Graeme: ‘A Relief’ for Affected Constituents
21 January 2021
Graeme has welcomed details of Scottish Government support for larger self-catering properties and B&Bs paying council tax.
£7 million for the Large Self-Catering and Exclusive Use grants was announced as part of the £104 million tourism and hospitality package in December. Details have now been confirmed by Tourism Secretary, Fergus Ewing.
Eligible self–catering businesses will be able to apply for one off grant support of £2,000, while eligible exclusive use premises will be able to apply for £10,000 in grant support.
All self-catering properties, B&Bs and guest houses that are eligible at Level 4 for Non-Domestic Rates relief can now apply to the Strategic Framework Business Fund. This provides grants for businesses required to close by law as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. In most cases this will be payments of £2,000 every four weeks.
Mr Ewing confirmed that support equivalent to the Strategic Framework Business Fund will also now be available to B&Bs which do not pay Non-Domestic Rates but pay council tax. This support will be paid by local authorities.
Commenting, Graeme said:
“Confirmation of the details of this additional support is very welcome, and I know it will come as a relief to constituents running such businesses in Angus.
“With some larger self-catering properties uniquely impacted by tightening restrictions on the number of guests and households sharing, this further support is targeted to those providers most affected and most in need.
“With all self-catering and other accommodation providers in scope for regular payments from the SFBF, I would encourage all those in Angus to ensure they have registered with the council for this support.
“We live in a beautiful part of the country with a fantastic tourism sector, and this Scottish Government is determined to ensure it will thrive and grow beyond this pandemic.”
To be eligible for the support, self-catering businesses must by on the NDR roll and must be recorded by the rates assessor as sleeping seven or more guests. To be eligible for exclusive use self-catering support, self-catering businesses must be listed on the NDR roll as ‘exclusive use accommodation’.
Details of how to access the Large Self-Catering Grant and the Exclusive Use Grant, and support for B&Bs paying Council tax rather than NDR, will be published on Find Business Support shortly.
