Column by leader of Stroud District Council, Doina Cornell.

As well as the toll on our mental and physical health, Coronavirus is impacting massively on our livelihoods too. In the coming months Stroud District Council will work closely on the economic recovery with our partners at the County Council, Local Enterprise Partnership, as well as all our towns, villages and communities. In the meantime, there is support for local businesses, through a new Discretionary Business Grants Scheme that will allocate grants for some of those businesses who were not eligible in the last round of government support.

The government has set some criteria for this support, which is especially for small and micro businesses that still have high ongoing running costs and have experienced a significant drop in income. Priority will be given to certain categories for example small businesses in shared workspaces and B&Bs which pay Council Tax. More information is available on the SDC website, and we will be shortly contacting those who have shown an interest, inviting them to apply: stroud.gov.uk/health-wellbeing/coronavirus/businesses-and-employers

We are still making payments from the existing Business Grants Scheme and over £23m has been paid out to over 2,000 accounts, but we know there are still some who are eligible who haven’t yet applied and are getting in touch with them. If you think that might be you do get in touch with us, the details are on the website, stroud.gov.uk.

For personal support, anyone who is struggling to pay their council tax can apply for a discount to the Council Tax Hardship Fund.

SDC’s Environmental Health team have put together some guidance for businesses and employees available online at stroud.gov.uk/business/food-hygiene-and-health-and-safety/covid-19-working-safely-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak