Local Restriction Support Grant -Tier 4 & National Lockdown (Closed)

Local Restriction Support Grant (Closed):

This application form is for the Local Restriction Support Grant (Closed) scheme only – these are businesses that were forced to close under Tier 4 and/or National Lockdown (Stay At Home Alert Level restrictions and regulations by Government.   To be eligible for this grant, you must be liable for business rates and your business premises must appear on the Business Rates Valuation List.  If you have more than one business premises you must submit a separate application form.

The financial support will apply to businesses mandated to close from Thursday 31 December 2020, and from Tuesday 05 January 2021.

This application form also includes details in relation to the additional one-off top up grants of up to £9,000 announced by Government on 06 January 2021.

Introduction:

Hyndburn was placed in Tier 4 (Stay At Home Alert level) which imposes restrictions on local businesses from Thursday 31 December 2020, and National Lockdown (Stay At Home Alert level) from Tuesday 05 January 2021, subject to review mid-February by Government. The Local Restriction Support Grant (LRSG) is a financial package for businesses which have been forced to close.

The financial support will apply to business forced to close from Thursday 31 December 2020, or from Tuesday 05 January 2021.

The Local Restriction Support Grant (Closed) will provide financial assistance and support to businesses which would have been open, providing in person services to customers from their business premises and then required to close in accordance with The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020.

Eligibility:

Your business may be eligible if it:

• Occupies the property and is liable for business rates, and
• Has been forced to close for  because of the Tier 4 (Stay At Home Alert Level), and/or National Lockdown (Stay At Home Alert Level) restrictions and regulations.
• Businesses that are eligible are those that have been mandated to close by Government and include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses.

Businesses in Hyndburn which must close include:

• Non-essential retail, such clothing and homeware stores, market stalls
• Hospitality venues, such as cafes, restaurants, pub, bars, social clubs
• Accommodation, such as hotels, guest houses
• Leisure facilities, such as gyms, swimming pools, golf courses
• Entertainment venues, such as cinemas, theatres, soft play centres
• Personal care facilities, such as hair, beauty salon, tattoo parlours
• Community Centres, subject to certain restrictions.

What you will receive:

The amount to be paid will be determined by the rateable value of the property for business rates purposes. There are 3 rates of grant payments as detailed below:- 

In addition, businesses required to close in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector will be eligible for an additional one-off Closed Business Lockdown Payment to support businesses and jobs until the Spring. These one-off Closed Business Lockdown Payments are based on the rateable value of the property.

Exclusions:

• Businesses which have not been forced to close, and who are permitted to stay open will not be eligible for Local Restriction Support Grant (Closed).

This includes:

• Essential retail, such as supermarkets, food shops, newsagents, off-licences, corner shops
• Petrol stations, car repair and MOT services, bicycle shops
• Taxi or vehicle hire businesses
• Building merchants, hardware stores, garden centres
• Medical services, such as chemists, dental services, opticians, funeral directors
• Banks, building societies, post offices, loan providers, money transfer businesses
• Launderettes and dry cleaners
• Vets, animal rescue centres, boarding facilities and pet shops. Animal grooming may also stay open for animal welfare purposes.
• Businesses that are able to conduct their main service because they do not depend on providing direct in-person services from premises and can operate their services effectively remotely (e.g. accountants, solicitors).
• Businesses that have chosen to close but not been required to will not be eligible for this grant.
• Businesses in areas outside the scope of the national restrictions, as defined by Government, are also excluded.

The Council would recommend that you make an application for support from our Additional Restriction Grant scheme.

If you already receive state aid:

The Local Restrictions Support Grant counts towards state aid.

Payments count towards the total de minimis State aid you are allowed to get over a 3-year period - €200,000. If you have reached that threshold, you may still be eligible for funding under the COVID-19 Temporary Framework. The limit for the framework is €800,000.

If you proceed to make an application we will ask you to complete a declaration confirming that:

• You will not exceed the relevant State aid threshold
• You were not an ‘undertaking in difficulty’ on 31 December 2019. This applies only to the COVID-19 Temporary Framework

Received rescue aid that has not been repaid, or are subject to a restructuring plan under State aid rules.

Please CLICK HERE to know more about businesses permitted to remain open 

A copy of the Government guidance issued to Local Authorities to this business support scheme is available here

Awards made under the Local Restriction Support Grant schemes, and additional one-off top up grants are required to comply with EU law on State Aid.

In the table below you should include any other Government or State Aid you have received in connection with COVID-19

In terms of declaring previous De Minimis Aid, we are only interested in public support which is De Minimis Aid (State Aid received under other exemptions or public support which is not State Aid does not need to be declared).

In making this application to the Council for financial assistance from the Local Restriction Support Grant Funds, I warrant and agree the following on behalf of the Applicant:

1.1) I am authorised to make this application and give these warranties on behalf of the Applicant

1.2) The information submitted in support of the Applicant’s application is true, accurate and complete and the Applicant understands that the Council is relying on the truth, accuracy and completeness of this information to determine the Applicant’s application

1.3) The information provided by the Applicant in support of its application may be used by the Council for the detection and prevention of crime and this may include the Council sharing this information in whole or in part with other bodies or organisations responsible for the prevention and detection of crime or responsible for auditing and administering public funds

1.4) The Applicant will respond promptly and accurately to any request by the Council for monitoring and financial information concerning its application for financial assistance from the Local Restriction Support Grant Fund, any such information to be provided within the time scales reasonably required by the Council and to be in such format as the Council may reasonably request and the Applicant understands that such requests may be made both before and after payment of the financial assistance to the Applicant

2) If the Council determines that the Applicant has provided any false, untrue or misleading information, or otherwise made false statements, in support of its application for financial assistance, the Council may in writing request repayment by the Applicant of all, or such part, of that financial assistance as the Council may decide in its absolute discretion and the said repayment shall be made by the Applicant without any deduction or set off whether in law or equity within such period as the Council may reasonably allow

The Council reserves the right to determine who gets paid and that if the funding from Government runs out the Council reserves the right to discontinue the whole scheme or to reduce the scope or prioritise amongst applicants.