April 22, 2020 3.38 pm This story is over 47 months old

Almost half of small and rural business coronavirus grants left to hand out

More than 12,683 of the 21,437 identified businesses had received cash – an average of £11,586 per business.
| Photo: Adobe Stock

Greater Lincolnshire councils still have almost half of their £265.872 million in grants for small and rural businesses to give out during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s latest national report of April 20, £146.945 million had been handed out to support businesses during the coronavirus outbreak.

The figure is just over 55% of the cash councils across the region were given by government.

More than 12,683 of the 21,437 identified businesses had received cash – an average of £11,586 per business.

As of April 19, East Lindsey District Council had given out the most money (£24.430 million) to the most businesses (2,047).

How councils sat nationally on April 20 when ordered by the amount of money they had paid out so far.

The authority was the 71st highest paying council out of 314 nationwide – the only one within the top quarter of high spenders – but had only actually given away 40% of its cash.

Councillor Adam Grist, portfolio holder for market towns and rural economy, said: “Our focus continues to be getting this much needed funding distributed to businesses as quickly as we possibly can.

“We’ve made good progress so far and have now distributed almost £30 million but we’re aware there are still a number of businesses who are eligible that haven’t yet made contact with us.”

The authority that had given away the highest percentage of its cash was South Holland District Council, which had spent £16.205 million of the £19.448 million it was given by government – around 83.32%.

The authority had paid out to 1,373 of its estimated 1,730 businesses and sat seventh nationally.

How councils sat nationally on April 20 when ordered by the number of grants handed out.

South Holland, along with Lincoln, South Kesteven, North Kesteven and West Lindsey all sat within the top quarter of authorities in England to have shared the most of their money.

Boston Borough Council sat lower in the national table, having given away 61.15% of its funding. 

The authority was given the lowest amount by the government at £16.640 million and has so far given away £10.175 million.

It had processed 878 of the 1,377 eligible businesses.

To the north of the region, North East Lincolnshire Council had given out £17.435 million of its £35.510 million grant – almost 50%. It was the third highest paying council in Greater Lincolnshire.

How councils sat nationally on April 20 when ordered by the percentage of government grant handed out.

It had given money to 1,562 grants out of the 2,492 eligible businesses.

However, North Lincolnshire had only given out £13.710 million of its £37.242 million pot – just over a third of the money it has given.

Just 1,281 of its 3,209 businesses had been sent money.