Key updates - 3 June

• Discretionary Business Rates Scheme

The District Council has been allocated an additional £1.6million to support businesses across the district as part of the Government's Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

The scheme aims to provide support for businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic in addition to the Small Business Grant and the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant Funds, which remain open for eligible ratepayers to apply who have not yet claimed.

The scheme will provide support to businesses that fall into a number of main priority areas:

• • Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax
  • Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces
  • Regular market traders with fixed building costs
  • Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief

The District Council is also accepting applications from other Businesses significantly affected by COVID-19 who:

• • • are suppliers reliant on the retail hospitality and leisure industry who were not included within the original scheme
    • have a Rateable Value greater than £15k but are outside of the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors
    • have a Rateable Value marginally greater than £51k but could be considered as a small business
    • are a Small Business who are not eligible for Small Business Rate Relief as they occupy a second property with a combined value below £15k
    • are a business unique to the tourism sector within the Stratford District. 
      
      
      Applications open on Monday 8 June with a deadline for applications by Friday 26 June using the online form, with payments being made the week commencing 29 June.

• Re-opening Stratford - Traffic Changes
  
  To assist in the reopening of Stratford Town and the recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Warwickshire County Council, the District Council and Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council have worked together to produce a temporary scheme which will provide additional space for pedestrians to safely circulate, for customers to queue outside shops and for businesses to expand to meet customer needs.
  
  The proposed scheme includes the introduction of a one-way system with traffic restricted to westbound movements on Bridge Street, Wood Street, Greenhill Street and on Alcester Road between Arden Street and Brunel Way, southbound movements on Rother Street, High Street and Chapel Street and westbound movements on Sheep Street.
  
  The space created by a combination of lane closures and the suspension of some on-street parking will create areas for customers waiting for shops to queue whilst allowing pedestrians to circulate safely. 

• June update from Venture House
  
  As of this week, outdoor markets and car showrooms are able to open their doors to the public, providing they are following secure guidelines and operating safely to protect staff and customers. All other non-essential retail will be expected to be able to reopen from 15 June if the Government's five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines.
  
  A series of free webinars are being run by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy about how to make the different types of workplace COVID-secure.
  
  The government has also announced improved flexibility to bring furloughed employees back part time in July and a new taper requiring employers to contribute to furloughed salaries from August. Also the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is to provide a second and final grant capped at £6,570 in August.
  
  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-self-employment-support-scheme-and-confirms-furlough-next-steps?mc_cid=34d79afe06&mc_eid=50e554f7cf
  
  Innovative businesses and start-ups are set to benefit from a £40million government investment to drive forward new technological advances. The Fast Start Competition aims to fast-track the development of innovations borne out of the coronavirus crisis while supporting the UK's next generation of cutting-edge start-ups.
  
  E-scooters are set to appear on West Midlands' streets in a ground breaking trial to help get the region moving once all lockdown restrictions are lifted.  The Government has chosen the West Midlands for the trial, whilst bolstering the fight against climate change.
  
  https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-trial-e-scooters-revolutionary-18228677?mc_cid=34d79afe06&mc_eid=50e554f7cf
  
  and
  
  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-package-to-create-new-era-for-cycling-and-walking?mc_cid=34d79afe06&mc_eid=50e554f7cf
  
  New "Eat Buy Local" campaign: Warwickshire County Council is inviting retailers and food establishments to send in short video clips from their mobiles or tablets to have their businesses featured, for free, in a series of short films to help promote each town.
  
  
  

• Schedule of virtual Council meetings
  • 10 June - Overview and Scrutiny Committee
  • 17 June - Planning Committee A
  • 30 June - Employment & Appointment Committee
  • 1 July - Planning Committee B
  • 8 July - Planning Committee A
  • 6 July - The Cabinet
  • 13 July - Full Council
  • 15 July - Planning Committee B
  • 22 July - Planning Committee A
  • 29 July Planning Committee B

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "Council business is making small steps towards 'normality', whatever that will look like in future. The Discretionary Business Rates Scheme is welcomed; however the total sum of money is only £1.7 million which will not, I suspect, meet all the demands on it. It is good to see Stratford-upon-Avon returning to life. That will bring more challenges and the reality is that individual's common sense will make much more of a difference than any actions that councils can take."