Background details
On 18th December 2021 the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) wrote to all Local Authorities that had funds remaining for the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Fund.
The Government acknowledges that although no businesses have been asked to close those in the consumer service sectors are warning of a combined impact of increasing staff absences and a drop in consumer demand as the public voluntarily limits social mixing. They are reporting a significant drop in trade, in some case by as much as 50%. The pre Christmas period is critical for many businesses and these two factors are most likely to impact hospitality and their suppliers, leisure, personal care, accommodation and travel businesses
Cherwell District Council has been allocated ARG funding in order to help businesses severely impacted by COVID 19 and the Omicron variant.
Whilst the awarding of grants will be at the total discretion of the Council, BEIS set down criteria which must be met by each business making an application for a discretionary grant. The Department has also indicated the types of business which should be given priority and they are set out as below.
Eligibility criteria
1. A business does not have to operate from a business rated premises; but must fall into one of the eligible business categories listed under (2).
2. A business may be eligible for a grant if they fit under one of the categories below or predominantly supply a sector listed below, these may include,
- Hospitality
- Accommodation
- Leisure
- Personal care
- The travel and tourism sector including group travel, travel agents and tour operators
- Wedding industries
- Nightclubs
- Theatres
- Events industries
- Wholesalers
- English language schools
- Breweries
- Freelance mobile businesses (including caterers, events, hair and beauty and wedding related businesses and gyms)
3. Businesses must have a registered address in the Cherwell District to be eligible for this scheme. The business will need to be trading within the Cherwell District. Where a business is registered in another council area (although has a presence in the Cherwell District Council area) the Council will take a discretionary view on a case-by-case basis
4. Businesses must have been trading on or before December 2021. Indicators that a business is trading include:
- The business continues to trade online, via click and collect services etc.
- The business is not in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice or under notice
Exclusions
1. Businesses that are not listed under (2) in the eligibility criteria
2. Takeaway food businesses
3. Businesses which have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of Subsidy Allowance permitted
4. Businesses which are in administration, insolvent or where a striking off notice has been made
5. Businesses that have received a mandatory Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant