The Coronavirus pandemic continues to present us with one of the biggest challenges we have faced as a country in decades.
Over the past few weeks, people locally and across the country have made a real effort, and significant sacrifices, in following the guidance to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. It’s working, we are starting to come through the peak of Coronavirus – and I want to thank you for an incredible team effort.
I appreciate that the situation is causing significant disruption and financial difficulty. This is why the government has introduced unprecedented measures to support individuals, businesses and local councils. I want to explain the difference that some of these measures are making in Elmbridge in particular.
First, we recognise that the lockdown will be affecting people who were already struggling financially. To help with this, a £500m hardship fund has been distributed to local councils, allowing them to support economically vulnerable people and households. Elmbridge Borough Council has received £667,672 of this funding, most of which will be used to provide Council Tax relief.
Second, the government has launched two grant schemes for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises which have been facing very challenging circumstances. Elmbridge Borough Council has received more than £24m from the government to provide these schemes. By 27 April, £18.7m of this had been distributed to 1,320 business properties across Elmbridge.
There have also been changes to the business rates system, which will see Elmbridge businesses receiving a government-funded £27.5m discount on their rates bills this tax year.
These are only a few of the measures that the government has announced. Local residents and businesses are also being supported by business loan schemes, VAT deferrals, grants for self-employed people, and bans on evictions. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – allowing businesses to furlough staff while receiving grants to pay their wages – went live last week.
The full range of government help for individuals and businesses can be found here. If you are in any doubt about what you or your business might be eligible for, please contact me at dominic.raab.mp@parliament.uk.
Finally, local councils like Elmbridge are at the forefront of this national effort and are facing a significant financial burden. In recognition of this, the government has provided councils with £3.2bn of funding to spend as they see fit – for example, on the ‘shielding’ programmes for extremely vulnerable people.
