TIER 3 FUNDING FOR WARRINGTON HAS BEEN SECURED

It is confirmed today that Warrington will be moving to Tier 3 from Thursday 29th October (although the exact date is yet to be confirmed).

Warrington’s move to a ‘very high’ risk area means that:

• You must not socialise with anybody you don’t live with, unless you have formed a household or childcare support bubble, in any indoor setting or venue – including homes or restaurants

• You must not socialise with anybody you don’t live with, unless you have formed a household or childcare support bubble, in any private garden, or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events

• You must not socialise in a group of more than six in an outdoor public space, like parks

• Pubs and bars that do not serve substantial meals as a restaurant, like a main lunchtime or evening meal, must close

• You should avoid travelling outside Warrington wherever possible – only essential journeys, such as for work or caring responsibilities, should be made

• You should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK

The council has managed to agree a range of exemptions as part of the support package for moving into tier 3. This includes leisure centres, gyms, fitness centres, beauticians, hairdressers and trampoline centres remaining open, subject to them being COVID-secure.

Warrington Borough Council has secured £5.9 million in coronavirus (COVID-19) support from the government as part of its move from a ‘high risk’ tier 2 area, to a ‘very high’ risk tier 3 area.

Around £1.68 million of this funding package will be allocated to supporting the council’s Public Health response - including for public protection, testing and enforcement services - with £4.2 million to be used for business and employment support.

This is on top of the new job support scheme measures announced by the Chancellor yesterday, which will provide additional business support in Warrington.

Cheshire and Warrington LEP have announced their £1M Cheshire and Warrington Restructure Grant, will open for applications on Wednesday 28th October at midday. The grant will offer businesses funding up to 80% to a maximum of £5,000 on capital items. 

The opening date for the first round has been confirmed as midday on Wednesday 28th October. Applications are to be made through this webpage.

Further rounds for applications have also been announced and can be viewed here.

Other initiatives announced by government to support businesses financially are:

• The Coronavirus Act will extend the time period for suspension of the forfeiture of evictions from June 30 to September 30, meaning no business will be forced out of their premises if they a miss a payment in the next three months

• Secondary legislation to prevent landlords using Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery unless they are owed 189 days of unpaid rent. The time period for which this measure is in force will be extended from June 30 to September 30.

• If your accounts will be late because your company is affected by COVID-19, and your filing deadline has not yet passed, you can apply here for an automatic and immediate 3 month extension to file your accounts.

• Businesses who deferred their VAT bills will be given more breathing space through the New Payment Scheme, which gives them the option to pay back in smaller instalments. Rather than paying a lump sum in full at the end March next year, they will be able to make 11 smaller interest-free payments during the 2021-22 financial year.

• A temporary 15% VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality sectors will last until the end of March next year