19th March 2021

 

Dear Member

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

 

England

 

• I have already advised members about the various new grants that have been announced to take retail, leisure and hospitality businesses through to re-opening but I thought it might be helpful to issue a reminder with links to the Government web pages with all the details.

 

• • Restart Grants – these are the one off grants that apply for the hospitality, accommodation and leisure businesses and are administered through your local authority :

 

• £8,000 for businesses with a rateable value of up to and exactly £15,000 
• £12,000 for businesses with a rateable vale over £15,000 and less that £51,000 
• £18,000 for businesses with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or greater

 

• The guidance to LAs is here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971363/restart-grant-la-guidance.pdf

 

• • Other Grant Schemes – the various other support measures are either now being paid automatically (under new names) or require an application – the Additional Restrictions Grant Scheme – which is the one members in the supply chain need to apply for.  More money has gone into the pot and even if you have been turned down before keep banging on the door as the guidance to local authorities available here is clear you are entitled to some money.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=61fe2765-10e4-4089-9d57-a2e946d00283&utm_content=immediately

 

• We got the expected response from Government to our solicitor’s letter pointing out that AGCs had been discriminated against as the only retail venue on the High Street that was not going to be allowed to open on April 12^th, namely denying any discrimination and that the decision had been reached properly.  We have responded to ask them to justify some of the assertions about our business that they make in their letter to us.  We also raised the issue with the new Gambling Minister, John Whittingdale, when we met him on Wednesday.
• Test and Trace post re-opening – The Department of Health would welcome business feedback.  Members are invited to participate with their views by clicking here https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ttregsemployers/

 

Wales –  South Wales Regional Chairman, Richard Case and I held our regular meeting with WG officials this morning where we felt that our messages on re-opening were getting through.  All eyes are now on First Minister, Mark Drakeford, who will provide details on 1st April of what sectors can open on April 12^th.

 

Scotland – The Scottish Government, not only wrapped up in the furore over Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, seems to have gone to ground, despite promises from senior politicians that we could have a discussion about our proposals for a suppliers’ grant fund.  We are meeting again on Monday to determine our next steps.

 

Option to tax – Businesses have been given extra time to notify HMRC of their option to tax land and buildings. Click here for details https://www.gov.uk/guidance/changes-to-notifying-an-option-to-tax-land-and-buildings-during-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=70333393-a704-4993-af11-aa71d75b90e0&utm_content=immediately

 

5% VAT Rate – ALL MEMBERS PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION.  We have set up a petition on the Government website calling for the 5% VAT rate given to the tourism sector to include seaside arcades.  If we can get 10,000 signatures Government has to responded.  100,000 they have to consider the matter for debate.  Can all bacta members sign the petition, get friends and family and staff to sign it and generally spread the word.   Get them to do so too.  Please use social media to promote the link.   Click here to sign: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/578861

 

Kind regards

John