COVID19 Update 12th November 2020
• Eligible for the Coronavirus Additional Restrictions Grant
A short piece of guidance on eligibility for the ARG has been published which stated that Local councils have the freedom to determine the eligibility criteria for these grants. However, the government expects the funding to help those businesses which – while not legally forced to close – are nonetheless severely impacted by the restrictions
This could include:
- businesses which supply the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors
- businesses in the events sector
- business required to close but which do not pay business rates
This should be good news for many tourism businesses that has missed out on previous grants.
• Eligible For The Coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses)
Similarly, guidance on eligibility for the LRS Grant has been published. The eligibility criteria are:
- occupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer)
- is in an area of local restrictions and has been required to close because of local restrictions that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 9 September
- has been required to close for at least 14 days because of the restrictions
- has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises
Businesses are not eligible if:
- you can continue to operate during the period of restrictions because you do not depend on providing direct in-person services from your premises (for example, accountants)
- local restrictions are introduced for less than 14 days or you are closed for less than 14 days
- you have chosen to close, but have not been required to close as part of local restrictions
- your businesses has been subject to national closures, since 23 March 2020, such as nightclubs (these are eligible for other grant support)
- you have exceeded the permitted state aid threshold
• Eligible For a Coronavirus Grant Due to National Restrictions (for closed businesses)
The next one is the eligibility criteria for businesses that have to close as a result of national restrictions
To be eligible your business:
- occupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer)
- has been required to close because of the national restrictions from 5 November to 2 December 2020
- has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises
Businesses are not eligible if:
- you can continue to operate during the period of restrictions because you do not depend on providing direct in-person services from your premises (for example accountants)
- you have chosen to close, but have not been required to close as part of national restrictions
- you have exceeded the permitted state aid limit
• Eligibility for Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Open)
Finally we have the eligibility criteria for the LRSG (Open) Grant.
To be eligible your business:
- is in an area subject to ‘High’ or ‘Very High’ local restrictions since 1 August 2020 and has been severely impacted because of the local restrictions
- was established before the introduction of Local COVID alert level: High restrictions
- has not had to close but has been impacted by local restrictions
Businesses are not eligible if:
- your business was established after the introduction of local restrictions in your local council area
- your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
- you have exceeded the permitted state aid threshold
• Two Asks From DCMS
At today’s TIER meeting we were asked for feedback from DCMS on two issues
- Travel Bubbles
DCMS is asking for views as to whether some form of travel bubble arrangement could be introduced in the UK to avoid the need for people overseas visitors to quarantine for 14 days. The example given was the travel travel zones that operate between NZ and Australia where people are allowed to visit the neighbouring country provided that they stay in safe zones. A variation on this would be that groups tour around the UK in their own bubble with limited interaction with locals. DCMS are interested in views as to whether such as system in practical, feasible and would be attractive to consumers. IF you have any comment, please let me know and I’ll feed them in
- Changes to Rules and Restrictions
When England comes out of national lockdown, the 3 Tier system will be implemented again, although we don’t, at the moment, know which areas will be in which Tier on 3rd December. DCMS want to know if there are any rules or restrictions that apply to any of the tiers that could be amended that would help support businesses without compromising the purpose of the tiers in preventing the spread of the disease. For example, the rules on the numbers of people could be amended so that children under the age of 11 are not included or that pubs and restaurants have to stop serving at 10pm but customers can spend 30mins finishing up.
Again, if you have any suggestions that would support your members, please let me know and I will feed these in.
• More Questions Answered
DCMS has provided more answers to your questions
Q. Is there any further information on the Job Retention Bonus? This has caused concern with the larger hotel/tourist groups.
A. The Chancellor has said that a retention initiative will be reintroduced at an appropriate time but no further detail. We will continue to work with HMT to get more clarity.
Q. For rural areas, is there clarification on what is considered acceptable travel for exercise?
A. While people are allowed to travel in order to exercise, we ask that you minimise the distance you travel. There are no limits on how far you can travel for work where necessary. Travel for recreation and exercise should be kept to a short distance. Travel for permitted purposes, such as essential retail, should be kept within reasonable bounds.
Q. Can you self-isolate in a hotel before you have an operation?
A. You can stay in a hotel to self-isolate as required by law.
• Travel Corridor Update
It’s Thursday night – It’s time to play Travel Corridor Bingo !
This week the following countries and territories have been removed from the Air Corridor List
- Mainland Greece
- Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus
And the following countries have been added to the Air Corridor list
- Bahrain
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Iceland
- Laos
- Qatar
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- UAE
All these changes apply UK-wide and will come into effect from 04:00 on Saturday 14th November.
• Eligibility of Nightclubs, Dance Halls and Adult Entertainment Business for Grants
New guidance has been produced for these businesses on whether they are eligible for the LSRG (Sector) Grant. Of particular note is that these businesses are not eligible if they have re-opened as another type of business (eg., a restaurant or bar) since 23rd March 2020
• Updated Lockdown Guidance
The Government has just published an updated version of the national lockdown guidance but, rather unhelpfully, have not indicated what they have changed in the guidance. I’ve been through it and am struggling to see what has changed. It may just be that they have added a link to the new CJRS that was published yesterday but it is worth checking the sections that impact your members.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
• Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Holiday
The Government has announced that to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year, the late May Bank Holiday will be moved to Thursday 2 June and an additional Bank Holiday created on Friday 3 June to create a four-day weekend. The four day celebrations will feature an extensive programme of events throughout the UK which will also help boost tourism recovery.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-bank-holiday-to-mark-the-queens-platinum-jubilee-in-2022
• PHE Weekly Flu and COVID-19 Surveillance Reports
As usual on a Thursday, PHE has published it’s weekly update with all the national and regional data.
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