David Draffan Corvid19 Blog no. 3

Plymouth City Council Economic Development

David Draffan Service Director Economic Development

Corvid19 Blog

No 3 - Tuesday 24/3/2020

Hi Everyone,

My name is David Draffan and I am the Service Director at Plymouth City Council with responsibility for Economic. As a department we have been wondering how to get our key messages out. It occurred to me that a more informal, human blog might be useful, in addition to our normal methods, so that I can perhaps reach a different audience; but also so that people can understand the work that is going on behind the scenes. I intend this to be regular and short rather than longwinded given the massive amount of communication currently.

Today we all got very serious about social distancing! We spent a lot of time reviewing all the Council services in light of the PM’s announcement on Tuesday. This meant a number of the Council’s physical sites were closed including the Plymouth Market, Chelson Meadow waste site, play parks, adult day centres etc. I am sure it is the same for everybody but walking the floor at the Box, I felt that staff were seeking reassurance for the first time today. You will be pleased to hear we are v keen to keep Mount Edgcumbe park open but this depends on people obeying the social distancing protocols. The Council services that are affected along with community information can be found here: https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/newsroom/mainstories/latestinformationaboutcovid19

I also spent a bit of time today responding to inquiries from a numbers of businesses  who had got in touch as a result of the Blog – which was gratifying including quite a few from Devon and Cornwall – I did explain that I am strictly on the payroll of Plymouth but then went on to help in detail….lol

Important things

We spent the day reviewing the government’s guidance on small grants and hope to get detailed guidance on how we will operate the scheme tomorrow or possibly Thursday at the latest. As you can imagine it is a very big task that we want to get right first time. Its our ambition to complete  most payments within 2 weeks. More on this below.

The City will tomorrow be making a call to businesses to donate surplus PPE equipment for staff working in the City’s emergency response. This will include PPE (gloves, aprons, masks) along with sanitation products (soap, paper towels and hand cleanser). A formal call will be issued but please email me if you think you can help.

ACE announced a ￡160m package of support for cultural businesses.

Like fish? Can’t get meat? Check out www.call4fish.com to support Plymouth fishing industry.

Council Emergency Planning

We are slowly getting into our stride with being in a constant emergency and making huge ground I think. The issue now is stamina with many people having now worked 7 days on the trot with 12 hours a day. We are pushing hard the stay at home message along with government. The government has now written to 1.5m vulnerable people who will be shielded in their homes and the hubs are now in place and being organised. The first food parcels will be delivered this week! The really important stuff.

Business Grants

A team of people have been working all day to design a scheme to get the grants announced in the government’s package out of the door. We have yet to finalise all elements of the scheme so I am very very loath to give out half details to avoid confusion. Detailed guidance and FAQs are close to being finalised. That said here are a few details of what we know so far as promised :An information campaign and FAQs will explain who is eligible and what exemptions exist. These have not changed and I have included an extract from the government’s advice below:

• A letter will go out to all eligible businesses automatically (we anticipate to your business address registered for rates).
• The business then goes onto the Council’s website to upload their details – you will need your letter.
• The information is transferred and payment is automatic into the bank account
• We believe the following numbers of businesses are eligible

1. Small Business Grant Scheme 10k – 2893 businesses
2. Retail and hospitality grant scheme 10k – 613 businesses
3. Retail and hospitality grant scheme 25k – 457 businesses

Cash grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses

The Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme provides businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a cash grant of up to ￡25,000 per property.

Businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of ￡15,000 and under will receive a grant of ￡10,000.

Businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of between ￡15,000 and ￡51,000 will receive a grant of ￡25,000.

Eligibility

You are eligible for the grant if:

• your business is based in England
• your business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector

Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are wholly or mainly being used:

• as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
• for assembly and leisure
• as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates

The government will provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. This will provide a one-off grant of ￡10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.

Eligibility

You are eligible if:

• your business is based in England
• you are a small business and already receive SBBR and/or RRR
• you are a business that occupies property

How to access the scheme

You do not need to do anything. Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.

Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.

Support for cultural and creative organisations and individuals

I was so pleased to see the brilliant Arts Council England have moved fast and today announced a ￡160m package to support cultural organisations during C19 - https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19 . The most exciting news is that ￡20m will go to freelancers who will be eligible for grants of ￡2.5k. ￡90m will go to National Portfolio Organisations and ￡50m to non NPO organisations with ￡35k/grants. Thanks for looking after us Phil Gibby ACE SW - You’re a ledgend.

Support Plymouth fishing industry - www.call4fish.com

I am so excited by a local initiative led by the fishing industry and supported by PCC ED team (well done Terri, Rodney and Josh). Did you know the fishing fleet in Plymouth is largely tied up alongside as the price for fish has collapsed – ironic when you can get more than a single pack of sausages currently?  The reason is 70% of our fish goes overseas and this has gone. So the answer is simply buy fish direct from the fishermen. Sign up for deliveries or collection. Simples!

Protection for Commercial Tenants

The Government announced that the Coronavirus Bill will include a measure preventing landlords evicting commercial tenants who are unable to pay their rent which will help support businesses.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-protection-for-businesses-with-ban-on-evictions-for-commercial-tenants-who-miss-rent-payments

Business Contacts

Well done Amanda, Nina and team! We are now supporting nearly 150 business directly up 40 from yesterday. Today this extends to some of our largest employers. There remains frustration about the speed it is taking to get the support schemes up and running hence we are so focused on the small business grants. I have to say not one business has lost their rag or got cross with us which is amazing given the circumstances. Thank you.

Growth Hub

Did you know we have a dedicated business support service in Devon and you can speak to a trained business advisor for free? https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/covid-19-guidance-for-business/

Share widely

Please do share this blog widely and not via the usual channels as it’s important we get the message of support and solidarity to Plymouth businesses not connected in the usual way.

Feedback

If this blog is useful let me know and if it is simply more noise in the system I won’t be the slightest bit offended! I will try and do updates a few times a week as anything changes. I hope you get some small comfort from that fact that you are not alone. There is a dedicated groups of people committed to ensuring your survival and will stop at nothing to help.

Contact

My mobile number is 07919226965 and my email is [email protected] Please text or email any time if you think I can help – I’m a night owl and will most likely be sitting with the laptop at the kitchen table.

All the best

David