Applications launch for Local Restrictions Support Grant

After the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced details earlier this month about Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG), Birmingham City Council is pleased to report that applications for the scheme are now live.

The funding for the schemes, which is open to businesses in the businesses in hospitality, hotel, bed & breakfast and leisure sectors, will offer several financial support initiatives relating to:

• Lockdown closures
• Tier closures
• Business sectors
• Discretionary support

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council has said:

“We recognise the need to do everything possible to support Birmingham's business community and officers have been working around the clock to deliver this vital support.

“It's been a tough year for businesses across the city and unfortunately not everyone has been able to apply for a share of the business grants that have previously been offered.

“Fortunately, this next round of schemes will allow us to continue to deliver support to many businesses who have not yet received support.

"We intend to start making payments to those business which we can validate and qualify immediately and aim to process all applications within five working days, though this will be dependent on volumes and Government checks for validation and pre-payment assurance.”

In addition to the above sectors the government has provided funding which will be used to provide support to the following:

1. Supply chain businesses severely impacted because they wholly or exclusively supply businesses in the hospitality, accommodation or leisure sectors
2. Sector business that are operating in shared premises or where the landlord is liable to pay Business Rates.
3. Bed and Breakfast businesses which are classed as domestic and subject to Council Tax will also be eligible for support.

The council will be offering the following schemes for application:

Local Restriction Grant Scheme (Closed): LRGS (Closed) is predominantly a mandatory scheme and is applicable for the period of national restrictions from 5 November to 2 December 2020.

Eligible Businesses:  The scheme is for businesses that have a rateable value. Businesses that are eligible are those that have been ordered to close by Government and include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses. If businesses chose to operate as a takeaway, click and collect or online with delivery services they will be counted as closed because their substantive business has had to close.

Local Restriction Grant Scheme (Sector): This is a mandatory scheme, applicable for the period 1 November to 4 November 2020.

Eligible Businesses: The scheme is intended to support businesses that have been required to close nationally since 23 March 2020. It may also cover any new national closures of business property types in future, such as businesses like Nightclubs, dance halls, and discotheques or Adult entertainment venues and hostess bars.

Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG): Businesses which do not qualify for any of the above mentioned grants could be eligible for discretionary financial support through the Additional Restrictions Grant.

To make the application process as simple as possible for businesses, the council has created a single application form which covers all support grants.

Businesses will need to register for a BRUM account to apply for a grant, which can be done in advance. Create an account if you don't already have one.

Businesses who think they are eligible for any of the schemes are asked to complete a single form, which will be used to determine which grant(s) they qualify for.  Once the Council has received all necessary information, teams will aim to process payment within 7 working days.

Businesses who wish to apply are advised to ensure they supply all the information requested to avoid any delays to receiving their grant.

You can find out further information and apply on the website.