Coronavirus Updates - Business & Economy

Local Businesses Offering Delivery Services

In addition to the larger supermarkets, a number of Torfaen grocery and food businesses are open and are offering a delivery service to vulnerable residents or those self-isolating during the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. A list of Local Businesses Offering Delivery Services can be found here.

Business Rates Grant

Welsh Government have announced a package of support worth £1.4bn for small businesses to help them during the coronavirus outbreak. This is being administered through Local Authorities business rates system.

Complete the Business Rates Grant (COVID-19) form to allow us to collate all requests and to consider if it is appropriate to award the grant.

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.

Legionnaires Disease - Businesses urgently reminded to check their water systems before re-opening

As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, businesses and building owners are reminded to check the maintenance of their premises as they reopen.

The Public Health Team at Torfaen County Borough Council are raising awareness to businesses of an increased risk of Legionella bacteria being present as a result of water systems not being used during the lockdown period.

Read the whole Legionnaires Disease - Businesses urgently reminded to check their water systems before re-opening news article here

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.