Statement from Stockport Council regarding Local Discretionary Grants Fund

Stockport Council have issued the following statement regarding the top-up for the business grants scheme – referred to as Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

Following the Government announcement on 01/05/20 about a top up grant for businesses that are not eligible for other grants, the guidance to local authorities was released to the Council on 13/05/2020. We are now preparing a local scheme which will be available shortly.

The guidance from Government indicates that these grants are primarily and predominantly aimed at: 

• Small and micro businesses, as defined in Section 33 Part 2 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and the Companies Act 2006. 
• Businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs 
• Businesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis 
• Businesses which occupy property, or part of a property, with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payments below £51,000.

The Council is aiming to publish eligibility criteria and guidance on making applications for the discretionary grant, including the evidence required in support of applications, on its website by 5pm on Monday 18/05/2020.

The information published on Monday will set out the criteria for which priority businesses are eligible to apply, the application process and the date from which applications can be made.