Weekly COVID-19 Briefing: week commencing 6th April
This is update #2 in our weekly series during the Coronavirus lockdown period.
The aim is to keep these briefings as concise as possible and fully focused on support/relevant information for Ipswich Central BID businesses.
We join the nation in giving thanks to all key workers, including the teams keeping essential stores open in our town centre.
Stay safe and well.
All the best,
Terry Baxter
Ipswich Central Chairman
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- The Ipswich Central Street Rangers are back out and about acting on your behalf. They are regularly checking an average of 200 premises a day for damage or general maintenance issues.
- Additional Ipswich Central posters have been supplied to businesses to indicate that no stock/cash has been left on the premises.
- As to be expected, footfall (data collected on IBC counters) is down substantially in comparison to the same time last year.
- The Ipswich market traders have made the decision that the Ipswich Market will not be operating / opening until further notice.
- Ipswich Borough council have advised that all the regular street traders in Ipswich have confirmed they will not be operating until further notice.
- Ipswich Central webinars will soon be available. Get in touch if you'd like to find out more.
- Ipswich Borough Council have begun paying businesses who qualify for business grants. They estimate that there are just over 2,000 business in the Borough that qualify to receive funding from - either - the Small Business Grant Fund – or - the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.
- Around 1,750 business should receive £10,000 and around 250 should receive £25,000. A reminder email is going with relevant links to BID Businesses if they fall in these categories. *You should have received a letter via IBC explaining what you need to do to access the funding.
- The Council will not to start any formal enforcement action related to any non-payment of business rates - that are related to the financial impact of Coronavirus - until (at least) June 30th 2020.
- Ipswich Central has been working with IBC and has agreed that businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors will not have their levy payments enforced until, at least, 30th June 2020. Whilst the due date for payment remains unchanged (30th April 2020) as set out in the Regulations it is not the intention of Ipswich Borough Council or Ipswich Central to send reminders or take action against any business in those sectors prior to 30th June 2020.
- More clarity from Government has been given around the Furlough scheme - more information can be found here.
- The Council has secured additional accommodation to support in providing accommodation for homeless households and individuals including rough sleepers. Nearly £150,000 has been allocated to secure hotel accommodation for the next 12 weeks. The Council will continue to monitor demand and capacity in this area.
- The All About Ipswich Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO), founded and delivered by Ipswich Central joined a web conference hosted by Visit Britain. A number of key issues were raised by DMOs up and down the country and will be followed up with government. The DMO will continue joining these discussions. If you would like anything specific raised on these web conferences please provide your queries to emily.richards@ipswichcentral.co.uk.
- Business support information is hosted here.
*This is only if we hold relevant data on our contact database.
