£5.5m already distributed to struggling Oldham businesses

Businesses across Oldham have started receiving cash grants to support them during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Oldham Council has already paid out £5.5 million with the team working as quickly as possible to issue grants to eligible businesses. 

The council is distributing the small business grant fund and retail, hospitality and leisure grant fund locally.  

It is expecting to make overall payments of £52m in cash grants to businesses in these sectors. 

An online form at www.oldham.gov.uk/cashgrants has been launched for eligible businesses to submit information. 

Oldham Council leader Sean Fielding told the Chronicle: "Government cash has been paid to the Council in the first instance, but we've not sat on it and it's certainly been sat in our account earning interest as some people might have suggested.

"We've taken a lot of steps to pay money out even faster than we already are doing so that grants are clearing in business's accounts as soon as they are processed.

"The revised business rates bills are also being processed and will be going out this week, so I'd just advise anybody out there that runs a business to go on to the council webpage, complete their form, and then be assured that we are doing everything possible to process the applications as quickly as we possibly can.

"We've deployed Council staff from elsewhere into those teams that are processing applications so we can get the job done quickly and get the case to those in need."

Cllr Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, added: “We are working tirelessly to get these payments out as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

“We know these are worrying times for businesses of all sizes and we are doing all we can to support you at this time. 

“We have thousands of payments to make so it will really help us if you can go online and complete the form.

"Doing this ensures we have all the information we need to issue payments as quickly as possible.” 

A comprehensive package of support for a huge number of businesses is currently available.

Local businesses need to log on to: www.oldham.gov.uk/cashgrants intitally, then fill in an online form to apply for grants of up to £25,000, dependant on certain criteria of course.

In addition to the grants, the council has also processed the 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in Oldham – support totalling £22.9 million. 

These businesses will receive a revised bill confirming they have no business rates to pay in 2020/21. 

The council is writing to all businesses that it believes may be entitled to the grants.

If you are concerned that they do not currently have your correct details, or if you have any questions, please email: business.rates@oldham.gov.uk

Mr Fielding has asked for patience, however, particularly from smaller businesses as some applications are not always straight-forward.

The Council leader added: "As the Government itself has acknowledged, no system is absolutely perfect, and I know there have been issues with people who have recently moved into self-employment because some grants are based on income over the previous three years, so we need to find a solution for those people.

"We've also had some enquiries from agency workers who have concerns regarding the job retention scheme, and we are trying to support them as best we can.

"There are some gaps in the scheme, but as this is a national crisis, it's certainly not the time for political points-scoring and locally we will try and identify those gaps.

"Whether that's through Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham or our own Oldham MPs, we will get those concerns fed through to the Government and hopefully those inadequacies in the system will be addressed."

Mr Fielding continues to be proud of his townsfolk who, in the vast majority of cases, are doing Oldham proud in the way they continue to adhere to current difficult lock-down measures and the pressures of social distancing.

"It's been really positive that the vast majority of Oldhamers have reacted in the best way possible," Mr Fielding added.

"They've followed the guidelines to stay at home as much as possible in order to save lives and protect the NHS.

"It's also been lovely to see how many people have been prepared to step forward, wanting to help others.

"Whether that's been through volunteering, checking on the neighbours, delivering emergency food packages, so many have simply said 'I've got some free time, what can I do to help more vulnerable people in the area to get through this crisis?'

"It's just made me so proud to be from the Borough and it's demonstrated just what an incredible place it is."

Don't forget, if you'd like to volunteer locally in these unprecedented times, you can do your bit by getting involved with Action Together.

Check out all the details here

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.