Leisure businesses receive a 100% 12 month rates holiday.  We are in the leisure business and are entitled to this relief even though not specifically listed in the guidance.  We are pressing hard for that to be confirmed by Government. Our advice is don’t pay your rates.  If a council argues the point we will stand behind you.  We are also arguing that the entire supply chain is just as badly affected and should also enjoy the relief.  Businesses may wish to similarly not pay their rates and argue the case with the council that you are part of the leisure industry.

Small businesses already receiving small business rates relief will get a grant of £10K.  This will come automatically via your local authority.

Leisure sector businesses with a rateable value up to £15k will also get a £10k grant. 

Leisure sector businesses with a rateable value between £15k and £51k will get a grant of £25k.

Local authorities will automatically award these grants.

Please note that whilst very similar, Scotland and Wales have slightly different rules that you should check on the Scottish and Welsh Government websites. 

VAT:  This quarter can be deferred until the next quarter.  Payment for the deferred quarter does not have to be paid until April 2021.

MGD:  A number of members have asked if the same applies to MGD.  It doesn’t but you can apply to HMRC under the Time to Pay scheme to delay payment.  Contact HMRC.

Insurance: A number of members have said that insurers are saying that because we were not specifically mentioned in the close down order from Government on Friday, businesses interruption insurance is not payable.  Any reading of the order let alone our moral and social obligation meant we had to shut and I am furious that companies are trying to wriggle out of paying.  Again we need a clear statement from Government on this which I am endeavouring to get.  I wrote to the Business Secretary, Chancellor and DCMS over the weekend.   PLEASE CAN YOU LET ME KNOW THE NAMES OF INSURERS WHO ARE REFUSING TO PAY OUT.  DCMS HAS ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION.

Employment support:  The Government’s offer to pay 80% of ‘furloughed’ workers wages was most welcome.  The precise rules for getting your hands on the money are yet to be published but we know that furloughed means that your staff stay on your books in the normal way but they must not work. HMRC will be establishing an online portal through which you can designate which workers have been furloughed and their PAYE details.  HMRC will give you a rebate. They are aiming for the end of April at the latest to get this up and running.  It applies to both full time and part time employees. You do not have to make up the 20%.  If you don’t, this may be an issue for workers at Minimum Wage.  We are checking on this.

Self-employed: We await news on support for the self-employed.

Coinage:  I have opened up communication with the Royal Mint to see if they have plans to increase the coin supply when members’ businesses reopen.  I have assumed that most members will have banked the floats on their machines and will therefore need access to coins when you reopen. That’s going to put a big strain on the coin supply.  CAN YOU LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE BANKED YOUR FLOATS OR IF YOU ARE KEEPING THEM READY TO REFLOAT.

 

Our on-going work:

  • Getting clear confirmation of the applicability of the rates discount and the order to close.
  • Extending the rates rebate to the leisure industry supply chain
  • Continuing to keep members as up to date as we can
  • Liaising regularly with Government and Scottish Government, Gambling Commission and sister trade bodies
  • Persuading insurance industry not to switch insurance to vacant possession cover as we have been forced to close.
  • Persuading government/local authority to waive premises licence fees for the period that businesses are closed and either rebate them or discount against next year’s.
  • Pressing for commercial mortgage relief

As always please feed in your concerns. Apologies if we can’t reply to everyone who gets in touch but please be assured we read every email we get.

 

Finally the Government has a new business support website that brings together all the above: www.businesssupport.gov.uk/Coronavirus-business-support/

With kind regards

John

 

Back to Covid-19 Updates Homepage

Related Posts