West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas has welcomed the announcement that Cornwall Council will receive more than £13 million of Government support to help vulnerable people and small businesses through the winter.
Cornwall Council has been allocated £11.4 million to support businesses with grants to cover fixed ongoing costs such as rent and mortgage payments during the second lockdown period where some businesses are not able to trade. The Additional Restrictions Grant is implemented alongside the Localised Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Scheme which is for businesses that have been forced to shut and are business rate registered.
In addition, Cornwall Council is set to receive £1.83 million from the new £170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme to support families with the cost of food and utilities through until Easter. The fund builds on the £63m previously allocated to Local Authorities to support groups who are helping people who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19.
Mr Thomas said: “The beauty of this scheme is that enables local authorities to support a wide group of vulnerable people including those without children and also children who are not currently eligible for Free School Meals.
“Local authorities are best placed to decide how best to support local people in need and the Government is giving them the freedom to spend the money in a variety of different ways, including direct cash payments, vouchers, giving meals to those in need or boosting funding for organisations already doing so.
“Regarding the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme, I am particularly pleased that Cornwall Council has said that they aim to prioritise grant support to businesses in Cornwall that have not previously received any Covid-19 grants support as long as these businesses meet the eligibility criteria.”
