Local Authority Discretionary Fund

Dear CMN Member,

We are able to provide a new update for those of you who have tried and failed to gain a Business Rate Grant from Cornwall Council.

The government has issued new funds to Councils, called the Local Authority Discretionary Fund. We have two documents which summarise those companies that will now be eligible:

Discretionary Grant Fund FAQs
Local Authority Discretionary Fund Guidance

The excellent news is the government advises the following:

• This new support grant is aimed at Small Businesses who were not eligible for the Small Business Grant fund or the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund
• Grants will be for ANY amount under £10,000; or fixed at £10,000 or £25,000, depending on the business size
• The Council should base the decision on the level of FIXED COST you pay, rather than the amount of Business Rates you pay. THIS MEANS that if you pay rent to a landlord, a marina owner, a Port Authority / Trust, or for example you pay Mooring Fees, then you can now be supported

All of this depends on the amount of funds that Cornwall Council has remaining, and the local priorities they have set for distributing and eligibility, but you now have an opportunity that did not exist previously.

You may find it helpful to read and quote the documents we have attached to this email when you apply. Attached are the new government guidelines issued to Council’s, together with a handy FAQ’s document (Frequently Asked Questions), which includes item 14 regarding marina’s and moorings. The inclusion of this clause came as a direct result of CMN raising the matter as a priority via maritime UK to government representatives.

Kindest regards

Paul Wickes MBE

Chief Executive Officer

Cornwall Marine Network Ltd