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Question from: County Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe Subject: Business rates 2021/22
Question:
Are you able to provide a briefing on what plans are in place to support businesses in 2021/22?
Whilst there are grants available and coming through, this is just sticking plaster for most businesses. Looking forward to next year, business rates are a concern for businesses most years but with the year we’ve had and the outlook is bleak.
Can you please let me know what PCC and Welsh Government are planning to support businesses so we have businesses in our high street in 2022/23.
Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
The Coronavirus pandemic continues to have an unprecedented economic impact. The Council is committed to supporting Powys businesses and the recovery of the local economy as a top priority. Flexibility in approach and capitalising on new opportunities will be fundamental to supporting long term economic recovery and future growth. The following are examples of how the Council is supporting businesses and economic recovery in the County. Over the past year the Council has administered in the region of £66.5m of covid related Welsh Government grant support to Powys businesses and we will continue to ensure we maximise the support to local businesses wherever possible whilst the grant funding continues.
The Council continues to work collaboratively with Welsh Government, Business Wales and other partners to provide advice and support to businesses and plan for recovery. Information and guidance on support available is provided via direct to businesses, via business networks, Council communications and updates on the Council website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/coronavirus/helpforbusinesses Last year, the Council’s covid business survey attracted over 1000 responses and highlighted the severe challenges being experienced by Powys businesses, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors. This feedback and analysis has provided important evidence of the economic impact of the pandemic and has helped inform the Council’s discussions on the targeting of support with UK and Welsh Governments. The Council will continue to lobby on behalf of Powys businesses for further financial support to aid long term recovery. During the covid restrictions residents have been increasingly shopped local for food and essential goods and services. Building on this, the Council’s #SupportLocalPowys communications campaign has encouraged residents to support local businesses and their highstreets. Maintaining this message and sustaining support will play an important role in recovery. Measures to encourage local businesses to take advantage of Council procurement opportunities and local purchasing will also play a key role in retaining money in the Powys economy and local supply chains. Powys high streets have been hard hit by covid restrictions. The Council has implemented a range of measures to support town centres and is currently administered a Covid town centre grant scheme to support high street businesses with social distancing measures and 13 grants have been awarded to Town Councils. Further measures are planned next year to provide targeted grants and loans to support the regeneration of towns. The tourism and events sector has been particularly hard hit during the pandemic. The Council continues to work closely with the sector and will actively promote the County to visitors when it is safe to do so. This will ... view the full minutes text for item 1. |