Councils told to distribute restart grants 'as soon as possible' from April

The government has told local authorities to begin distributing restart grants to businesses "as soon as possible" from 1 April.

Councils in England will receive the funding, worth up to £18,000 for some hospitality businesses, at the start of next month.

Updated guidance from the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said the closing date for operators to make applications for grants is 30 June and final payments must be made by 31 July.

Operators can apply for the grants in advance of 1 April.

Hospitality venues that partially open mid-April for outdoor service will still be eligible for the funding.

The government guidance states: "It is expected that local authorities will provide local businesses with grant funding as soon as possible from 1 April 2021."

Some councils have faced criticism for the slow payment of previous emergency support grants, with one hospitality operator describing the process as "painful".

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the restart grants last month to ensure businesses could "open their doors with optimism". The scheme covers hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England and is based on the value of a property.

Premises with a rateable value of £15,000 or under as of 1 April 2021 will receive a one-off grant of £8,000. Those with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000 will receive £12,000; while £18,000 is available for those with a rateable value of over £51,000.

Hospitality operators that do not pay business rates on a site are not eligible for the scheme, though they may be able to claim funding through the latest round of Additional Restrictions Grants.

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