Report after first UKH meeting for 2021
dunoonhotel • 11 January 2021
Update from the Chairman
First meeting of the year and not great positivity as you would be aware due to the rise of the Virus.
Key points to remember is that the ERF 4 opens at midday on Wednesday
13th January ( this Wednesday) and if you have already used the
eligibility checker you will know that it is based on the criteria set
out in advance based on the costs incurred by us all.
Make sure that you are ready for Wednesday midday please.
Hardship fund; we are pushing hard based on the suggestion that we
might not be allowed to reopen before the end of March so we are pushing on
financial support for us all. We want to get our premises open in some
way as soon as possible and not be the forgotten industry affected by
the tiers. Serving of Alcohol is the key to getting us open and we are
pushing on that front to emphasise that off-licenses etc have remained
operating throughout.
There will be no change to the need to be below 300 per 100,000 (nationwide) before
there are any reviews of restrictions and they have now set the pattern
of 3 week reviews from last Friday.
Level 2 is less than 150 per100,000 and Level 1 is 50 per 100,000. We are
trying to get a consideration of us reopening in Level 3 with probably
10pm or at worst 6pm closing similar to pre Xmas.
Next review will be 28th Jan, then it will be 19th Feb (schools might
return), 12th March ( probably a lessening of restrictions with possibly
10pm alcohol), then it will be 2nd April ( hopefully all vulnerable
people covered by vaccine so we might get to stick at same restrictions
as we had last summer but stay at that level for some period), 23rd
April we may see great improvements in numbers and therefore
restrictions further reduced.
There is talk about the 23rd March being a major date due to it
coinciding with last year's lockdown message on that date and that there
is likely to be a very substantial positive message on that date. That
would coincide with May election campaigns as well of course.
No extension of business rates or VAT being discussed currently though
we know that furlough is extended to the end of March anyway. We are
discussing with Westminster treasury another extension of grant support
and I have raised the concern about the repayment of CBIL and Bounce
back loans due to start from June this year for some.
I have raised the issue of Holiday accrual, Nest pension contribution
and NI payments being incurred as well and needing to get this supported
for Businesses.
If you feel that there is anything that should be mentioned in future meetings please do get in touch.
Announcement!!!!
Useful information regarding the change that arrives in July
Christmas 2023