The Sefton
Discretionary Grant Fund will close on Friday
YOU are ONLY
eligible to apply for a Discretionary Grant if you have
commercial premises and associated fixed property costs such
as:- mortgage payments, rent, building insurance, utility bills
prior to the 11 March 2020 that can be evidenced. Please read
the guidance and FAQ's before applying. You will need apply
online at the following
link.
You are NOT eligible
to apply if:-
► You are eligible or have already
received a Grant from Sefton Council Business rates of ₤10,000
or ₤25,000
► You work from home.
► Other eligibility conditions; see
the guidance document and frequently asked questions.
► The Sefton Discretionary Grant Fund
will close on Friday, 17 July 2020, at 5.00pm!
Please note:- the Discretionary Grant is being administrated by
a small team; It's not part of Sefton Business Rates or
InvestSefton, if you have a query please email them on:-
DiscretionaryGrant@Sefton.Gov.UK
and they will respond.
Calls for compulsory face
coverings in offices, not just shops
RESPONDING to the
announcement that Andrea Leadsom MP will carry out a review into
how to improve health outcomes for babies and children from
disadvantaged backgrounds, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local
Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said:-
"Councils have led their communities through the pandemic
and will continue to play a crucial role in providing children
from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support they need during
this initial formative stage in their life. We share the
commitment of the review to reduce inequalities and to ensure
that every child has the best possible start in life. It is
vital that it recognises the need for a joined up approach
across all public services and Government departments, in order
to ensure future generations of children and adults are healthy.
The importance of early intervention and prevention services for
children and families cannot be overstated and we are keen to
work with the review to ensure Councils have the right resources
to support infants and parents when they need it most as part of
a long-term sustainable funding settlement for early help and
support services."
LGA Responds
to Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's report about the
Homelessness Reduction Act
RESPONDING in a public
statement about the Homelessness Reduction Act, issued by the
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Cllr David Renard,
who is the Housing spokesman for the Local Government
Association, said:- "This report provides helpful insight
into how Councils can best meet the requirements of the
Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA). Councils fully support the
principles of the HRA. However, significant and ongoing funding
challenges have limited their ability to fully deliver the Act
and prevent homelessness. In 2018/19 alone, Councils overspent
on homelessness services by a combined total of ₤140 million due
to an increase in demand for homelessness services, and a lack
of affordable housing to accommodate people at risk of
homelessness. Since the start of the Coronavirus crisis,
Councils have worked incredibly hard to get the overwhelming
majority; nearly 15,000; of rough sleepers into housing. This is
a momentous achievement, but has exacerbated funding issues.
Councils continue to face significant extra cost pressures and
huge income losses as a result of the pandemic. Councils need to
be fully funded for service delivery and loss of income so that
they can effectively deliver the Homelessness Reduction Act and
keep people from experiencing homelessness. We would like to see
the Government temporarily remove the No Recourse to Public
Funds condition during the current crisis to reduce public
health risks and pressures on homelessness services by enabling
people to access welfare benefits. We are also calling for a ban
on Section 21 or "no fault" evictions to be introduced as soon
as possible to keep people out of homelessness, and for Councils
to be able to keep 100% of receipts from Right to Buy sales so
they can build more homes."
33,270 households were initially assessed by Local Authorities
as homeless between October and December 2019, and therefore
owed a relief duty, an increase of 12.3% from October to
December 2018.
LGA analysis of
overspending in Councils' homelessness services found that 69.3%
(226) of Councils responsible for housing in England (326)
overspent their homelessness budgets. Councils planned to spend
a total of ₤502.7 million in 2018/19. Yet they ended up
overspending by a combined total of ₤140 million; almost a third
more than they had budgeted for.
To read the Homelessness Reduction Act report, please follow
this
link.
Total UK cases COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region
and surroundings
THE total number of UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory
confirmed, within the UK, has risen by
538 cases and the total
number now stand at
291,911, that includes tests carried out by
commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National
totals.
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the
total, was sadly reported to be
85 according to the Department
of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a
positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS
laboratory is
45,053.
In England, there are a total of 250,885 confirmed cases. North
West - total of 43,686 confirmed cases. The number of laboratory
confirmed cases within the following Local Authorities, in and
around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-
► Liverpool, 2,474confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 1,524 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 2,038 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 1,198 confirmed cases
► Halton, 693 confirmed cases.
► Blackpool, 1,030 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen, 1,098 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 1,874 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 1,287 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 1,987 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 2,205 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 6,783 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 2,983confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 1,886 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 1,662 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 1,639 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 1,536 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 1,267 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 2,138 confirmed cases.