The Leader of Cotswold District Council recently approved almost £127,000 worth of discretionary business rates relief for 111 small companies. They are benefiting from a government relief scheme that provides support to small businesses facing large increases of over £600 a year.

Additionally, almost £35,000 has been awarded to 35 public house accounts under a Public House Relief scheme, and over £18,000 worth of Small Business Rate Relief has been awarded to support 20 businesses facing high increases.

In July, the Council identified businesses which were likely to meet the scheme’s criteria, and we wrote to them, encouraging them to apply for relief.

The full details of the government scheme were finalised recently, and the Council has now started to consider applications and award relief when appropriate.

There are three sources of financial relief available:

• £1,000 discount for qualifying public houses with rateable values of under £100,000.

• Scheme to cap increases for small businesses which will lose some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

• A discretionary fund in a sum of £300m, to be established nationally and payable over four years, to enable billing authorities to support those facing the steepest increases in their Business Rates.

Commenting on his decisions in regard to discretionary rates relief , the Leader of CDC, Cllr Mark Annett, said:

“I am very pleased to have been able to award discretionary relief to so many businesses at the outset, and I can assure the beneficiaries that revised rates bills will be mailed out to them very soon. I am also delighted to see that local businesses are beginning to receive relief under the public house and Small Businesses Rate Relief scheme.

“There are more applications in the pipeline awaiting consideration. However, I am aware that there are still many more firms that have not yet applied for relief even though they would probably benefit from one or even more of the schemes that are available. I would urge all of those businesses to enquire about their eligibility for rates relief. Please contact the Council on 01285 623000 if you want to find out whether you qualify – the amount of relief we have awarded today shows that this could be a very profitable enquiry.”

BusinessMatters

Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX Tel: 01285 623000 Fax: 01285 623900 www.cotswold.gov.uk

Issue 32 – October 2017

Over 100 firms benefit from first round of business rates relief decisions

Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX Tel: 01285 623000 Fax: 01285 623900 www.cotswold.gov.uk

“Superb support” from Cotswold traders for Tour of Britain

Organisers of the OVO Tour of Britain cycle race and several participants have thanked local traders, residents and visitors for creating such a special atmosphere during Stage 7 of the event on Saturday 9 September.

Despite a mixture of sunshine and showers, large crowds turned up to greet the riders, and also stayed to enjoy the festival atmosphere generated by local communities and traders. Live TV coverage captured the excitement of the occasion and the thrills and spills of the race, including several Sprint and King of the Mountain sections, culminating in a heart-stopping finale at the finish line in Cheltenham as Dutch rider Dylan Groenewegen won by a whisker.

Viewers in the UK and abroad were treated to wonderful scenery as the riders passed through Charlbury, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Milton-under-Wychwood, Upper Rissington, Little Rissington, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Toddington, Gretton, Winchcombe and Cleeve Hill before finally arriving in Cheltenham.

Race Director Mick Bennett commented:

“We would like to thank all of the towns, villages and communities throughout the Cotswolds for their support, which was superb despite the adverse weather on the day. The Cotswolds provided an amazing backdrop to the race and we look forward to building on the success of the event and returning in the future.”

Cllr Chris Hancock, Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Partnerships at Cotswold District Council, was equally impressed:

“Just as we hoped, this race proved to be an excellent showcase for promoting visits to the Cotswolds. I would like to thank everyone who got behind this event, including local businesses, community organisers, the public and the vintage cyclists from the Great British Bike Build who provided memorable warm-up events in several locations. There was a real buzz as the riders sped along the route, cheered on by such large crowds.

“The local countryside and the attractive villages looked a treat on the TV, thanks in part to a comprehensive cleansing programme carried out by the Council’s environmental services provider Ubico Ltd, and I am very grateful to them for their extra efforts.”

The Council’s tourism team is hoping that this success will translate into even more visitors arriving to boost the local economy – in fact, the team is already developing some new cycling holiday packages.

Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX Tel: 01285 623000 Fax: 01285 623900 www.cotswold.gov.uk

Co-op local community fund now accepting applications for local causesThe Co-op 1% community fund is now accepting applications for local projects or events in a new round of funding with causes due to be selected in October and distribution from January until October 2018.

Every time a Co-op member shops at one of their stores, 1% of what is spent on selected own-brand products and services goes to the Co-op Local Community Fund. So far this has seen Co-op members help to raise over £14 million for local causes. This money, together with proceeds from carrier bag sales, supports local projects. Members can even choose a local cause as a recipient of their 1% contribution.

If you represent or support a local cause you can apply now for the next round of Co-op funding, which will start in November. Importantly, you must have a project or event in mind that:

• Takes place in the UK or Isle of Man.

• Doesn’t have religious or political aims (although you can still apply if you’re a religious organisation).

• Meets the Co-op’s values.

• Takes place or will still be running after October 2018.

• Benefits your local community.

The Co-op will give preference to projects run by small, local organisations.

Please note that you can’t use money from the fund solely to pay for staff salaries or general running costs, or to make a donation to another organisation.

To find out more please go to www.coop.co.uk/local-community-fund

Cotswold pub lunches are the ‘happiest place’ for UK ‘staycationers’ Eating a pub lunch in the Cotswolds - and enjoying the liquid side as well as the food - has emerged as the No1 choice of ‘happy places’ during a staycation, in a recent survey of 1,500 holidaymaking adults across the country.

Conducted for The Serviced Apartment Company (SACO), the study looked at places in the UK which evoke special memories and ultimately contribute to making us ‘happy’.

Training events For details of training and business support services provided by Gloucestershire Enterprise Ltd, see www.glosenterprise.co.uk/

Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX Tel: 01285 623000 Fax: 01285 623900 www.cotswold.gov.uk

Maximum grant levels for Cotswold LEADER programme increase to £100,000 The July edition of Business Matters introduced readers to the Cotswolds LEADER programme. This is part of a grant scheme targeted at the rural areas of England and will operate until March 2019. The aim of the programme is to create new jobs and grow the rural economy through grant investment in capital projects. The eligible area broadly mirrors the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as parts of west Oxfordshire and the Severn vale in Stroud District. The urban areas of Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Stonehouse, Cam and Dursley are not included.

There are six investment themes covering: micro and small business; rural tourism; farm productivity; forest productivity; culture and heritage; and rural services. To date, the Cotswolds LEADER programme has approved nine grants with a total value exceeding £254,000

towards capital investments supporting a wide range of rural businesses.

In order to support the business community better, the maximum grant level for Priority 2 ‘micro and small business and farm diversification’ has been increased to £100,000. Previously, the maximum level was £50,000. This increase will allow the programme to consider larger projects that create high job outputs.

Interested? More information can be found on the website: www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/grants-and-projects/cotswolds-leader/or contact James Webb, Programme Manager Cotswolds LEADER

Tel. 01451 862033 / Email: james.webb@cotswoldsaonb.org.uk

Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX Tel: 01285 623000 Fax: 01285 623900 www.cotswold.gov.uk

Gloucestershire launches growth hubs in libraries The first of 31 Growth Hubs were launched on 19 September in partnership with GFirst LEP.

Located in Coleford and Cinderford libraries initially, the Growth Hubs will provide local business with the information, support, and knowledge they need to grow.

Growth Hubs aim to grow the Gloucestershire economy by providing support for businesses, enabling them to reach their full potential, as well as creating opportunities for businesses to meet, network and promote their services to each other.

Growth Hubs in the remaining 29 libraries across Gloucestershire will be opening in the coming months, including in branches at Chipping Campden, Cirencester, Fairford, and Tetbury.

The aim is to have Growth Hubs in all Gloucestershire libraries by mid-2018.

For more information on the growth hubs in Gloucestershire Libraries, visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/librarygrowthhubs and www.thegrowthhub.biz

Fairford & Lechlade Business Club to launch Business Awards 2018 The official launch of the Fairford & Lechlade Business Club Business Awards 2018 will be on Thursday 2 November at 7.30pm at Cotswold Hoburne, South Cerney GL7 5UQ. Do come along for drinks and nibbles and hear all about why you should enter the Awards. The presentations will be held on Saturday 27 January 2018.

Will this be the year that your hard work, skills and successes are recognised?

Will you and your team be celebrating just how great your business is?

The only way to answer ‘yes’ to these questions is to enter the Awards!

You will be able to hear from previous winners and also have the opportunity to chat to the Steering Group members over a drink to find out more about how to enter. There will also be a presentation on the best way to complete the entry forms so you can show the judges what makes your business so exceptional that it stands a really good chance ofwinning one of the Awards.

Categories:

• Business of the Year• Business Person of the Year• New Business of the Year• Most Innovative Business of the Year• The Howard Dowler Award • The Bob Warren Hospitality Award• Most Outstanding Business Student of the Year

Sponsorship

Sponsors are needed to make the Business Awards really successful. The organisers are already receiving enquiries from potential sponsors, but will have more details on the launch night about how you can promote your business through the sponsorship opportunities available.

To book your place at the official launch on 2 November please register at at www.flbc.org.uk/Events. For more information, call Chris Roberts on 01285 712150 or email admin@flbc.org.uk.

Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX Tel: 01285 623000 Fax: 01285 623900 www.cotswold.gov.uk

Calendar Cirencester Chamber of Commerce Meetings take place on second Wednesday of each month from 6 pm to 8 pm. If you would like to receive a regular reminder, send your details to secretary@ccoc.org.uk

NOTE – The next edition of Business Matters will include a round-up of the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards which take place on 13 May. Anyone who requires details prior to the event should contact info@cirencesterchamber.org.uk

Fairford and Lechlade Business Club Evening meetings are held at 7.30pm and breakfast meetings quarterly (March, June, September and December) at 8am on the fourth Thursday of the month. See www.flbc.org.uk for details.

Tetbury Chamber of Commerce and Industry Committee meetings take place on Thursday evenings from 6.30 pm to 9 pm. Contact 01666 502436 for details or go to www.tetburychamber.org.uk

Cotswold District Council has confirmed that the dates scheduled for the independent examination of the Local Plan are as follows:

Tuesday 10 October - Thursday 12 October

Tuesday 17 October - Thursday 19 October

Tuesday 14 November - Thursday 16 November

Tuesday 21 November - Thursday 23 November

(NOTE: Wednesday 22 November and Thursday 23 November are currently reserved for matters not completed earlier).

Hearing sessions for each day will normally run from 9.30 am until 1 pm and then 2pm until 5pm and they will take place in the Council Chamber at Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX.

The person appointed to carry out the independent examination is William Fieldhouse BA MA MRTPI.

Further information is available on the following website: /residents/planning-building/planning-policy/emerging-local-plan/local-plan-examination/

For any contact with the Inspector or for queries relating to the Hearing please contact Tracey Smith, the independent Programme Officer for the examination:

• Tel: 07989 582577 • Email: tracey.smith@cotswold.gov.uk

A separate, brief, examination will deal with the Community Infrastructure Levy draft charging schedule on 5 December 2017.

Dates confirmed for Local Plan independent examination

Forthcoming Public meetings at Cotswold District Council 19 October, 12 December Council meeting, Council Chamber, Cirencester (venue for 19 October to be confirmed)

19 October, 16 November, 12 December Cabinet, Council Chamber, Cirencester

11 October, 8 November, 13 December Planning and Licensing Committee, Council Chamber, Cirencester 5 December 2017 Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Council Chamber, Cirencester Please check www.cotswold.gov.uk for start times and agendas details/minutes

Don’t forget!!!Please feel free to subscribe to the Cotswold District Council Business Matters Twitter account @CDCBizmatters which features updates about relevant government initiatives, events, conferences, and training opportunities. We actively encourage local firms to use it as a platform for promoting their business and the number of followers is growing daily.