Applications for the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG, also known as Discretionary Payments) are now closed, but you can still apply for a Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) if your business is eligible. The LRSG is only for businesses that have a business rate account, where your premises are closed by national restrictions.
It’s important to note that we’re awaiting more information from the Government on the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) post 15 February, so please do not contact us for more information about this. Payments for 16 to 30 December will be made from next week onwards.
If you have already applied for business grants funding, please do not apply again, as this will just slow down the process. Any businesses that have already applied for funding will be automatically paid any additional grants that they are eligible for, and once we have more information about this grant we will share it in this newsletter and on our website.
If you haven’t already applied for a LRSG, please find more information and apply on our website.
Targeted COVID-19 rapid community testing is now underway
Our rollout of the government’s rapid COVID-19 community testing initiative locally to help drive down transmission rates is now underway.
The programme, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, is specifically aimed at asymptomatic people at small businesses (employees of 50 or less) who cannot work from home, and private (non-maintained) early years settings and childminders. These groups have been chosen because they are not currently involved in any other mass-testing scheme.
You can now book a test at the council’s centre at Devizes Leisure Centre. Other centres will open in due course in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury but for the time being you can only book a place at Devizes.
The centre cannot accept people dropping in, and everyone must book an appointment and not have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Eligible people will take a Lateral Flow Test. The self-administered test should take no more than 15 minutes and results should be known within 30 minutes.
This is not to be confused with surge testing. Surge testing is increased testing (including door-to-door testing) and enhanced contact tracing in specific locations in England and is not currently taking place in Wiltshire.
NHS Test and Trace is working with government departments, institutions and employers across both public and private sectors to support delivery of asymptomatic testing to large organisations (over 50 employees), including those providing critical services. More information on this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests
Free testing continues to be available to everyone in Wiltshire who has COVID-19 symptoms – high temperature, continuous cough or loss of/change in taste or smell. People should visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 to book a test in that instance.
Anyone who receives a positive Lateral Flow Test result automatically activates a legal obligation to self-isolate, and may also claim for a Test and Trace payment if they are eligible.
Join us for a unique online event offering support and solutions to employers, business owners and residents alike on Tuesday 2 March from 10.30am.
This event is part of a programme of work to tackle rising unemployment in the South West Wiltshire Community Area. We know in particular that more 18 to 24 year olds are now unemployed because of the pandemic, although the programme also aspires to help other age groups find training and work.
The event on 2 March, is the first part of the programme – with local business owners and employers the target audience – when, working with colleagues from our Economic Development team, we will offer information, advice and support to employers struggling because of the pandemic, and we will identify those who are in a position to support local employment and skills opportunities in the near and distant future.
If you are an employer or business requiring urgent support please visit the Coronavirus Business Support pages on the Wiltshire Council website.
After you register, you will be sent a link to access the meeting using Microsoft Teams 24hrs before the event commences.
Don’t forget to let us know what you think about the Wiltshire Local Plan
The consultation on the Wiltshire Local Plan review is open until 9 March, so please have your say on where housing, infrastructure and land for employment may be built in your area in the next 15 years.
Plus, if you attended one of our online engagement sessions, the write-ups of all the events have been added to our Local Plan review webpage.
Third live public webinar on the Future Chippenham distributor road route options An additional online public webinar is being held this Saturday, 20 February 2021 at 11am, to provide a further opportunity for residents and businesses to find out more about the consultation on the Future Chippenham distributor road route options.
The live webinar will be broadcast via Microsoft Teams and you can register via Eventbrite. Once registered a link will be sent to access the webinar.
Questions about the Future Chippenham distributor road route options consultation can be submitted in advance by emailing futurechippenham@wiltshire.gov.uk stating ‘Questions for webinar 20 Feb’ in the heading.
All the webinars are being recorded and will be made available on the council’s YouTube channel.
Questions and answers from the webinars will also be available after the events on the Future Chippenham webpage.
Safeguarding is everyone's business - report child abuse concerns
Wiltshire residents are being urged to get in touch if they are worried a child is suffering neglect or abuse, as the usual routes for reporting concerns are limited due to lockdown.
We have received 300 fewer calls to our MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) from people worried about a child, as lockdown measures, schools closures and suspension of clubs and activities mean there are less opportunities for the signs of abuse to be identified and concerns to be shared.
Now, we have joined forces with Wiltshire Police and partners to ask the public to get in touch if they are worried something isn't quite right, in the knowledge that their concerns will be acted on.
