Swale Borough Council - Government Grants for Businesses Affected by COVID-19 Restrictions

Businesses that have been forced to close or have been severely affected by the new restrictions can apply for one of the following business grants from Swale Borough Council:

• Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) or

• Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)

Businesses in rated commercial premises that have been forced to close can get grants of between £1,334 and £3,000 to cover the 28-day period from 5th November through the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed).

Businesses that are affected by the new restrictions, but haven’t been forced to close, could receive one-off payments of between £1,334 and £3,000, through the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy and property at the council, said:

“We’re pleased that the Government is providing some financial support to help businesses which are significantly impacted by the restrictions put in place to control the spread of Covid-19.

“As before, the government guidelines on who can qualify for business support are strict, but we’ll be working hard to ensure that those that do qualify receive help.

“Businesses can apply now until 2nd January, so I urge anyone needing help to visit our website for more information and to apply.

“Local businesses are at the heart of Swale’s economy and I’m glad the government is providing additional support this time around.”

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of the council, said:

“While we do what we can to support local businesses, it’s important for local people to do their bit and act responsibly and stop the spread of the virus.

“The number of cases in Swale is still rising at an alarming rate and we all have to do our bit to ensure we don’t end up in a higher tier when these new restrictions end.

“If we don’t lower the rate of cases, local lockdown for Swale could continue if we’re placed in a higher tier than we had before.

“Please stay home unless going for essential shopping, work or medical appointments and remember to wash your hands, cover your face and allow space for social distancing.

“We can get on top of this if we all work together. It’s down to all of us.”

To qualify for a grant a business must meet certain criteria, and there’s more information, including how to apply for either grant, at: www.swale.gov.uk/coronavirus

Other support is available from the Government, and businesses can find what is available to them at: www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder

Swale Borough Council

Medway Council - Further Support for Medway Businesses

Millions of pounds worth of government funding is available to help Medway businesses struggling as a result of the new national restrictions.

Medway Council is encouraging residents and businesses financially impacted by the new lockdown to access government support.

Earlier this year, Medway Council helped thousands of Medway businesses and self-employed people access government grant schemes.

The council has distributed £36.360million to 2,955 Medway businesses in Small Business Grants and in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants, and has also paid out £1.848million to 321 businesses in Discretionary Grants.

More than 1,300 retail businesses also benefitted from £33.786million Expanded Retail Relief.

The government has now announced that Medway has been allocated £3.526million Local Restrictions Support Grant funding for businesses which have been affected by the new national restrictions. The grant will be payable to businesses that were open as usual, providing in-person services to customers, but legally had to close due to the national lockdown on 5 November.

• Medway businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will qualify for a grant of £1,334 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.

• Businesses with a rateable value of more than £15,000 and less than £51,000 will qualify for a grant of £2,000 per 28-day qualifying restriction period. 

• Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or over will qualify for a grant of £3,000 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.

Medway Council will be writing to almost 2,000 businesses, which may be eligible for the new grants, to encourage them to apply.

Businesses will be able to apply on the council’s website in the coming weeks and the deadline for applications is Sunday, 31st January 2021.

The government has also announced a discretionary grant scheme for businesses which are able to remain open during the new lockdown but their business has been severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions. The £5.571million Additional Restrictions Grant funding is to further support businesses between December 2020 and March 2022. The council is currently considering the best ways to use the funding to support Medway’s businesses and economy throughout the next 16 months, in line with government guidance.

Supporting residents

Medway Council has also been given more than £900,000 Winter Support Grant funding to continue to support vulnerable residents, including children and families. The council is waiting for the details of the grant scheme to be published, before deciding the best way to support residents.

Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said:

“We are committed to continuing to support Medway’s most vulnerable residents as well as our local businesses. It is vital that anyone who is concerned about the impact of the pandemic reaches out and accesses the support available, whether that is help with getting food items or accessing financial support through government grants. I’m pleased we have already provided £71.994 million in financial support to thousands of businesses during these challenging times and would encourage residents to continue supporting our local businesses to protect our economy. Medway is resilient and it’s incredibly important that we all continue to follow the latest government guidelines and play our part to help stop the spread of coronavirus.”

For more information about the support available to businesses visit: medway.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinesses

Medway Council

Swale Borough Council Leader Gives Stern Warning About Further Restrictions as COVID-19 Cases Rise

Councillor Roger Truelove.

Swale could face a longer period of high-level restrictions for people’s social life and the economy if the rate of covid infection cannot be contained.

Swale Borough Council’s leader addressed councillors at last week’s council meeting as Swale’s infection rate inches towards almost 600 per 100,000 people.

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of the council, said:

“Unless we can level off the rate of growth in covid infections in the borough, we risk a longer period of high-level restrictions beyond 2 Dec.

“Infection rates have reached 584 per 100,000 people, and if we don’t do something to contain it we risk spending Christmas in lockdown.

“Before the Prime Minister introduced the new nationwide restrictions earlier this month, we were being pressed by the Government and Kent County Council to go into Tier 2 - the High-Risk status - and we risk being placed in this tier when national lockdown ends if cases continue to rise.

“Swale now has the second highest rate of infection in Kent with increasing numbers in care homes and a higher rate of infection amongst 65+ age group than in many parts of the county.

“The virus spreads virulently through close personal contact and we can only tackle the issue if we comply with government guidelines.

“It’s our duty as a council to encourage and urge people to comply with the restrictions in place and to closely monitor the business community to ensure people’s safety.

“I urge councillors to spread a message of compliance and to discourage anybody who wishes to glory in their non-compliance.”

Swale Borough Council

Upchurch Poppy Appeal - 2020

Covid-19 has affected fund-raising in the charitable sector this year.

The Royal British Legion’s response early on was “stand down” its house-to-house collections during Remembrance-tide in 2020 across the nation as this activity involved a high level of contact. This was a significant change to the traditional method of distributing poppies. Your local collectors in Upchurch look forward to returning to duty in 2021. Nevertheless this year poppies were available nationally in supermarkets, stations and many retail outlets etc. The Legion also enhanced how donations could be made electronically through mobile phones or its website e.g. scan QR Code below.

My thanks to Holywell School, The Crown PH, The Brown Jug PH, The BarnYard Restaurant, Snaffles, the Golf Club bar and shop, the Co-op, Cost cutters Newsagents and the Church for making poppies available in the village. I will publish amounts raised in a future article.

Many of you also ordered Poppy Appeal items through me and I am able still to supply poppies, 2020 poppy pins, VE75 pins, car poppies etc.

Next year, The Royal British Legion will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

Hon. Ald. Gerry Lewin - Poppy Day Appeal Organiser 

Telephone: 01634 366113 - 07946 996789

Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

New Roundabout in Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham

Bowmer + Kirkland has begun work to construct a roundabout for the primary vehicular access to the new Leigh Academy Rainham secondary school in Otterham Quay Lane, at the junction with Blackthorne Road.

Working in agreement with Medway Council, the roadworks will take place under 2-way temporary traffic lights and will require lane closures for up to 12 weeks.

The developer aims to complete the works as quickly as possible to avoid disruption and make sure access for residents is maintained.

The academy will also have 2 separated pedestrian crossing points for safe access to the school for both students and staff, expected to arrive from different directions.

Upchurch Matters

Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - September 2020

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

33 crimes are shown on the map in September 2020 including:

10 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Burglary
3 Criminal Damage and Arson
1 Other Theft
2 Public Order

2 Vehicle Crime
14 Violence and Sexual Offences

43 crimes were shown on the map in August 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Lower Halstow and Iwade

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

39 crimes are shown on the map in September 2020 including:

15 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Criminal Damage and Arson

6 Drugs

1 Other Theft

1 Possession of Weapons

2 Public Order

1 Shoplifting

3 Vehicle Crime

9 Violence and Sexual Offences

43 crimes were shown on the map in August 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Upchurch Matters