Police advice on staying safe – live video tomorrow (Wednesday)
At 1pm on Wednesday 1 April, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be live streaming safety advice, along with colleagues from North Yorkshire County Council. Find out how to keep yourself and your family safe whilst staying at home and saving lives. The broadcast will also include advice for businesses. Watch LIVE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_JZLQd6LYE
Public service monitor
Police appeal on gangs of youths
If you see people congregating in groups please contact Police on 101 as soon as you can so the Police can respond accordingly. This action is in relation to recent Covid-19 regulations and groups causing general ASB. #stayhome #staysafe
Waitrose moves to help vulnerable with home delivery priority
To support our elderly and most vulnerable customers, we have decided to give them priority access to our home delivery and Click & Collect slots.
These customers are being identified using data we currently hold. We are actively working with the UK government to identify further vulnerable and elderly customers.
We are working with the UK Government to identify customers who are vulnerable to Coronavirus. If you believe you should be considered vulnerable, please use the Government service website to identify yourself.
- You can register for yourself or someone else
- The government will share details of those who are registered with us in the coming days
- We’ll be in touch to let you know when you’ve been added and can book slots
We’re doing all we can to make more delivery and Click & Collect slots available soon.
Home food deliveries
Sainbury’s will try to help any vulnerable persons who is unable to secure a delivery slot. The contact telephone number is 08000 525500
Morrisons have already announced a basic box of essentials delivery service https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/how-it-works
Coop reduces store opening hours
Coop opening hours are changing to 7am-8pm. Petrol stores will remain open until 11pm.
Some Coop stores are closing but none so far in York
Rough sleepers
The Council says that all rough sleepers accepted accommodation and stayed in it on Friday night. Using hotels and hostels, temporary and Housing First accommodation, we have enough for all known rough sleepers and can provide them with food too.
“The situation is very fluid regarding individuals who may choose to leave the accommodation provided: there is no enforcement around them staying in it”.
Council ready to process £40m coronavirus support grants to local businesses
Many small businesses which receive small or rural business rates relief will receive a payment of £10,000.
Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, with a rateable value of under £51,000, will receive either £10,000 or £25,000 grants.
The council has created a short web form to gather the information required by the government, including VAT registration details.
The secure web form can be found at https://www.york.gov.uk/COVIDBusinessGrant .
Any business wanting to find out more about the grant process should contact covid19.businessgrants@york.gov.uk.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said:
“The Council has been working hard to to deliver these support packages as quickly as possible, and to date, we have already applied the business rates holiday to over 4000 accounts and have now created a secure new system to process grants totaling nearly £40m across 2500 eligible businesses.
“We have already created our own local support package totaling £1 million to support small and micro businesses in the city, on top of existing government support, and we will continue to act swiftly to support local businesses through these extremely challenging times.”
The council has written to all 2500 businesses it has identified as eligible for the grants.
With many business owners unable to access their premises, the council wants to reach as many businesses as possible through local media, social media and partners and representative bodies across the city.
Councillor Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said:
“We’re determined to overcome these obstacles and get these grants to York businesses, and that is why we have contacted all 2,500 businesses identified as eligible for the grants.
“On top of delivering the government’s support, we’ve developed our package to help our creative and resilient business community through these difficult times, including the deferral of rent for our commercial tenants and having made commitments to support our key suppliers.
“We’re also working with York BID, Make it York, the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships and other partners to speak up on behalf of our business community.”
“Any business can get up to date advice and guidance through our support page www.york.gov.uk/BusinessSupport.”
Which businesses are eligible?
- Small Business Grant Fund
Under the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) all businesses in England in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief (RRR) in the business rates system will be eligible for a payment of £10,000, in line with the eligibility criteria.
- Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) businesses in England in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for the following cash grants per property.
- Eligible businesses with a property that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000
- Eligible businesses with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000