Councillors concerned that businesses in Biggleswade area missing out on Covid-19 funding

In December 2020, CBC was given £5.77 million which it offered to businesses under the ‘Central Bedfordshire Council Additional Restrictions Grant Fund’.

These grants were for companies affected by Covid but which had not qualified for earlier funding as they were not specifically forced to close. It included daycare, nurseries, market traders as well as companies which supplied retail, pubs, cafes, restaurants and leisure.

However, the councillors informed that Chronicle that “CBC has handed out only £700,000 of this £5.77 million”, arguing that local council grants didn’t help any of those companies which had received funding earlier in 2020 but which were still badly affected by current restrictions, or where earlier grants had not been sufficient to make a real difference. They also pointed out many small businesses just didn’t qualify.

Cllr Adam Zerny said: “This funding must get to the local businesses most in need. These companies have been very clear that the money is not reaching them, so CBC must take action now.”

The council has now been given another £2.5 million by the government, so there is now £7.5 million left to spend.

After putting out an appeal, local Independent councillors Adam Zerny, Hayley Whitaker, Tracey Wye and Simon Ford have heard back from dozens of companies who are struggling and the councillors have now written to Mr Coiffait with a list of the types of businesses involved, such as hairdressers and other beauty consultants, child minders, clothes shops, the newly self-employed and driving instructors.

Council leader Cllr Richard Wenham said: “To suggest that Central Bedfordshire Council is not supporting local businesses is just untrue.

“Supporting our local businesses through the pandemic, not only for those business owners but also for the local jobs they provide for our residents has been, and continues to be, a priority focus for us.

“As of this week [Jan 28] we have successfully administered at least £87m in financial support for local businesses in the form of grants and 100% business rates relief since the pandemic began.

“We have, or are in the process of, paying out around £1m in grants to businesses in the first round of the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). The total funding pot for this scheme of around £8m was always intended to be paid out through a number of such rounds with differing eligibility criteria until it closes in March 2022.”