Business support and information

From Horsham District Council

22 December 2020

West Sussex remains in Tier 2

The Prime Minister addressed the nation on Saturday 19 December to announce changes to the coronavirus rules.

• There is now a new Tier 4 affecting London and certain areas of the South East, however West Sussex remains in Tier 2.
• People should not travel into a Tier 4 area, though support bubbles remain unaffected as do the exemptions for separated parents and their children.
• Christmas bubbles for those in Tiers 1, 2 and 3 must not include anyone in Tier 4.

Read the Prime Minister's statement in full

Business support grants: What can I apply for?

In response to the impact that local and national COVID-19 restrictions have had on the economy, the Government has provided Horsham District Council grant funding to help businesses which have been most affected.

Horsham District Council is currently administrating six schemes on behalf of the Government. Further information about each scheme can be found at the links below:

• Christmas Support payment: Wet-Led Pubs
• Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) – businesses affected by Tier restrictions from 2 December
• Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) - hospitality, accommodation and leisure businesses
• Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) – businesses affected by November national restrictions
• Local Restrictions Support Grant (sector) - nightclubs, adult entertainment venues and similar
• Additional Restrictions Grant

Please read this before applying to check your eligibility and to ensure you apply for the correct scheme.

Applications for any scheme should be online.

Find out more and apply

Guidance for hospitality businesses on using outdoor seating

As hospitality businesses look for ways to increase customer seating for their guests as a result of the current pandemic, many are deciding to set-up marquees or gazebos in outside areas in order to meet social distancing and household-mixing guidelines.

However, the Council is stressing the importance of making sure that such temporary outside structures don’t themselves fall foul of the Covid-secure rules or other legislation.

Ventilation is key to controlling the spread of the virus. In order to be classed as ‘outside,’ any structure with a roof must have openings in its sides greater than half of its total area; it is the same calculation that prevents ‘substantially enclosed’ structures from being used a smoking shelters.

It is also vital that businesses do not install potentially dangerous patio heaters into gazebos and marquees without taking steps to ensure that they can be operated safely.

Find more information on the Horsham District Council website or get in touch with our Environmental health team at publichealth.licensing@horsham.gov.uk.