Stratford-on-Avon District Council COVID-19 update - 27 May

Key updates - 27 May

• Extraordinary, Council - Wednesday 27 May

  The Extraordinary Council meeting took place today to request changes to the constitution to enable Council to restart Planning Committee through virtual meetings, and to reflect the new political balance of Council following the Welford-on-Avon by-election on 12 March.
  
  To view the meeting again visit: https://www.stratford.gov.uk/council-democracy/council-meeting-webcasts.cfm

• Advice for people visiting Stratford-upon-Avon
  
  For those wishing to visit Stratford-upon-Avon, the public open spaces at the Recreation Ground and Bancroft Gardens remain open and people are advised to practise social distancing from other people outside your household.
  
  The public toilets at Recreation Ground and on Waterside are open with social distancing measures in place and frequent cleaning in operation. All other public toilets in the town centre and across the district remain closed.
  
  The Recreation Ground play area, including the paddling pool and outdoor gym equipment remain closed as per current Government guidance.
  
  The District Council car parks are open and charges will apply.

• Ice cream concession reopens on the Recreation Ground

  From Friday, the ice cream van will return to the Recreation Ground selling takeaway ice cream. Appropriate signage will be in place to promote queuing and social distancing.

• Discretionary Business Rates Scheme
  
  The Discretionary Business Rate scheme is still being worked up but will include the following types of businesses:
  
  
  • B&Bs which pay council tax instead of business rates
  • Self-employed
  • small businesses in shared offices or other flexible work spaces which don't have their own business rates assessment, such as:
    • industrial parks / science parks / incubators
    • regular market traders who don't have their own business rates assessment
    • charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief, which would otherwise have been eligible for small business rates relief or rural rate relief

Applicants must have been trading since before 11 March 2020, and be able to demonstrate that they've suffered a significant fall in income due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

More details of the scheme, including how to apply, will be published in due course.

• Stratford-upon-Avon Markets
  Currently in talks with our market contractor, LSD Promotions.

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "As a District Council, we are actively making representations at the highest levels of Government about the financial and unique economic position we find ourselves in. Our message is being heard at the highest levels, through a variety of different channels."

Ends