A BOROUGH Labour group leader has asked a council to release £5million of government cash to support hospitality businesses hit by the latest Omicron wave of coronavirus infections.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal MBE has called upon Pendle Council's Conservative leader Nadeem Ahmed to seek immediate approval from the ministers to use the money held over in its coffers.

He said: "Pendle Council has up to £5m held over from previous business grants which could help cash-strapped borough business owners who are facing financial ruin due to mixed messages from government.

“I’m aware that due to yet another example of poor leadership from the Prime minister many people are cancelling pre booked functions and the hospitality trade is in dire straits at a time when they should be at their busiest time of the year.

"The council has monies held on behalf of the government and I would ask we help local businesses now instead of waiting from government who appear to be ignoring the plight of local businesses in Pendle"

Cllr Ahmed said: "Pendle has faced significant issues due to the impact of Covid.

"The council has been extremely pro-active in trying to help businesses and the community get through the pandemic.

"Since the start of the pandemic we have provided £35m in financial support to Pendle businesses through government funding.

"And we have now launched the latest grant scheme so that businesses and charitable organisations who’ve been severely impacted by Covid-19 can apply for a grant.

"We have supported businesses through fully allocating £2.1m in Additional Restrictions Grants and as a result were awarded a further £500,000 which we are now distributing to businesses in our community.

“The issue with the hospitality industry is a timing issue because the Omicron variant became an issue after we have settled the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.

“We are talking to the government about this, flagging up that we have unspent money we would like to use.

"We are making every effort we can to help our communities, including businesses recover from Covid."