Swale Borough Council Distributes £8.9 Million in Grants to Help Local Businesses

The first 776 local businesses that have applied for business rate relief grants from Swale Borough Council will be receiving payments worth £8.9 million between them this week.

The council wrote to 2,600 eligible businesses in the borough with details on how to apply for the grants, which are part of the government’s measures to support small businesses and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through the period of disruption caused by coronavirus (COVID-19).

The council are hoping to make the payments to all eligible businesses by 1st May and is urging those businesses that haven’t yet applied to do so as soon as possible.

The grants of up to £25,000 per business are available through one of two schemes:

• The small business grant

• The cash grant for retail, hospitality and leisure

Anyone who runs a business that may be eligible for the grants, but can’t access their business premises to receive their post at the moment, can Email edu@swale.gov.uk

You’ll need to include:

• Your business rates account number, shown on your business rates statement

• The name and address registered on your business rates account

If you have any queries about whether you are eligible for the grant or not, please Email edu@swale.gov.uk with a telephone number that we can contact you on to discuss the criteria.

For more information, and to apply if you haven’t already, visit www.swale.gov.uk/support-scheme-registration

Swale Borough Council

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Message from Cllr Roger Truelove, Leader of Swale Borough Council

Cllr Roger Truelove.

“It’s been a couple of weeks since my last message, and I’m pleased to see that the people of Swale have - with limited unfortunate exceptions - continued to observe the rules on staying at home and social distancing.

This is the most important thing we can all do to help bring this crisis to an end, and I hope we all continue to follow the guidance to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

It is now just over four weeks since we at the council began adjusting to the challenges brought about by the pandemic and by government expectations of the role we should play.

This has often been hectic and demanding and I want to repeat my thanks to our staff who have worked tirelessly over the past month.

I also want to pay tribute to the many volunteers in the community who are helping us to meet these challenges.

I would also like to thank my fellow councillors from all parties who are working with their local communities and coming together as a council.

Despite increased pressure, we are working hard to keep control of the increasing level of people presenting to us as homeless. Officers have been working to try to make sure no-one is sleeping rough on the borough’s streets.

Our community support hub is up and running to help those clinically extremely vulnerable people that the government has asked to shield themselves by self-isolating for 12 weeks. Most of these have a network of support that can help them remain safely at home by helping with things like shopping. For those that don’t, we can help them if they call us on: 01795 417525.

We have now also made grants to local foodbanks and Citizens Advice Swale who are helping local people through difficult times, and we have brought forward our members grants scheme so that individual councillors can offer financial help to local community groups.

We have also contacted 2,600 local small businesses to help them apply for the grants of up to £25,000, and the first payments will be arriving in business accounts this week.

Our waste collection service is being maintained, and I am immensely grateful to the public for the support and understanding they are showing when there have been some delays. The wall covered in thank you messages at the depot shows the warm appreciation we all have for those who are continuing to collect our bins in difficult circumstances.

I know I speak for most of us when I offer my appreciation for the dedication of those working on the front line. Our health and social care workers, those who are working so hard in our supermarkets, delivery drivers, manufacturers, the list goes on. It is devastating when we hear stories of these good people being abused, through misunderstanding, ignorance or just plain jealousy.

It has never been more important to work with our partners - in the NHS, at Kent County Council and Kent Police - to keep people safe. The police were a tremendous help over the Easter weekend as we worked to discourage people from visiting our popular beaches and parks.

We are also receiving regular briefings from government ministers as they recognise the vital part being played by local councils in fighting back against this virus.

We are still a long way from winning this battle, and I know it’s incredibly hard for many.

Isolation, uncertainty and worry for the future are not uncommon. But among all this, I see incredible amounts of hope and reasons to be optimistic.

People are coming out of retirement to help the NHS and others are volunteering to help their neighbours and friends get food and supplies while they stay safe.

Parents are sharing ideas to help teach their children at home, and friends and relatives are checking in on each other to remind those that are isolating that they are not alone.

All the windows filled with children’s rainbows remind us that the sun can still shine, and the weekly clap for the NHS reconnects us with our friends and neighbours even though we must - for now - remain at a safe distance.

But, if we continue to do what we must, and remember why we are doing this - to stay safe, protect the NHS and save lives - we will, to quote The Queen, 'meet again'.”

Cllr Roger Truelove

Leader, Swale Borough Council

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VE Day 75 Celebrations

Because of the Coronavirus emergency and current government guidance, veday75.org has been updated with news on the cancellation/postponement of the majority of community celebrations that were due to take place over the bank holiday weekend of 8th - 10th May 2020.

It's hoped that these events can be moved to the weekend of 15th - 16th August 2020 when we will be able to celebrate VE Day and VJ Day, both momentous points in our history.

More information at >> www.veday75.org

Upchurch Matters
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Giant Penguin to Raise Money for Children with Cancer and Medway Hospital

“Hi all,

I’m the founder of My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity and as you can imagine, we have been hit badly due to Coronavirus.

Myself and our neighbours have erected this HUGE penguin to raise a smile and say thanks to our wonderful NHS! ❤️ 🌈

We will leave a charity bucket outside should anyone be able to donate anything at all. Funds will be split between children with cancer and of course the amazing Medway Hospital who are working so hard in very difficult circumstances.

We are on Chaffes Lane, the penguin is a magnificent sight, if you are on your daily walk, I am sure your children will love him!

Stay safe all xxx ❤️ 🌈”

Anita Marinelli

Website >> www.myshiningstar.co.uk

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Thank You NHS

My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity has a huge new Superman banner up in Chaffes Lane thanking our wonderful NHS for all that they do.

Look out for it when you’re passing 🌈

Read more about their great work at >> www.myshiningstar.co.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Swale Borough Council Business set to Resume - Virtually

Swale Borough Council will resume holding meetings next week.

Meetings such as cabinet and planning committees had to be cancelled after the Government imposed lockdown restrictions to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

As part of the Coronavirus Act 2020 the Government has given permission to councils to hold virtual meetings so important decisions can be discussed and made public during the lockdown.

Swale’s first such meeting is set to take place on Wednesday, 22nd April, when cabinet will discuss issues such as CCTV, new toilets for Minster Leas and the council’s response to climate change.

This will be followed by a virtual meeting of the planning committee on Thursday, 30th April.

Leader of the council, Cllr Roger Truelove, said:

“The coronavirus outbreak has meant we have all had to adapt to new ways of living and working so we can keep ourselves, and each other, safe.

Here at the council, officers have adapted remarkably well to remote working, and now the government has made it possible for us to legally resume council meetings online.

Elected members have a responsibility to represent their residents - and important decisions still need to be taken about our services.

We have been looking at ways in which we can resume meetings in public so members and officers can discuss proposals while observing social distancing.

This will help improve our ability to get back to normal once the lockdown is lifted.

However, to get to that stage means we must continue to observe the rules on staying at home, social distancing and self-isolating where required.”

The meetings will be held via Skype. Members of the public and the press who want to attend the Cabinet meeting virtually should email their details to democraticservices@swale.gov.uk, or call 01795 417330, by 4:00pm on Tuesday 21st April 2020. They will then be sent joining instructions for the meeting.

Swale Borough Council

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