Welcome to the February update, I hope you are all safe and well.    The good news is the grant payments will start arriving in business bank accounts on 1st Feb. . However, with no end date timetabled for the lockdown, we must lobby government to reconsider a cut in High Streets' business rates. Please take 30 seconds and sign the letter to lobby our MP to demand a business rate review.

Unfortunately, voting cannot be done online it is a physical paper ballot that has to be returned by post. Please contact Gerry by email or on 07943 720227 if you would like more information about your business's benefit or if we need to redirect the ballot papers. 

Ealing Council has indicated they will start issuing the LRSG's and a National Lockdown one-off payment by bank transfer on Monday 1st Feb. See our chart outlining grant payments here.

There is no application process for this grant; the business rates team will use the information they have on their database to determine which businesses are eligible for payments. Understandably, there will be anomalies, so we will work with you and business rates to resolve any issues as quickly as possible. 

Tier 4 payments are not included in this pay-out as the council is still waiting for government guidance on eligibility.

Please be aware that your business is only eligible for a grant if you were mandated to close, see the definitions of open and closed businesses here. Businesses that had tried to circumnavigate the regulations or have received enforcement orders will have grant funding withdrawn.  

The council will be issuing guidance for the ARG (additional Restrictions Grant) by the end of February. The ARG funding will focus on businesses not mandated to close but severely impacted by the restrictions and lockdown. 

Business rates have also stated they will be re-opening applications for the lockdown 2 and 3 grants for businesses who were unable to apply initially, or because their business circumstances have changed. 

We will keep the Business Toolkit updated with the latest information, but we advise you sign-up for the council business newsletter to get weekly updates here.

In partnership with the Greater London Authority, Google has published Covid Mobility reports for each of the London Boroughs.

The multi-borough comparison timeline and the percentage change is against a baseline of the same dates 12 months previously. It is a handy tool as you can look at specific dates and sectors. You can download a PDF report of  London Boroughs' COVID-19 mobility (Ealing page 7) here.

Join Ealing Council's Budget Meeting 2 February at 7 pm

Officers from the Finance team will provide an update on the annual Business rates position. There will be an opportunity to hear how Covid grants support local businesses and comment on a draft Greenprint for Economic recovery and renewal. 

Businesses can join the virtual meeting by emailing regeneration@ealing.gov.uk by Monday 5 pm to get the zoon link. The meeting will be available to watch on YouTube.

A full agenda and minutes from the previous meeting can be read here.

LFT testing works, and it reassures staff they are safe at work, as it can pick up the infection before the symptoms start, which is critical in stopping the spread. The nearest LFT testing base for businesses is Ealing library. It is incredibly efficient, takes less than 10 minutes to complete with a text message result within the hour. If your work requires you to be out and about book your appointment here.

The current business environment is extremely challenging, and not helped by the legislation and compliance continually changing. We are maintaining a dialogue with stakeholder bodies on your behalf and are following up on a significant number of issues impacting individual businesses. If you need help, contact Gerry and we will get the information you need to answer your questions. 

The latest poster for lockdown information can be downloaded here.
In the meantime stay safe and well