1.0 Purpose of the Scheme and background
1.1: The purpose of this document is to determine eligibility for a payment under the Council's Local Restrictions Support Grant Scheme (Open).
1.2: The grant scheme has been developed by the Council in response to an announcement made by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy made on 22nd October 2020 which sets out circumstances whereby a grant payment may be made by the Council to businesses that are not legally required to close but which are severely impacted by the localised restrictions on socialising put in place to manage coronavirus and save lives.
1.3: Whilst the awarding of grants will be the Council's responsibility, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has set down certain criteria which must be met by each business making an application. The Department has also indicated the types of business which should be given the grant.
1.4: The scheme applies where local restrictions either under LCAL2 (High) or LCAL3 (Very High) are put in place on or after 1st August 2020.
1.5: Localised restrictions are legally binding restrictions imposed on specific Local Authority areas or multiple Local Authority areas, where the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care requires the closure of businesses in a local area under regulations made using powers in Part 2A of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 in response to the threat posed by coronavirus and commonly as part of a wider set of measures.
1.6: Grants under this scheme will be available for the 2020/21 financial year only.
1.7: Where there is a widespread national restriction, this scheme will be replaced by the Council's Local Restrictions Support Grant Scheme (Closed) and potentially the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme.