Council leader Patrick Harley unveiled the package of support which will includes a full year of 100% Business Rate relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses and cash grants for some business rate payers.

The help is also set to include rent free stalls on Dudley Market, a rent free period for council-owned shops, free parking season tickets for market traders and shop owners and workers, a rent free period for tenants at Red House Cone and the waiving of pest control charges for businesses – these measures will be for three months initially and will then be reviewed.

The council is now drawing up the detail for the proposals but is keen to “do all it can” to support local businesses in the coming months.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said:

These are very tough times for everyone, but particularly our businesses who call this borough home.

We are still working on the detail but this is a comprehensive package of proposals that will, I am sure, lighten the load on what is already a very testing time for anyone in business. We will be contacting businesses as soon as we can.

Many months ago we made a firm commitment through our Dudley Deal to do all we could to support businesses through Dudley Business First and cut red tape. That is exactly what we have done here – stood by that commitment at the toughest time to do all we can to support our local traders.

The move follows government announcements earlier in the week about huge financial supports for businesses across the country. It included grants of £10,000 for all businesses in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief and £25,000 for businesses in retail, leisure and hospitality with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.  Dudley Council aims to start to distribute these grants from 1 April.

Earlier this week the council announced plans to stop bailiffs and court actions for payment defaults.

For more information visit https://www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk/covid-19-business-guidance.