FINANCIAL help is being offered to help workers and businesses weather the coronavirus crisis — with West Devon Borough Council urging businesses to apply for emergency grants from the Government, writes Sarah Pitt.

With all but essential shops shut for business and pubs, hotels and bed and breakfasts closed just when the season should be starting up, grants of as much as £25,000 are being made available.

Money will be paid to eligible businesses — those in retail, hospitality and leisure — as soon as possible, the council has pledged.

In addition, no businesses in West Devon will have to pay any business rates for the financial year of 2020/21 which started this week.

And individuals who find their income drastically reduced can apply to WDBC for financial support with council tax bills, with a hardship fund of an additional £500-million made available by the Government to local authorities.

A spokesperson for WDBC said: ‘The [West Devon and South Hams] councils have put together a fact sheet summarising all the various funding packages which have been announced by the Government and ways in which people can receive financial assistance.

‘We know that some of our residents are upset and worried about the situation and we are committed to do all that we can to support them in these difficult times. We can offer help to residents to complete a welfare benefit check to ensure they are receiving everything they are entitled to, including income related benefits and support with rent. With specific regard to payment of council tax, individual cases of severe financial hardship will be considered on a case by case basis. Again, you can contact us via the website or by calling 01822 813600.’

The spokesperson added. ‘Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector will receive a business rates holiday for 2020/21 and we are working hard to rebill all eligible businesses as soon as possible. The revised business rates bill will show there is nothing to pay.

‘Cash grants of up to £25,000 are also being made available by the Government for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. Businesses in these sectors, who on March 11 would have been eligible for the expanded retail discount scheme, with a rateable value of under £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000. Businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000. There is also a cash grant available of £10,000 for businesses who, as of March 11, were eligible for small business rates relief to help meet their ongoing business costs.’

And as many businesses take a financial hit, the Government is offering to pick up 80% of the tab for workers having to be temporarily laid off and offering Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans to help businesses with cash flow.

WDBC said it would continue to collect council tax, however, it added: ‘The income from the council tax pays for essential services such as care for the elderly (social care costs), children’s services, education and schools, housing, waste collection, housing benefits, the police and the fire service.’

They said the council tax being paid would also help ‘deliver a national and community response to the coronavirus outbreak’.

‘It is critical to the continuance of these services that funding is provided. If you can, please continue to make your council tax payments in the usual way.’

However, it stressed that it would be making full details available of emergency grants towards council tax specifically for those of working age who found themselves in difficulty. It is understood that up to £150 a year will be available ‘as part of the Government’s National Hardship Scheme’.

WDBC said it would publicise details as soon as they became available. It has also stressed that refuse and recycling collections across West Devon continue as normal, although the collection of bulky waste has been suspended because recycling and waste disposal sites, run by the county council, are currently closed.

The Government is also compensating the employees ‘furloughed’ — a term which means temporarily laid off — from their jobs as a result of the crisis to the tune of 80% of their income, with equivalent support for the self-employed. Meanwhile, for those feeling isolated, charity WaveLength is offering free digital DAB radios to the most vulnerable housebound people. The scheme which is part of BBC local radio’s Make a Difference campaign, is inviting people to nominate deserving individuals at the website wavelength.org.uk/radiohero And help on the ground was being provided by volunteering groups, with each town and village setting up its own support networks to shop, deliver prescriptions and provide emergency food packages.