Major coronavirus pandemic package to help residents and businesses
The Council has today announced a series measures to support for residents and businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
This includes support to help people with a council tax payments holiday, a business rates holiday for small and medium sized firms, and emergency funding for community groups providing a range of different services including Telford Crisis Network which runs the area’s main foodbank and homelessness charities.
The Council is also ready to continue free school meals to 5,000 pupils in the borough who qualify for this despite national school closures starting on Monday
Council leader Shaun Davies said: “These are some of our initial steps to help provide much need support and help for residents and business who are feeling the effects of the coronavirus.
“While we await details of central government’s commitment to help the most vulnerable people and households in the borough, our measures aim to ease some of the financial burdens for our communities during this worrying time.
“These are unprecedented times and as a council we are trying to be as flexible as possible to respond to emerging issues.
“We are absolutely committed to protecting and caring for all of our communities throughout this challenging period.”
The package of measures announced today include:
• £80k emergency grants for foodbanks and homelessness charities
• Help for small and medium sized businesses with business rates holiday
• Offer to residents to take 2 month council tax “holiday ”
• £50k emergency grant to community centres to help deliver vital supplies and services
• Commitment to tenants of the Council’s private homes for rent company
