Council delivers £35.6m to firms

CHESHIRE East Council issued an update on how it is working to deliver more than £90 million in emergency business grants to qualifying businesses across the borough.

Following the Chancellor’s announcement in March, a £330 billion Covid-19 support package was announced to businesses in the UK, including a business grant scheme to be distributed by local authorities.

Cheshire East Council received the 15th largest amount in the country, reflecting the significant contribution its businesses make to the local economy.

It was paid to the council on 2 April, at a time when it was issuing annual business rates bills and dealing with the additional payment holidays for retail, leisure and hospitality business rates – which has led to an additional £61 million worth of financial relief across the borough.

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader at

Cheshire East Council, said: “We completely understand that is a very difficult and worrying time for local businesses and are working hard to do the necessary checks required to release this public money as soon as possible.

“Around 50 per cent of businesses in Cheshire East (c.8,000) are eligible for grants of £10,000 or £25,000, and, in some cases, they may be eligible for multiple grants.

“In the last few days over £35.6million in grants has been paid, reaching all of the 2,594 businesses that the council holds verified bank details for.

“37 per cent of the total grant has been paid out to eligible businesses, which is above the average for councils across the country.”

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader at Cheshire East Council said: “Our business rates team are working extremely hard to get these grants out. We recognise how important cashflow is for small businesses.”