Published: Thursday, 1st Oct 2020

Update on Bolton Council’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

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Leader of Bolton Council reacts to Secretary of State announcement

The government has confirmed that hospitality businesses in Bolton can re-open this Saturday.

Reacting to Matt Hancock’s announcement this morning that aligns Bolton with the rest of Greater Manchester, and allows Bolton hospitality to re-open, Leader of the Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, commented:

“I am delighted that government has finally listened and realised the disparity and unfairness at the way our hospitality sector in Bolton has been treated.

“I have done my very best to put the pressure on and highlight the inequality and the damage to our economy, to jobs and to local businesses, as I know many restauranteurs and landlords have, and this is now a victory for fairness and common sense, and for all those businesses who lobbied and put the case.

“My first priority is to the residents and businesses of this town, and I will continue to fight for these businesses and for more financial help.

“This is not a sign that COVID has gone away but a move to bring parity and consistency across Greater Manchester.

“We must now work together as one large community to keep our rates down to avoid any further restrictions, follow the guidance and find that balance between containing COVID-19, protect those most vulnerable, and allow our economy to function.

“I thank the many people in Westminster and locally who I have pestered and mithered over the last couple of weeks that have helped to get us to this point today where our hospitality finally has a lifeline.”

Restrictions still apply: table service only, venues must close from 10pm to 5am, and deliveries only after 10pm (late night license required after 11pm).

Bolton businesses to benefit from new Covid-19 Local Restriction Support Grant

From today (October 1), Bolton businesses can apply for the new Covid-19 Local Restriction Support Grant, providing them with £1,000 or £1,500 every three weeks while Bolton’s restrictions remain in place.

The grant aims to help those businesses hardest hit by the local Covid-19 restrictions such as cafes, bars and restaurants.

The eligibility criteria is limited to just those business rate paying businesses providing in-person services from their business premises, and that have been forced to close for at least three weeks continuously due to local restrictions.

The full details are on the government website.

Eligible businesses must apply via the online application form.

Grant payments can be made to businesses from 1st October 2020 and the applications will be administered by Bolton Council’s Business Rates Team. Any enquiries should be emailed to businessbolton@bolton.gov.uk

Childcare support bubbles

The guidance about who you can meet has been updated explaining the definition of a childcare bubble

A childcare bubble is where someone in one household can provide informal (i.e. unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. For example using the help of grandparents for childcare. This must always be the same two households – you cannot form a bubble with one household one week and another bubble with another household the week after.

We recommend that you form a support bubble or childcare support bubble with a household that lives locally wherever possible. This will help to prevent the virus spreading from an area where there might be a higher rate of infection.

Friends or family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble must not visit your home to help with childcare.

You can continue to use early years and childcare settings, including childminders and providers offering before or after school clubs or other out-of-school settings for children.

You can also continue to employ nannies – see guidance on working safely in other people’s homes.

The following people can provide childcare support in private homes and gardens:

  • Registered childcare providers, including nannies

  • People who are in your support bubble

  • People who are in your childcare support bubble

A support bubble is where a lone adult household with one adult joins with another household (on an exclusive basis).

Reporting outbreaks of coronavirus

The government has updated the guidance for businesses and organisations on how to recognise, contain and report incidents of coronavirus and added children’s homes, courts and tribunals to the list of action cards by sector.

Rent Arrears

Your landlord can now take court action to evict you if your notice has ended.

From 21 September courts are now able to take action to progress evictions.

If your service users are worried about rent arrears, please contact Bolton’s Money Skills Service on 01204 331965 for advice or email moneyadvice@bolton.gov.uk

We are also able to offer advice in relation to debts including:

  • Council Tax
  • Energy bills
  • Credit card bills
  • Loans

We can do this by negotiating affordable repayments on their behalf.

Our team also offers advice and assistance with court forms plus debt relief orders and bankruptcy.

Struggling to make ends meet?

Clients struggling to makes end meet, Money Skills can help with advice about:

  • Budgeting
  • Savings on gas and electricity by switching to a cheaper tariff or supplier
  • Energy efficiency advice
  • Warm Home Discount

Why not give us a call on 01204 331 983 or email moneyskills@bolton.gov.uk

Bolton’s Fund to invest in digital future

Charities in Bolton can now bid for funding to help improve their digital skills and make their valuable services even more accessible.

A pot of £50,000 will be available from Bolton’s Fund, a voluntary sector grants programme delivered by Bolton Council, NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Bolton at Home and Bolton CVS.

The scheme launched last year and VCSE groups of all sizes are invited to bid for different rounds of funding, with each round targeted at addressing a key priority in the community.

This latest round – Digital Inclusion – aims to tackle the challenges of digital exclusion and a shortage of the necessary knowhow and equipment with the charity sector

Filming in Bolton

Filming for a new BBC drama series, Ridley Road takes place in the old court building Monday and Tuesday next week.

It means that parking won’t be available on Le Mans Crescent on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 October.

And this Sunday 4 October episode one of the new series of Top Gear features Bolton. The host were filmed taking part in a 24 hour challenge around the borough.

For the latest updates

Bolton Council

Business Bolton

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

Bolton at Home

Bolton CVS

Greater Manchester Fire Service

Transport for Greater Manchester (Link no longer live).