 National Lockdown
The UK remains in National Lockdown, until at least the middle of February.
To read the full guidance, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
Please remember that businesses providing essential goods and services can stay open, check the full list in the guidance but one of the categories is:
- petrol stations, automatic (but not manual) car washes, vehicle repair garages and MOT services, bicycle shops, and taxi and vehicle hire businesses.
When exercising outdoors, this rule, along with others listed in the Government guidance, apply:
- exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
Support Grants for Businesses
The Government has not yet provided the Council with guidance on the Tier 4 and National Lockdown grants, as well as the total funding allocation that is available.
Early indications suggest that this will not be available to Councils until the latter part of this week (w/c 11th January). It will then take some time to understand the requirements and implement a procedure to deal with these.
Tier 4 Grants
Tier 4 payments will be pro rata for the short period that Broxtowe was placed in this Tier and National Lockdown commenced. We anticipate that the amounts payable to businesses will be the same in Tier 4 and National Lockdown.
Tier 4 grants will be assessed under the same criteria as payments under the Local Restrictions Grants (LRG). Payments of the LRG are paid based on the below.
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the rating list with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on the date of the commencement of the local restrictions, will receive a payment of £667 per 14-day qualifying restriction period.
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on the date of the commencement of the local restrictions, will receive a payment of £1,000 per 14-day qualifying restriction period.
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above on the commencement date of the local restrictions, will receive £1,500 per 14-day qualifying restriction period.
National Lockdown Grants
In addition to the Local Restrictions Grants, the Government has announced a further grant scheme to support businesses with a business rates account that fall within the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors that have been legally required to close during National Lockdown.
This grant scheme will be paid at the rates below.
- £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
- £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
- £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000
We have already contacted all businesses this is likely to affect directly, to provide them with this update.
We will provide another update once we have more information. Thank you for your continued patience and support.
Please keep checking our website for updates in the coming weeks.
 Rules for Licensed Premises
The new restrictions are outlined below and links to the updated guidance for licensed premises are also provided:
- The new restrictions remain in place until 31st March 2021
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Test and Trace is still mandatory for licensed premises. You MUST collect contact details from your customers. Businesses MUST display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details.
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Pubs, clubs and restaurants must remain closed for consumption on their premises, but can provide:
- food and non-alcoholic drink on a takeaway basis between 5am and 11pm only. This means that customers can enter the premises to place and collect their order.
- Alcohol may now only be sold for delivery where orders are made online, by telephone or by post and within the terms of their licence.
- Between 11pm and 5am, food and non-alcoholic drink may only be provided via delivery, click and collect and drive through. Goods must be pre-ordered (by phone, online, via a mobile app or by post) and collected without entering the premises.
- Venues offering click-and-collect or delivery services must not include alcoholic beverages if their licence does not already permit it.
- Premises providing food and drink for consumption off the premises are not permitted to allow customers to consume from any adjacent seating (including public seating) or area usually used for the premises.
You should also download, read and implement the updated Government guidance at the following link.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#businesses-and-venues
Please be aware that non-compliance with the legislation may lead to enforcement action which could include fixed penalty notices or even business closure. We are keen to avoid any such action. It is your responsibility to assess and control the risks depending on your activities and unique premises layout, but should you require any further advice, please contact us.
Licensing matters:
licensing@broxtowe.gov.uk
Environmental Health
Health@broxtowe.gov.uk
Police Licensing Team
liquor@Nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk
Financial Support
https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/for-business/business-support-advice/
 Further extensions to financial support packages
Following an announcement by HM Treasury on 17th December, it was confirmed that there has been further extensions to the following support schemes:
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Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) - Now extended until 30th April 2021.
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Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) - Now extended until 31st March 2021.
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Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) - Now extended until 31st March 2021.
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Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) - Now extended until 31st March 2021.
Hands Face Space
Did you know that around one in three people with coronavirus don't have symptoms? Staff and customers could be spreading the virus despite feeling fine.
Remember; Hands, Face, Space, every day.
- Wash hands regularly and for 20 seconds or sanitise hands if handwashing facilities are unavailable;
- Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult (less than 2m), and where you will coming into contact with people you do not normally meet;
- Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing a face covering, or increasing ventilation indoors).
Ventilation
As part of the Hands, Face, Space campaign, people are also being urged to take steps in order to increase ventilation in their homes and businesses. This is especially important as more and more people are spending time indoors during the winter months.
By opening a window or door to increase the flow of fresh air to indoor settings, this will help to stop the virus spreading.
Other News and Updates
Traders must act now with border traffic expected to increase
On 8 January, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, urged traders to ensure they are fully ready under the new rules following the end of the transition period.
Businesses and hauliers trading between Great Britain and the EU have been urged to ensure they meet necessary requirements before travelling to the border, as the Government warns that expected traffic could increase next week.
Exporters must provide the right documentation to hauliers, including export declarations and the extra certificates needed for products like plant and animal products. Hauliers heading to Kent must also get a negative coronavirus test and obtain a Kent Access Permit before heading to port, or risk facing a fine and being turned away.
D2N2 Growth Hub - Business Events
The D2N2 Growth Hub continue to offer valuable help and advice to businesses in Broxtowe. This includes various events delivered online due to the pandemic.
Some FREE upcoming events that may be of interest to businesses in Broxtowe include:
Event: Social Enterprise Support Webinar
Date: 19th January 2021
Time: 9.00am - 12.30pm
Event: Public Relations - Building goodwill for your business
Date: 19th January 2021
Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm
Event: Small Business Leadership Programme Information Session
Date: 19th January 2021
Time: 2.00pm
For a full programme of future events, click 'Business Events' below.
Council services during the COVID-19 pandemic
We have a Support for Business page on our website which has lots of useful information about grants, schemes and links to guidance.
We are also sharing regular updates about affected Council services at https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can also get updates on our social media accounts.
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