Business grants distribution

17 April 2020

In the last few days over £35.645million in business grants has been paid, reaching all of the 2,594 businesses that the council holds verified bank details for. This represents more than 37 per cent of our business community, which is in line with other councils.

The business rates team are working extremely hard to distribute the grants.  We are currently verifying the bank details of 1,600 businesses. We have a clear responsibility to ensure that we send money to the correct bank account and to the right business.

If qualifying businesses have submitted bank details, we will be delivering their grant within days.

To support this work, the council is redeploying staff to help with the huge demand on this service area. These staff are working to answer the thousands of telephone calls and correspondence emails being received and will now also start contacting local businesses to help them access the funding they are entitled to during these difficult times.

We are asking businesses to bear with us while we process these requests and enquiries – we must ensure that these public funds are properly administered.

Members can help by directing businesses to the website: cheshireeast.gov.uk/covidbusinessrates.  Here, qualifying businesses can fill out their correct bank details so they can receive their grant money.

Further update: