SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS GRANTS IS NOW OPEN

The application process for the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) for businesses in South Lakeland affected by the current coronavirus restrictions is now open.

Administered by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), the Additional Restrictions Grant is a one-off discretionary grant scheme for businesses forced to close but which have no rateable value, or those which – while not legally forced to close – are nonetheless severely impacted.

Details about eligibility and a link to the application form can be found at: www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-support-coronavirus-covid-19/

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, SLDC portfolio holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: “Supporting businesses in South Lakeland through these tough times is vital and SLDC is committed to doing everything we can to make sure they get through this and recover in the days, weeks and months to come.

"Since last Monday we have been working hard to verify as many Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) grants as we can. We know these are desperately needed and I know these Additional Restrictions Support Grant will bring much-needed relief to a wider array of businesses.

"If you think you might be eligible, please check the criteria and get your application in."

Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on 5 November will receive a payment of £1,334.

Businesses with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 5 November will receive a payment of £2,000.

Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above on 5 November, will receive £3,000

For businesses eligible for this funding who are not the ratepayers or fall outside the business rates list (no rateable value), the grants will be awarded on business size, based on number of employees as follows: 0-9 employees – £1,334; 10-24 – £2,000; 25+ – £3,000.

SLDC's grant scheme for businesses required to close due to the second national Coronavirus lockdown – the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) – went live on Monday last week.

More details on these schemes and other support available – including business rate relief, free business support and advice available to businesses in South Lakeland – can also be found at:

www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-support-coronavirus-covid-19/

Notes

To qualify for the Additional Restrictions Grant, businesses must have been open as usual before the November lockdown restrictions.

All eligible businesses applying for the Additional Restrictions Grant will need to complete a full online application form, regardless of whether they have received a grant through a previous scheme earlier in the year.

Eligible businesses are as follows:

Category A

Businesses required to close but are not in the rates system, or are not the ratepayer and are therefore not eligible for the LRSG, for example:

• B&Bs who pay Council Tax rather than business rates;
• Small businesses in shared commercial space providing in-person services who do not have their own business rates assessment;
• Personal Care services i.e. hairdressers, beauty therapists, physiotherapists, who either operate mobile, at home, or in a shared space which is legally required to close, where these businesses are not the direct business ratepayer;
• Regular market traders who do not sell essential goods as outlined in government legislation. Those who sell essential goods may also be eligible where their regular market has been cancelled by organisers and they are unable to attend.

Category B

Businesses that have been able to stay open and have a rateable value which supply the closed retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors. This should not include businesses where supply to essential retail accounts for 50 per cent or more of their business.

Category C

Businesses based within South Lakeland in the events sector who have had at least one event planned and cancelled in November 2020.

Category D

Any other business not covered above which is able to demonstrate that they have been severely impacted by the latest round of restrictions only. As these businesses are undefined, further evidence may be requested where it is not easily evident to the assessor that they meet this criteria. This category will only be considered if there are adequate remaining funds once Categories A, B and C have been assessed.

Category E

Businesses that have received a Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) can also apply for the Additional Restrictions Grant if they remain severely impacted by the lockdown period even after having received a Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed). For such businesses, a top up grant of £1,000 may be available and considered on a case by case in the following scenarios:

a) Larger local businesses which are considered to be important to the local economy, this could either be on an SLDC wide basis, or particularly important to a town or village;

b) Businesses considered to have unusually high costs, relevant to their size, as a result of national restrictions.

Category E will only be considered if there are adequate remaining funds once Categories A-D have been assessed. This scheme will be made available 3 weeks after the launch of the main scheme and details will be available on our website.

County Council have confirmed that a robust temporary support system has now been installed at Seathwaite Bridge and load testing carried out which makes it suitable for vehicles up to 18t GVW.  They will inform the local farming community and emergency services. Next summer they will undertake permanent strengthening works of the whole structure as well as some widening to make it suitable to all traffic, including vehicles up to 40t GVW.

The statutory consultation for the proposed 20mph in Broughton-in-Furness will begin on Thursday 3^rd December and will be advertised in the Westmorland Gazette. The 21 day formal consultation would be due to conclude on Thursday 24^th December 2020. Due to this we are proposing that the consultation is extended till Monday 4^th January 2021 to allow extra time through the Christmas period.

The details will also be letter dropped to all properties in Broughton-in-Furness

Seathwaite Bridge U5032

Duddon and Seathwaite

Update 6^th November 2020

Further to the last update in early October regarding proposal to replace the temporary propping beneath the flood arch of Seathwaite Bridge with a more robust system, the County Council will begin urgent works on 9^th November, for a two-week period. The works will require the contractor to work beneath the bridge to remove the existing props and install a purpose made system. Unfortunately, the flood arch has deteriorated in recent weeks and only has a capacity of 3 tonnes once the existing props are removed. In order for works to be completed safely and efficiently a road closure is to be put in place between 9.00am and 4.00pm each day whilst the works are undertaken, reverting to 3 tonnes outside of these times. If weather conditions are favourable works will continue over the weekend. Cyclist and pedestrian access will be maintained during the closure. On completion of these works the bridge will have a capacity of 18 tonnes, which will allow a reasonable level of access to the farms and communities north of the bridge, without the need to use Hardknott or Wrynose Passes over the winter months.

The County Council have consulted the emergency services about these proposals, who will put in place plans to attend to any incidents whilst these works are ongoing. The County Council have also worked closely with the local farming community, feed and fuel merchants, school minibus service, the Parish Council and District Council, all of whom recognise the need to progress these works as a matter of urgency prior to the onset of winter and the likelihood of a permanent closure being necessary should the bridge deteriorate further.

The County Council will continue to work with the local community and interested parties during the development of the full strengthening schemes to 40 tonnes, so that works can be programmed to minimise disruption next summer, when a further road closure will be required. Some of the works that are to be undertaken this November will become part of the permanent strengthening scheme, and so by undertaking them now it should help to reduce the length of time that the bridge has to be closed.

Due to recent wet weather the work at Seathwaite Bridge will continue into next week, hopefully being complete by the weekend of 28^th/29^th November. Cumbria County Council will inform the local farming community and emergency services accordingly.