Covid-19 grant funding now being distributed to local businesses across North Oxfordshire

The first £6.5m of the government’s Covid-19 grant funding has been issued to businesses in north Oxfordshire.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

As of yesterday (Tuesday April 14) 481 businesses who have completed a form via Cherwell District Council’s website have been paid.

The council is advising businesses that it is working to complete the processing of claims as quickly as possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Businesses receiving Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief who wish to receive the grants of £10,000 are required to provide information through a council website form.

Coronavirus grantsCoronavirus grants
Coronavirus grants

Grant awards will be considered in accordance with government guidelines.

Businesses which are in receipt of the Enhanced Retail Discount for 2020/21 and have a rate-able value of up to £15,000 which are not covered by the Small Business Grant Fund will also receive a grant of £10,000, in accordance with government guidelines.

Retail, leisure and hospitality business properties with a rateable value of up to £50,999 will receive a grant of £25,000.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cllr Lynn Pratt, lead member for economy, said: “We all benefit from the value and opportunity created by small and medium enterprises, but many of them will never have experienced a challenge like coronavirus, and its consequences for their revenue and workforce.

“Since government announced this package of measures, we have been working really hard to facilitate the grants. I would encourage any business who believes they are eligible to complete the online form as quickly as possible.

“We are doing everything in our power to get this support to local organisations that need it and help them through this unprecedented period.”

Businesses will be eligible for a grant on more than one property, providing the criteria are met.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A separate form must be completed for each property that may be eligible for a grant.

The council website signposts a range of other support and information for businesses, including:

• Rate relief

• The job retention scheme

• Statutory sick pay relief

• The HMRC Time to Pay scheme and VAT deferral

• Loans and finance

Businesses can access all of this information and the forms for the grant funds through the following council link: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/4/business/675/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-businesses

*A message from the Banbury Guardian Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.