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<p>Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes
were likely to be particularly affected by COVID-19 due to their reliance on customer
footfall, and the fact that they were less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient
cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality
and Leisure Grant Fund was intended to help small businesses in this situation. The
Government provided Local Authorities with detailed information in the Expanded Retail
Discount Guidance regarding which kinds of business properties could be classified
as retail, hospitality or leisure properties. Local Authorities were responsible for
applying this guidance correctly when making grants.</p><p> </p><p>The RHLGF, along
with the other business grant schemes, closed to new applicants on 28 August. As many
businesses are now able to reopen, and consumer footfall is increasing, it is right
that we wind up the grant schemes.</p><p> </p>
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