What the fund is

The government has released guidance on the new COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF).
This is a relief to be applied to a business’s business rates account and not a grant.

Who the fund is for

The fund will be available to support businesses affected by the pandemic that weren’t eligible for existing support linked to business rates.
We have now received our allocation and will be designing a scheme in accordance with government guidance.
The following criteria has been set in government guidance and will be included in  North Somerset’s scheme.
The relief can’t be awarded:

• to ratepayers who have received or were eligible for Expanded Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality and Leisure), the Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS)
• on a property for a period when it is unoccupied (other than properties which have been closed temporarily due to the government’s advice on COVID-19)

The relief should be:

• directed towards ratepayers who have been affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact

The relief must be:

• used to reduce the 2021/22 business rates liability and not paid as a grant

When it will be available?

We are busy designing the scheme based on the government’s guidance and we anticipate providing the support via an auto award mechanism to the applicable businesses registered for business rates.
We will provide you with further information directly to businesses once the scheme is finalised.