A new rate relief scheme for Erewash businesses that have not so far received government funding to help with the impact of covid is expected to be in place in the next few weeks.
A meeting of Erewash Borough Council’s Executive next week (12 January) is likely to back a move to design and implement a local scheme of business rate relief using up to £1.9m of funding for the borough.
The business rate relief is part of a nationwide aim to support businesses affected by Covid-19 outside of the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors and reach those who have been unable to benefit from other business rate relief measures provided by the government in response to the financial impacts of the pandemic.
Called the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF), the reliefs must be awarded to eligible businesses in Erewash by the end of March.
Councillor Wayne Major, Erewash Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources, says:
“It is absolutely vital that we get this latest financial assistance to qualifying businesses as quickly as possible, that is our priority – as it always has been in dealing with all the government support that has been offered to businesses over the last two years.
“We are well aware that the business community is still being affected by the pandemic and this latest scheme is all about reaching those businesses that have not been eligible for any rate relief support before.”
Because of the urgency in getting the support issued, members at next week’s Executive meeting are expected to delegate authority to officers to design and implement a local CARF rate relief scheme.
The council will confirm details once a scheme is in place.
The meeting of Council Executive is on Wednesday 12 January at Long Eaton Town Hall at 10.30am.
