Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Tier 2 application information
Richmondshire District Council are administering the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) for business in our district area on behalf of the government.
On 23 November, the government published the Covid-19 Winter Plan. This amended the end date of the national lockdown to 00:01 on Wednesday 2 December. It also confirmed that Richmondshire would move to the Tier 2 (High Alert) level, but that there would be changes to the tier system.
This grant is to support those businesses that are required to close or remain closed as a result of the tier restrictions introduced on 2 December and have a business property that has a rateable value as determined by the Valuation Office Agency as at 1 December 2020. It will be a recurring payment for each 14-day period the tier restrictions remain in place, with the amount payable dependent on the rateable value of the business premises. The Council has no discretion over this grant and will make payments to eligible businesses in line with the government guidance.
Any changes to the rating list after the first day that the tier restrictions came into force will be ignored for the purpose of eligibility. Under Tier 2 restrictions, this is any business running a public house, bar or other business involving the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises, unless alcohol is only served for consumption on the premises as part of a table meal, and the meal is such as might be expected to be served as the main midday or main evening meal, or as a main course at either such meal.
Businesses must have been trading the day before local restrictions that came into force to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme. As local restrictions were preceded by national 'lockdown' measures, required the extended closure of eligible businesses, it is accepted that those businesses are still trading.
Businesses must be closed for the entirety of the 14-day payment cycle to be eligible. If a business is open and then decides to close during a payment cycle, it will only become eligible for a grant when it enters the next 14-day payment cycle.
If a business is required to close its main, in-person service but adapts its business to operate takeaway, click and collect or online with delivery services, it will be considered closed and be eligible to receive grants under this scheme because its substantive business must close.
Specific businesses subject to national closures since 23 March will not be eligible for this funding. They will be provided support through the strand of the LRSG (Sector) for nationally mandated business closures.
Businesses that can continue to trade because they do not depend on providing direct in-person services from premises and can operate their services effectively remotely (e.g. accountants, solicitors) will not be eligible for this grant.
Businesses that have chosen to close but have not been required to will not be eligible for this grant.
The value of the payment will be dependent on the rateable value of the property:
Eligible businesses occupying a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less on 2 December 2020 will receive a payment of £667 per 14-day period.
Eligible businesses occupying a property with a rateable value of over £15,000 but less than £51,000 on 2 December 2020 will receive a payment of £1000 per 14-day period.
Eligible businesses occupying a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or more on 2 December 2020 will receive a payment of £1,500 per 14-day period.
This grant scheme is fully funded and defined by central government and the funds will be administered by Richmondshire District Council in accordance with the guidance issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). To view the government details on the scheme, please view the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) scheme guidance.
Please read the Richmondshire District Council’s Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) scheme
Before you start to complete this grant payment information request, please have to hand your:
Business rate account number (this can be found on your business rate bill)
Rateable value of the property (this can be found on your business rate bill)
Name on business bank account
Business bank account number
Business bank sort code
Business VAT registered number - where applicable
Business company registration number - where applicable
Fields with an asterisk ( * ) are mandatory answers that need to be completed so that you are able to submit the form.
If you are liable for business rates on 4 November 2020 (or have become so subsequently) but have not informed the council of this, you should supply your details by sending an email to local.taxation@richmondshire.gov.uk so that we can create your business rate account number.
Eligibility criteria
This funding is available for businesses that have a business property that has a rateable value as determined by the Valuation Office Agency.
The business must have been actively trading on and before the 4 November 2020.
The Local Restriction Support Grants will be paid subject to State Aid regulations, meaning the business needs to check that they comply with State Aid rules and inform Richmondshire District Council accordingly prior to payment being made. If State Aid rules are breached the responsibility lies with the applicant and, in line with the legislations, the council can take action to recover the funding.Who will receive the funding?
The company or sole trader who will receive the grant must have been trading the day before restrictions came into force i.e. on the 4 November 2020.
Rate relief shall not be awarded in any circumstances where it appears that an award will result in the ratepayer receiving state aid that is above the current de minimus level of €800,000 aid in a three year period (consisting of the current financial year and the two previous financial years). Please visit the Official European Union website for more temporary framework for State aid measures.
Please note - The government and local authority will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud - and any business caught falsifying their records to gain grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to claw back, as may any grants paid in error.
What happens next:
If the criteria has been met, payment will be made to the bank account that you have provided on this form.
Please note Richmondshire District Council is required to follow this guidance and conduct activity to provide assurance that the grants have been paid out in line with the eligibility and State aid conditions for this scheme. We must continue to ensure the safe administration of government grants and that appropriate measures are put in place, pre-award, to mitigate against the increased risks of both fraud and payment error. In this respect, we will supplement existing controls with digital tools to support efficient, appropriate and accurate grants awards. The Government has provided councils with access to their anti-fraud tools such as Spotlight and National Fraud Initiative (NFI) to support the administration of Covid-19 emergency grants.
What you'll need to provide:
Your contact details
Business details (including business rate / council tax account number and rateable value of your property where applicable)
Business bank details (including VAT and Company Registration Number if applicable)
Proof the business was trading on the 4 November 2020 (for example - receipts, invoices)
Proof of ongoing commercial fixed building costs (for example - rent invoice, bank statement)
Proof have suffered a significant fall in income (set of accounts from October to December 2019 and October to December 2020)
Your privacy
The information you provide on this application form will be used to facilitate your business grant application request. The information will only be disclosed to individuals in the Council who require it to complete your request. Please be aware that your information may be passed to the Council’s Counter Fraud Service and/or the Police if we suspect any fraudulent activity. We are also required to refer claim information to HMRC / Government for checking for potential fraudulent activity. For more information about how we use your personal data please see the Council’s Privacy Notice on its website.
The Government has determined that this scheme runs until April 2021.
