The following is an update from Bassetlaw District Council as of Friday the 27th of March 2020.
Help for residents during coronavirus
This page gives information on financial help for residents and links to our money advisors. https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/help-for-residents-during-coronavirus/
Government support for Bassetlaw Businesses
The government has set out a package of targeted measures to support businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. The information below highlights the support available and details how Bassetlaw District Council will process business rates relief and grant funding on behalf of the Government.
- A 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England. This will benefit around 500 business across the District. We will rebill eligible business with a zero bill for 2020/21. We will process this automatically; businesses do not need to do anything. If you receive a bill and think that it is incorrect, please contact our Business Rates Unit on 01909 533460. Please bear with us as we experiencing a high volume of calls at this time.
- Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
- £10,000 grant per business in the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Sector with rateable value of £15k or less
- (Please note, if businesses fall within both of the above categories, the maximum grant eligible will be £10,000)
- Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
We will receive the Government funding for these grants on 1st April. These grants are not open for application. If business qualifies for one of the above grants, we will be organising payments. In order for us to do this we ask that businesses provide important information so we can issue the grants without delay. This important information including payment information can be provided by submitting details via our online form.
There are around 2000 businesses eligible for the £10,000 grant and around 300 eligible for the grant of £25,000 in Bassetlaw. We expect grants to arrive in business bank accounts from 3rd April, subject to receipt of information. These grants are per property. Businesses that are liable for rates at two or more properties meeting the eligibility criteria will receive payments for each liability.
For the latest information on support for businesses visit: https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/help-for-businesses-during-coronavirus/
Funerals
We have contacted all local funeral directors with the following information:-
“Following Government advice and in line with other Local Authorities we would ask you to kindly ask families attending funerals to try and restrict themselves to immediate family up to a total of 12 maximum during any interrments in any of Bassetlaw’s cemeteries. Also no Full services will be allowed to take place around the graveside so therefore just the committal. We would also ask that people try to keep to the recommended social distancing at 2 Metres. We all know that Funerals are a very emotive time for everyone involved but would like everyone’s cooperation in these difficult times. This directive will be under constant review and in line with Government policy.”
There are currently no definitive numbers limit set by government and the figure of 12 was set based on what was deemed reasonable and what others are doing locally.
Markets
Our markets are now closed until further notice.
Volunteering
There are two key routes for Volunteering (1) the NHS Volunteer Responders (2) County Council as follows.
Please email enquiries@nottscc.gov.uk including ‘Volunteering’ in the subject line, or call 0300 500 8080, and be ready to provide the following information:
- Your name / organisation
- Contact details – postal, telephone and email address
- Have you been DBS checked?
- Area of Nottinghamshire in which you are able to provide support
- What support you can offer.
A number of Councillors have put themselves forward to respond to direct calls from the public for assistance and these are listed on our website. This is very helpful, but I would like to repeat the caveats about Safeguarding made by some of your colleagues. Your own health and safety is paramount.
Emergency Food
This evening the County Council have been advised that their emergency food delivery, from national supplies will not arrive until late Monday.
The County will be contacting the 300 or so individuals who replied to the NHS question – “can you get essential supplies delivered” indicating they could not to confirm with them any emergency support they require this weekend, where they have an immediate food need NCC will offer them meals from the County Enterprise Food’s meals at home provision. They will advise those people that they will receive a further call early next week to make further arrangements to support them.
An extract of that national database is going to be used by the supermarkets to provide a free home delivery service of a standard food pack.
Food Bank
As you may know, BCVS gained the agreement of the Food Bank Trustees to secure and use their stock following the decision to close their facilities for the safety of volunteers. Parks staff supported BCVS to transfer that stock to the CSL. The BCVS volunteers are preparing food parcels from that location, but is important to stress that it is not operating as ‘drop in’ for the public. Existing Food Bank users will be directed through BCVS. The suitability of this premises for a larger scale operation will be reviewed.
We have made arrangements for some of our staff and transport to support the distribution of food parcels if the volume increases.
Community Food Bases
Thanks to all those Parishes who identified possible locations. At this stage will see how the national arrangements for food deliveries to the vulnerable works.
Vulnerable Persons
People are starting to receive letters from the NHS.
At the local level the Bassetlaw Community & Voluntary Service (BCVS) have built up their own database, they are then contacting these people or their carers to ascertain their circumstances. From that information they are RAG rating them in terms of the support required e.g. immediate food parcel. There is still more NHS data to come and we await clarification on the divvy up on the 1.5 m the “Shielded” group.
If you are aware of vulnerable persons in your area please use the contacts below.
Community Groups
We have been contacting the local groups we are aware of to ascertain more about them, what they can actually provide, issues they are facing and to encourage them to let us know about vulnerable individuals. Updates on community groups can be found on our website. Please let us know of any others you are aware of.
Bassetlaw Community Hub
This has been established at the BCVS Offices, the District Council and Bassetlaw CCG are there too as part of the coordinated local response. This will be developed as we move forward. It is hoped to develop a ‘Neighbourhood Response Team’ model that will split the district into areas to provide closer co-ordination and connections to the vulnerable and local support. Parish Councils can play a key part in this as it develops.
The Bassetlaw Hub links with the County Wide Hub provided by the County Council.
Contacts
For identification of vulnerable individuals and their needs
BCVS 01909 476118 Ext 21 or 23 (Mon – Fri)
Bassetlaw District Council 01909 533533 or customer.services@bassetlaw.gov.uk
(THE BDC NUMBER WILL BE COVERED BY OUR CUSTOMER SERVICES SATURDAY 28th and SUNDAY 29th March given the situation)