Council pays out more grants to local Hastings businesses

Hastings Borough Council is paying grants to businesses across the town required to close as a result of the current national lockdown.

Payments for the one-off 'Closed Business Lockdown Payment' and the 'Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum 5 Jan onwards' started being made on 19 January.

Funding was received from the Government for these grants on Friday of last week (15 January) and the council has set up the systems to start making these payments as soon as possible.

The payments are now being made to those businesses who have previously applied for and received the November lockdown and Local Restriction Support Grant for Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4, so those businesses do not need to re-apply - they will automatically be given these new payments if they are eligible.

The council is also using the Faster Payment System, so funding should be reaching bank accounts within two hours of them being processed.

Cllr Peter Chowney, lead councillor for financial management and estates, said,

"We're pleased we are now able to pay out these much-needed grants to our local businesses. We had started paying out the Tier 2, 3 and 4 grants back in December, but had to put processing those applications on hold when the new lockdown schemes were announced. Then, we had to wait for government guidance before we could start processing applications again.

"As the new lockdown grants provide businesses with more money than the Tier 2, 3 and 4 grants, we'll be paying these out first now, followed by the remaining Tier 2, 3 and 4 grants.

"We understand how frustrating the delays have been, but the council has paid these grants as soon as guidance and funding were received from the Government.

"We have distributed £4.4 million to businesses for these latest lockdown grants as of Wednesday evening (20 January), and will distribute more over the next few days.

"The latest information about business grants can be found on our website and we are also encouraging any businesses who have not already applied for a November lockdown grant, or a Local Restriction Support Grant for Tier 2, Tier 3 or Tier 4 to check our website to see if you're eligible."