IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PADIHAM BUSINESSES

**IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PADIHAM BUSINESSES**

Local restrictions

Given the wide range of information coming from various sources regarding the coronavirus outbreak we have created this dedicated page with links to further useful help and advice as a “one stop shop” for information.

> Quicklinks

Local restrictions

The basics- what you need to do

For more detailed guidance on the current local restrictions click here

Test and Trace Payment scheme

The Government has announced a new financial package called a Test and Trace Support Payment to support and enforce self-isolation, as part of measures to try and help those affected by Covid-19.

In some circumstances, if you are required by law to self-isolate (as from Monday 28th September), you may be supported by a payment of £500. The money is being provided by the Government but payments are being managed by Burnley Council.

Payments will be backdated if necessary.

The council will also be able to make a discretionary £500 lump sum payment, in exceptional circumstances, to an individual who meets the main qualifying criteria for the Test and Trace Support Payment as set out below (ie they are a low-income worker who is unable to work because they are self-isolating) but who is not in receipt of qualifying benefits and could suffer financial hardship as a result of not being able to work.

To get the Test and Trace Support Payment, you must be:

– asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because they’ve tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive

– employed or self-employed

– unable to work from home and will lose income as a result and

– currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

The scheme will run until 31 January 2021.

PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK TO APPLY FOR A SELF-ISOLATION PAYMENT (a new window will open our ‘northgate’ benefits system)

For further details on the national scheme click here

> Burnley Together Community Hub

Partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors have worked together to create a “community hub” to co-ordinate help and support for residents across the borough during the coronavirus outbreak.

Burnley Together was launched to help the most vulnerable people in our community who are facing difficulties, worries and loneliness as a result of the outbreak.

The hub will provide a “one stop shop” where businesses, groups and individuals who want to help and can offer services, and those who need help, can be brought together.

> General Links

> General Health Advice

> Business Support Details

The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19.

This includes a package of measures to support businesses including:

  • a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
  • deferring VAT and Income Tax payments
  • a Statutory Sick Pay relief package for SMEs
  • a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England
  • the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank
  • a new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
  • the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme

Help for Businesses required to close due to Tier-3 Covid Restrictions

The Government has announced that business grants will be made available to those businesses that are legally required to close their premises as a direct result of the Covid restrictions. We are waiting for more details from Government regarding the conditions of the scheme.

The details which we currently have are:

Businesses which are legally required to close due to a nationally imposed local lockdown will receive up to £3,000 per four weeks of closure and are eligible for payment after two weeks of closure.

•Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will receive grants of £667 per two weeks of closure (£1,334 per month).

•Properties with a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive grants of £1,000 per two weeks of closure (£2,000 per month).

•Properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over will receive grants of £1,500 per two weeks of closure (£3,000 per month).

The Government is also extending the scheme to include businesses which have been forced to close on a national rather than a local basis.

 Once further details are made available, the Council will update the website to clarify the position regarding the application process.

For further details on this and other support for businesses, including loans and the job retention scheme, and the expanded retail discount scheme click here

#AskForHelp – business support

Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, is refocussing all its efforts to business recovery as lockdown restrictions are eased. Its #AskForHelp campaign has now been superceded by a new programme – #BoostYourRecovery 

For more details click here

The Lancashire Skills Hub is also pushing forwards with support including the “Skills Swap” and “escalate” to get people trained up and supported through these hard times – click here for more.

Help for the self-employed

The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

The scheme will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month.

For more details click here

Businesses ordered to close

Certain businesses can continue to trade provided that Government guidance Working Safely is followed in full.

Visit our Environmental Health page for more information.

You can report businesses breaking these rules within the borough to our environmental health team at envhealth@burnley.gov.uk

You can also report businesses trading both inside and outside the borough to Trading Standards on 0808 223 1133 or online.

Empty business premises – advice

For more information on what to do with empty business premises during the coronavirus epidemic click here

Taxi and other licensing issues – click here

> Council Services

Burnley Council is taking steps to encourage social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak by discouraging people from gathering in numbers on its premises, including our contact centre (see below), market hall, and parks.

We have put some measures in place to close some facilities – the situation is changing on a daily basis and people should keep up to date via our website and social media.

While we recognise the positive effects of being outdoors, the council feels it is right to take a responsible but measured approach, recognising the dangers to health of people, of all ages, gathering together in groups.

The measures being taken with immediate effect are as follows:

Playgrounds

The greatest risks of transmission are in playgrounds where social distancing doesn’t operate and where children and parents are touching items of equipment. The council maintains 56 children’s play areas. Where possible access will be denied and signs will go up. We will remove or disable equipment where possible.

Parks

People are able to use parks and open spaces as frequently as they wish providing that they maintain social distancing of two metres from people outside their household.

The risk of infection outside is significantly lower than inside.

People may exercise outside as many times each day as they wish. For example, this would include angling and tennis.

You will still not be able to use areas like playgrounds, outdoor gyms or ticketed outdoor leisure venues, where there is a higher risk of close contact and touching surfaces.

You can only exercise with up to one person from outside your household – this means you should not play team sports, except with members of your own household.

People may drive to outdoor open spaces irrespective of distance, so long as they respect social distancing guidance while they are there, because this does not involve contact with people outside your household.

Play areas, toilets, cafes and sports facilities remain closed. 

Bowls Pavilions

The bowls league has cancelled competitive games and we will instruct clubs to keep pavilions closed.

> Cleaning and Disposal of Waste

Household waste collections, both recyclable and non-recyclable are continuing as normal.

Self-isolating

We have issued guidance for residents to change the way waste is handled at properties where possible COVID-19 cases have been identified.

This advice is specifically for households who are currently self-isolating or households where one or more persons have mild symptoms as identified by the recent national guidance.

If you and your family are self-isolating as you have symptoms of coronavirus, please take these simple steps:

· Store personal waste such as tissues and disposable cleaning cloths securely within bin bags. Securely tie the bags.

· Place this bag inside another bin bag and securely tie the bag (double bag)

· Please keep them away from where you are self-isolating

· Don’t put them in the claret bin for at least 72 hours in order to allow any virus which may be in the waste to die. This will avoid the virus spreading. Remember, you can find a full list of symptoms at: www.nhs.uk

Keeping your bin clean

Whilst we are all taking extra steps to keep our homes and workplaces clean, please don’t forget your wheelie bin. 

Our collection crews can touch up to 2,000 bins each per day. They will be wearing gloves, but it is advised that you disinfect the bin handles once you take the bin out and when you bring it back in. Please remember to wash your hands after taking these actions.

> Burnley Leisure

Leisure facilities such as St Peter’s and Padiham leisure centres and Towneley golf course are open – check www.burnleyleisure.co.uk for details. The Mechanics Theatre remains closed.

Burnley Leisure is continuing to encourage people to remain healthy and busy by sharing a range of online exercise videos and tips 

> Lancashire County Council Services

For information on how coronavirus is affecting LCC services, including libraries and care homes, click here

> Public Transport

Passengers are encouraged to check with bus and rail operators before travelling due to disruption caused by staff absences and the requirement not to travel unless it is essential

There is already disruption to rail services, and many bus operators in Lancashire have introduced reduced timetables with further reductions being introduced by this weekend. It is recommended to check bus operator’s websites for the latest position with their services; the main bus operator in our borough is Transdev which runs Burnley Bus Company and Rosso

> Advice for Food Businesses

Click here for advice on food business related issues including deliveries, hygiene standards and infection control.

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