Witney News - Council announces its help for local businesses affected by Coronavirus

Council announces its help for local businesses affected by Coronavirus

West Oxfordshire District Council has announced how it will support businesses with the social distancing measures in place to reduce the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19).

Some local business properties will not be asked to pay their business rates this year.

These will be businesses classed as day nurseries, retail, leisure and hospitality including all those defined in the government guidance such as employment agencies and estate agents.

West Oxfordshire District Council is arranging for these businesses to have one hundred per cent business rate relief for 2020-21 as per government guidance.

There will also be an additional cash grant of £10,000 for businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000, and £25,000 for businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000.

The council is aiming to have its processes in place to grant the new relief, and award any grants, by early April.

Businesses do not need to do anything at present.

To help businesses, the council will not be collecting any Business Rates payments by direct debit during April 2020. Instead this payment will be deferred until all appropriate reliefs and grants have been applied.

For those businesses that pay their business rates from April to January, this change will mean that payment instalments will move from May to February.

For those businesses that pay their business rates from April to March, this change will mean that payment instalments will move from May to March.

If a business wishes to retain its 12 instalments then April instalments can be paid online at: https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/make-a-payment/

Cllr Toby Morris, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance said, "We want to help our local businesses weather the Coronavirus storm so that they’re there for us when we get through this. That’s why for April we’ve stopped collecting business rates for all business rate payers.

"We'll also be giving out cash grants of £10,000 for businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000, and £25,000 for businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000.

"We expect to see businesses receiving these in early April.

"Local businesses can find more information at https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/coronavirus-business and I urge them to sign up to the Business Matters newsletter to receive regular updates."