Coronavirus Updates - Business & Economy

Restrictions Business Fund

The Welsh Government has launched the Restrictions Business Fund to support businesses that have been directly impacted by the additional restrictions put in place on the 4th December to control the spread of Covid-19. The purpose of the grant is to provide businesses with cash flow support and to help them survive the economic consequences of the restrictions introduced. The grant seeks to complement other Covid-19 response measures to support businesses, social enterprises and charitable organisations in Wales.

Find out more and appply for the Restrictions Business Fund here.

C19 Town Centre Adaptation Grant

Additional support is now available for eligible businesses to help support the continued recovery of our Town Centres.

Funded by the Welsh Governments Transforming Towns Programme, the “C19 Town Centre Adaptation Grant” provides funding of up to 80% of total eligible improvement costs – up to a maximum grant award of £10,000. The funding supports external capital improvements that facilitate social distancing, where customers and members of the public are to congregate, be served food & drink or rest.

Find out more about the C19 Town Centre Adaptation Grant here.

Covid-19 Notices

Under Coronavirus Regulations, the Council has a responsibility to issue Improvement or Closure Notices to businesses who are not adhering to Covid-19 regulations.  When we issue a Notice, we publish it on the Covid-19 Notices page.

UK Government Coronavirus Business Support Finder

The UK Gov have launched a new ‘support finder’ tool which will help businesses and self-employed people across the UK to quickly and easily determine what financial support is available to them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The finder tool on GOV.UK will ask business owners to fill out a simple online questionnaire, which can take minutes to complete, and they will then be directed to a list of all the financial support they may be eligible for.

The new business support finder tool can be found at www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Advice for Tattoo, body piercing, beauty, holistic and wellbeing services

Welsh Government have published the following workplace guidance:

• Beauty, holistic and wellbeing services: coronavirus workplace guidance
• Tattoo and body piercing services: coronavirus workplace guidance

Torfaen Economy & Enterprise

Visit the Torfaen Economy & Enterprise website for business news, latest information and support available during the COVID-19 pandemic for businesses.

Businesses can also subscribe to receive free regular business updates from Torfaen Economy & Enterprise.

Food Delivery and Takeaway Guidance

Following the new Government restrictions placed on public houses, restaurants, cafes etc. during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic you may look to change the way your business operates and diversify, for example, by considering advertising and providing food from your normal menu or new dishes for delivery or takeaway.

The Directors of Public Protection Wales Food Safety Expert Panel have produced a Food Delivery and Takeaway Guidance document which provides advice and guidance to help you stay within the law.

Local Land Charges

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak with immediate effect the Local Land Charges Team will no longer be able to accept hard copy search applications. Please will you forward your requests to the locallandchargesteam@torfaen.gov.uk following which a member of the Team will contact you for card payment. We and other departments will do our best but please be aware that turnaround times are likely to be slower for the foreseeable future.

Personal Search Agent PC Access

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the decision has been made to close access to the public registration computer.  To assist you with your findings we ask that you follow the instruction set out below.

• Please send all requests via email to locallandchargesteam@torfaen.gov.uk  by 12.00 noon
• Up to 4 max per agent per week
• The results will be returned to you via email
• Please attach a plan outlining the property required
• Any Planning, TPO requirements please contact planning@torfaen.gov.uk for further information

We thank you for your co-operation and will resume normal service as soon as safe to do so.

Let's support our local food businesses together

We would like to encourage our residents to support local food businesses through this tough time.

If you live locally or are self-isolating why not contact your local cafes, pubs and take away for home delivery. This can help us to support our local economy. Read the whole Let's support our local food businesses together news article here.