Rochdale BID want to keep you updated with the latest news, information and advice during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Please check our website daily for more updates for businesses and website individuals.
Update from the BID
We remain operational, here to support our BID levy paying businesses and the wider community within the town centre right now.
The BID might be working remotely but we are in daily contact with businesses, finding out what you need and what support you are looking for. Where we can, in terms of advice and guidance, we are providing this directly to you.
We are also working to communicate directly with the government, on a local, regional and national level. This is helping to ensure business gets exactly what it needs.
This is a critical time and it’s important we work together to support businesses locally. If you have any concerns, questions or suggestions please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me on paul@rochdalebid.co.uk or 07811278517.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Update regarding Directors
As office holders, salaried company directors are eligible to be furloughed and receive support through this scheme.
HMRC provided some guidance for company directors as follows:
"As office holders, salaried company directors are eligible to be furloughed and receive support through this scheme.
Company directors owe duties to their company which are set out in the Companies Act 2006. Where a company (acting through its board of directors) considers that it is in compliance with the statutory duties of one or more of its individual salaried directors, the board can decide that such directors should be furloughed.
Where one or more individual directors’ furlough is so decided by the board, this should be formally adopted as a decision of the company, noted in the company records and communicated in writing to the director(s) concerned.
Where furloughed directors need to carry out particular duties to fulfil the statutory obligations they owe to their company, they may do so provided they do no more than would reasonably be judged necessary for that purpose, for instance, they should not do work of a kind they would carry out in normal circumstances to generate commercial revenue or provides services to or on behalf of their company.
This also applies to salaried individuals who are directors of their own personal service company (PSC)."
To find our further information about the Coronavirus job retention scheme, please visit:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Guidance on Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Government has produced guidance on how to protect people from the psychological impacts of Coronavirus. Please click here to view the guidance. The key suggestions are:
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- Consider how to connect with others
- Help and support others
- Talk about your worries
- Look after your physical wellbeing
- Look after your sleep
HMRC Business Support Helpline – 0800 024 1222
HMRC have opened a dedicated helpline for businesses and the self-employed to answer queries or concerns regarding tax payments and finding solutions including:
- agreeing an instalment arrangement
- suspending debt collection proceedings
- cancelling penalties and interest where you have administrative difficulties contacting or paying HMRC immediately.
Police Powers
The government has made new public health regulations strengthening police enforcement powers in England, to reduce the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives.
To ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, if members of the public do not comply the police may; instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse; ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules; issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days; issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence.
For more details, please click here
Useful Links
UK Government – Coronavirus: latest information and advice
UK Government - COVID-19: guidance for employers and businesses
UK Government – Coronavirus business support
National Health Service - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Acas – Coronavirus advice for employers and employees
World Health Organization – Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19
If you have any queries regarding the support which his currently being offered, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 07811 278517.
Paul Ambrose
BID Manager
09 Apr 2020