COVID rate relief scheme opens to West Suffolk businesses

22 Feb 2022

Businesses in West Suffolk who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and who have not already had business rates relief, can now apply to a special fund.

West Suffolk Council has been allocated more than £4million of COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) from the Government for businesses who have been affected by COVID-19 but have not so far been eligible for any of the other business rates relief given to retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare nurseries.

The CARF scheme is now open to applications. Businesses in West Suffolk have until 11.59pm on 15 March 2022 to apply.

Cllr Susan Glossop, Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council said: “This is open to all those business sectors across West Suffolk who haven’t had business rates relief and who can show that they have been impacted by the pandemic. We want to understand both the financial impact COVID has had on certain sectors, and the volume of businesses in need of support before making any decisions on the amounts to be awarded and we would encourage businesses to apply.”

In order to be eligible for the CARF rates relief, businesses:

• must not have received Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief or Nursery Discount in 2021-22
• must have been in the rating list and “occupied” for a period of time between 1 April 2021 and the date of making an application for the relief. The exception to this is that the business did not need to be physically occupying the property when it was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions
• must have had a business rates liability for the financial year 2021-22. Where a business’ rates bill was zero, such as if a business received the full Small Business Rate Relief it will be ineligible for CARF
• must have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact

Businesses are not eligible:

• if during 2021-22 they were eligible for the Extended Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality and Leisure), the Nursery Discount or full Small Business Rates Relief
• if they were in liquidation, dissolved, in administration, insolvent or subject to, or under notice of, a striking-off notice on 1 February 2022
• if by receiving a relief under CARF, they will exceed subsidy thresholds
• if their rateable value is solely for telephone masts, car park spaces or advertising rights

The CARF scheme will be administered by Anglia Revenues Partnership on behalf of West Suffolk Council. Full details of the scheme are available on our website at https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support/covid-19-additional-relief-fund.cfm

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