Covid-19: Latest Updates

Business Support

The City Council continues to work hard to support businesses impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak and award grant funding to all eligible businesses in accordance with the Governments schemes, details of which are set out below.

To date, the Council has awarded over £20 million of funding to over 1,600 businesses in the city.

 

Support to Businesses

The government has set out a package of measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by Covid-19.

The latest information on these schemes and the support available to businesses can be found at businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support

 

Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund

The Government has published guidance on a new Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund to allow us to further support Small Business. This money is in addition to, and for small businesses not eligible for, the previous Small Business Grants Funds and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund.

Further information regarding eligibility, application process and sums to be awarded are outlined in the Council’s Discretionary Fund Policy.

The Council will use this funding to support the following businesses prioritised by Government:

  • Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces e.g. industrial parks, science parks, incubators etc, which do not have their own business rates assessment
  • Regular Market Traders who do not have their own business rates assessment
  • B&Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates
  • Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief

Once grants to these priorities have been met there may be the opportunity for applications from businesses outside of the priority sectors to apply. Notice of future application rounds will be published here and on the City Councils' social media sites later in June when dates are known.

In line with guidance, the Council is prioritising small businesses with a Rateable Value of less £51k through this scheme.

Online Declaration form

Before you start

These grants can only go to businesses who are ineligible for the existing grant schemes and who:

  • have ongoing fixed building-related costs
  • can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisis
  • have fewer than 50 employees
  • were trading on or before 11 March

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Small Business Grants Funds and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund

Full guidance on the grant funding schemes is available on gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding

If you think you are eligible and have not already made direct contact with the City Council, or if you have not received an email or letter from the Council's Major Developments Team, please complete the online declaration form below.

Online Declaration form

Before you start

Start >

 

Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey

 

The Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce is calling for as many local businesses as possible to take part in its Quarterly Economic Survey for Quarter 2.

This represents the first major comparison from pre-coronavirus conditions to the current situation and the intelligence gained will guide the right decisions for the county's economy and emable further support mechanisms to be put in place. No matter how big or small your business, the Chamber needs to hear from you all.

Please ensure that the voice of Lincolnshire business is heard loud and clear within the national picture - take part in the Quarterly Economic Survey, which takes less than three minutes, is completely anonymous, and is open to businesses of any size.

 

Planning for Pubs and Restaurants

The government are reviewing legislative to enable planning rules to be relaxed so pubs and restaurants can operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak, the government has confirmed.

The measures will apply to hot food and drinks. Serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to existing licensing laws.

Permitted development rights already allow movement between one use class and another without planning permission in certain circumstances.

Businesses will be required to tell the local planning authority when the new use begins and ends. For any further advice please do not hesitate to contact the Council's Planning Team at developmentteam@lincoln.gov.uk

 

Financial Support for Artists, Creative Practitioners and Freelancers

Arts Council England, through the National Lottery, are making £20 million available to individuals working in the cultural sector, including artists, creative practitioners and freelancers.

For further information please visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/financial-support-artists-creative-practitioners-and-freelancers#section-5