Burnley council will be issuing eligible businesses with zero-rated bills following the Government's rate relief announcement.

Last week, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a range of initiatives to support businesses through the current Covid-19 situation, which included an expanded retail discount for the tax year 2020-2021.

Burnley Council has now received guidance on the administration of the scheme, and staff are working to update their systems and issue revised zero rated bills to existing and new eligible businesses.

The existing retail relief scheme has been extended to include a wider range of businesses including cinemas and live music venues.

A spokesperson for Burnley Council said: "The discount has also been increased from 50 percent to 100 percent relief and the upper limit of £51,000 rateable value has been removed.

"Businesses who qualified under the existing scheme will have been billed with a 50 percent discount.

"These businesses will now receive a new bill showing a 100 percent discount.

"We are aiming to distribute these new bills during the first week in April."

The council say it is now also working through its records to identify and award the extended discount to newly qualifying businesses, and will aim to get revised bills with a 100 percent discount to those businesses in the first week in April.

The spokesperson added: "Businesses do not need to apply for the relief and there is no need to contact the council but wait for your revised bill in April.

"If you have not received a revised bill by the end of the first week in April and you think you are a qualifying business please contactlocaltaxation@burnley.gov.uk."

Information about the Hardship grants is yet to be released to the council.

You can keep up to date with the support available to businesses on Burnley Council’s website where they have set up a page.

Followcgov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

Anyone with questions about the support available or any other concerns about their business should contact the council’s Business Support Team by emailing economyandgrowth@burnley.gov.uk.