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COVID-19 Update: March 30th

The Cardiff Council COVID-19 update for today covers, the latest on the help being provided for businesses, an updated Q&A on the new waste collection arrangements, and blue badge payment restrictions. 

 

Almost £20 million of grants delivered to local businesses in Cardiff

£20m has been distributed to Cardiff businesses in grant aid by Cardiff Council in the past four days as part of a COVID-19 rescue package. 

Some 1,300 companies applied for the aid which is being administered by the council in Cardiff on behalf of Welsh Government. 

It follows Welsh Government's announcement last week of a £1.4bn support package for businesses in Wales to help them survive during the outbreak. 

Since the weekend, further support has also been announced by Welsh Government for companies that have been affected. As of today (Monday, March 30), with an extra £500m being released to help companies that haven't benefitted from the schemes announced so far. 

Further information will be released on the new grant scheme as soon as it is available, but Cardiff Council is urging any business that qualifies for the grants announced last week to get in touch with the council as quickly as possible. 

The businesses that are eligible for these grants are:

  • All businesses which are currently eligible for Small Business Rates Relief, which is those with a rateable value up to £12,000, will receive a grant of £10,000. If you believe you are an eligible business click  here  for the application form and follow the processes outlined.
  • Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value between £12,001 and £50,000 will receive a grant of £25,000. If you believe you are an eligible business click  here  for the application form and follow the processes outlined.

The financial support offered by these grants is in addition to the non-domestic rates relief scheme announced for 2020-21. 

It ensures all retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £500,000 or less will not have to pay their business rates for one year. 

Businesses do not need to apply for the non-domestic rate relief scheme, as this will be administered automatically by the Council through the Council's Rate Scheme. 

Under further measures announced today, a £100m Development Bank of Wales fund will be made available for companies that are experiencing cash flow problems. The new bank will provide loans - based on a favourable interest rate - of between £5,000 and £250,000 to companies that need urgent financial help. 

A £400m ‘emergency pot' has also been announced, which allows businesses that have been effected by the COVID-19 crisis to access emergency funds based on the number of people that they employ. 

The new grants announced by the Welsh Government today, are:

  • A grant of £10,000 is available for businesses that employ up to 9 people
  • Grants up to £100,000 are available for companies that employ between 10 and 249 people. 

This new scheme will also provide support for Welsh companies of critical social or economic importance. 

 

Change to weekly waste collections

As announced in full here, https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/23490.html  , from today, Monday 30thMarch, Cardiff moved to a new, weekly, kerbside-collection, meaning that all household waste (except garden waste) is picked up at the same time. 

Collection days for your area remain the same, but the way waste is handled has changed to help manage the impact of COVID-19 and ensure the wellbeing of both residents and the workforce. 

All residents who have a black, wheelie bin must put their food waste and hygiene waste (nappies, incontinence waste etc.) into the black bin for collection. Do not use your food caddy. Collections will be on the normal day for your area. 

Residents that live in areas which don't have black wheelie bins must put hygiene waste (nappies, incontinence waste etc.) in their red-striped bags for general waste. Food waste in bag areas should continue to go into your food caddy to stop animals and birds scattering food waste across streets. 

Recycling collections will continue as normal and recycling bags should be put out weekly at the same time, alongside other waste.

Garden waste or electrical items must not be put into any bins or bags during the emergency. 

The Q&A published onwww.cardiffnewsroom.co.ukon Friday, has been further updated. 

You can click here to read the Q&A:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/23516.html

 

Parking Permit and Blue Badge Postal Application and Payment Restrictions

Any payments or applications for residential parking permits or Blue Badges made through the post may not be actioned due to the current restrictions in place for non-essential travel.

This will mean that any cheques or postal orders sent through the post will not be cashed until the restrictions are lifted. Customers should ensure that they have sufficient funds in their bank accounts to allow their payment to clear and also ensure that they will not be overdrawn as a result. 

Where possible please make any application for residential parking permits or Blue Badges using the Council's online facilities, as these are being monitored and processed. 

Also, any postal applications may not be processed until restrictions are lifted. If your permit or Blue Badge expired in March, then please continue to use your permit or badge and submit your application online as soon as possible. 

New application: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/Parking-permits/Apply-for-a-new-permit/Pages/default.aspx 

Renew application:  https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/Parking-permits/Renew-an-existing-permit/Pages/default.aspx 

Blue badge: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/Blue-badge-parking/How-to-apply/Pages/default.aspx