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<p>The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses
to help with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused
by COVID-19. This package of support includes the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Grant Fund (RHLGF).</p><p>Businesses in England that would have been in receipt of
the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) on 11
March with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for a RHLGF cash
grant per property of either £10,000 or £25,000 depending on the rateable value of
the property.</p><p>Guidance on the types of businesses covered by the Expanded Retail
Discount can be found here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fbusiness-rates-retail-discount-guidance&data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C56ee5910576f40a0222708d8128e7f7e%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637279750514326975&sdata=ZaHHUB5NQKHtxw%2BdhskQZTRTJeo6U2NkJYFcgj7W41U%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-retail-discount-guidance</a>.
It is for individual local billing authorities to adopt a local scheme and determine
in each individual case when, having regard to this guidance, to grant relief. Any
enquiries on eligibility for the Expanded Retail Discount and thus the RHLGF should
be directed to the relevant local authority.</p><p>For more information on the RHLGF
please visit: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fcheck-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-grant-fund&data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C56ee5910576f40a0222708d8128e7f7e%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637279750514326975&sdata=CO16TKPAAyAleHou4ChS3Lplufvb8RyDS9mzh5Fyv60%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-grant-fund</a></p><p>In
addition, on 1 May, the Government announced that up to £617 million is being made
available to local authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants.
The Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing
fixed property-related costs but are not liable for business rates or rates reliefs.</p><p>Businesses
already in receipt of a Small Business grant or a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
grant are not eligible for this fund. Businesses who are eligible for or in receipt
of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) are now eligible to apply for
this scheme.</p><p>Guidance, intended to support local authorities in administering
the Discretionary Grants Fund, was published 13 May and can be found here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcoronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding&data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C56ee5910576f40a0222708d8128e7f7e%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637279750514336927&sdata=WgUuA%2BHBmgfL6ayd2C7v0%2BxI5GSFeEeFMvCFZHm4VWE%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding</a>.
Local authorities are responsible for developing their local scheme, having regard
to this guidance, and decisions about which businesses to support, and the level of
grant to award, are for local authorities to take.</p>
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