There have been a few smaller announcements around Coronavirus this week, so here’s a short paragraph (or two) on each to see you up to date.

Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS)

The fourth and fifth grants were announced as part of the Budget recently. From mid-April, the self-employed will receive notification of the date from which they can apply for the fourth grant. These dates will be from the end April onwards, to allow time for HMRC to process the 2020 Tax Returns on which they will base the level of grant.

Date details for the fifth grant will be confirmed nearer the time but it’s expected to be available toward the end of July.

Local Authority Business Rates grants closing dates

Following the Budget, closing dates have been announced for several of the local authority business rates grants, as follows:

• Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed) / Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed) Addendum: Tier 4 – closing date 31st March 2021
• Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment – closing date 31st March 2021
• Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed) Addendum Schemes – Closing dates for first cycle (5th January to 15th February) 31st March 2021
• Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed) Addendum Schemes – Closing dates for second cycle (16th February to 31st March) 31st May 2021
• Local Restrictions Support Grants (Open) – Closing date 31st March 2021

Please make sure that you’ve applied for any grants to which you may be entitled in good time!

Pavement Licences Extended

Robert Jenrick announced the automatic extension of Temporary Pavement Licences, allowing the hospitality sector more flexibility when they are able to reopen. This is in conjunction with the relaxation of planning rules to allow pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways.

Eviction Bans Extended

The ban on commercial evictions has been extended to the 30th June to provide support to businesses as they reopen.

Residential landlords must provide six-month notice periods to tenants until 31st May, and bailiff-enforced evictions are banned in all but the most serious circumstances.

Coronavirus Myth Busting

Central Bedfordshire Council have issued a raft of myth-busting information around the Coronavirus vaccines, which may be helpful to pass on to anyone expressing doubts about the vaccine’s safety, development or content. You can find the various details here.