The applicants for the proposed development of 55 homes at Brick Lane (planning reference number 20/00630/FUM) have submitted changes to the plan.
These changes are
The amended information is on the Council’s Public Access page https://pa.eastcambs.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=QAL35AGGL0600
East Cambridgeshire District Council has published details of three new government business grants which aim to help eligible businesses severely impacted by Tier 4 and current lockdown restrictions.
The funding for all three schemes is available only to businesses with a business rates account that were required to close because of the formal publication of lockdown regulations under Public Health legislation. The funding is not available to businesses who have chosen to close for other reasons.
Businesses required to close under national restrictions include all non-essential retail, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, entertainment venues and personal care facilities. A more detailed list of the businesses required to close can be found on the gov.uk website.
East Cambridgeshire District Council has identified eligible businesses using the ratings list and will be contacting businesses by email and post.
To be eligible for this funding, a business must be in East Cambridgeshire, and must have been open as usual in the week before Government restrictions required them to close, either through tier-based restrictions or national restrictions.
For wet-led pubs, this is from 2 November 2020, and for all other businesses this is from 21 December 2020.
Businesses must also have been providing services in person to customers from the premises, and must have been registered as the occupier for business rates on 26 December 2020.
Businesses setting up ‘click and collect’ services and restaurants providing a takeaway service are still able to claim grants as their substantive business was closed.
Businesses that chose to close but were not required to, and businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of EU State Aid permitted, are not eligible for these grants.
Businesses that do not meet the criteria, but have still been severely impacted by Government COVID-19 restrictions, will be considered as part of the Council’s discretionary scheme, which is currently being set up. More information on this will be published as soon as possible.
The grants that will be awarded to businesses are based on the rateable value of their premises on 26 December 2020.
These grants will be issued as one-off payments to cover the period from 26 December 2020 to 15 February 2021.
Eligible businesses will get one grant for each property liable for business rates.
Eligible ratepayers will be contacted by the Council, who will ask you to complete a declaration confirming that your business meets all the eligibility criteria and that by accepting these grants it will not exceed the relevant State Aid threshold.
Please read the eligibility criteria before completing the application form. The closing date for applications to be returned is 31 March 2021.
A Supreme Court ruling could mean an insurance payout for tens of thousands of small businesses to cover losses from the first national COVID lockdown nine months ago.
This decision could prove a lifeline for some businesses who did not receive payments against their business interruption insurance policies.
In the lockdown of last spring, many small businesses made claims through business interruption insurance policies for loss of earnings when they had to close. But many insurers refused to pay.
The Financial Conduct Authority brought a test case, with eight insurers agreeing to take part. The court accepted the arguments from representatives of policyholders and dismissed appeals from insurers, potentially affecting 370,000 small businesses.
The Financial Conduct Authority, the insurance sector, and the Financial Ombudsman will all use the judgement to guide their decisions in other cases.
So if you have a small business with business interruption insurance cover, and were refused a payout last spring, it’s worth checking again.
The Acting Police & Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is asking for residents’ views on a proposal for an increase in the police share of Council Tax of £1.25 per month (at Band D).
The survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DNTBBTX and is open until 5:00PM on Tuesday (19 January).
The following planning applications in the Sutton division have been published by East Cambridgeshire District Council.
21/00019/FUL
Little Downham
Bramley House 100 Main Street Little Downham
Construction of one three-bedroom, two-storey detached dwelling and one four-bedroom, two-storey detached dwelling and associated site works.
21/00015/FUL
Mepal
22 High Street Mepal CB6 2AW
Demolition of existing rear extension with erection of new ground floor rear extension and infill side extension and first floor extension above existing garage.
21/00030/FUL
Sutton
35 St Andrews Close Sutton CB6 2QU
Proposed loft conversion with rear dormer window and four roof lights to front elevation to form habitable accommodation within existing roof space (retrospective).
21/00042/FUL
Wentworth
10 Main Street Wentworth CB6 3QG
Two storey extension to an existing cottage.
Further information can be found on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, comments should be addressed to the district council and not to me. Comments may be made
A decision on the planning application for 55 affordable homes at Brick Lane Mepal will now not be taken by the Planning Committee next month.
The application will now be considered by the committee on Wednesday 3 March, as various issues including drainage and biodiversity are still outstanding.
Meanwhile the Lead Local Flood Authority (Cambridgeshire County Council) has objected to the application, so applicants Havebury will also have to address its concerns. These are
The following planning applications in the Sutton division have been published by East Cambridgeshire District Council.
20/01747/CLE
Little Downham
Black Bank Business Centre Black Bank Road Little Downham
Change to mixed use for the entire site (except new units 20-25).
21/00013/CLP
Little Downham
Pippin House 10C Pymoor Lane Pymoor
Construction of a single storey garage to be joined to the existing dwelling.
20/01544/FUL
Sutton
14 West Lodge Lane Sutton CB6 2NX
First floor extension and ground floor battery store.
20/01513/FUL
Witchford
Site to south of 7 Manor Court Road Witchford
Construction of detached bungalow and garage.
21/00006/FUL
Witchford
The Old Milking Parlour 20 Main Street Witchford
Detached garage, gym and home office above (resubmission of 20/01040/FUL).
Further information can be found on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, comments should be addressed to the district council and not to me. Comments may be made
Liberal Democrat Lords helped defeat the Government by backing a cross-party amendment to the Trade Bill ensuring that future trade agreements meet the UK’s high standards of animal welfare and the environment.
The Amendment was passed by 290 votes to 274, a defeat for the Government.
The Conservatives have consistently failed to support such a measure, risking that future trade deals could permit the import of food that fails to meet the UK’s high standards. This puts significant pressure on British farmers.
Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Farming said:
“Farmers across the country are worried about their future – they’re worried that the UK will be flooded with poor quality food that undercuts the food they produce to high environmental and animal welfare standards.
“The Conservatives have continually failed to protect our farmers from these risks. This amendment will ensure that our farmers are protected and can continue to produce high quality food for our tables. That’s why Liberal Democrats in the Lords supported this amendment.
“Liberal Democrats back British farmers and will continue to fight to protect our food standards and their livelihoods. British farmers have a vital role to play in helping us tackle climate change and protect our natural environment, driving them out of business will be damaging for everyone.”
The Liberal Democrats have called for the government to suspend business rates through next year, extend furlough, and support the self-employed as the UK enters its third lockdown.
Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, urged the Chancellor to take real action to save people’s jobs as businesses face months of hardship.
Ed Davey said:
“This lockdown should have come sooner, Boris Johnson has once again ducked making a difficult decision and as a result we are now in a critical situation.
“But we must all support it now and do all we can to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.
“We also need real action now to save people’s jobs, their businesses and their livelihoods.
“Small businesses have shown incredible resilience but now they worry whether they can survive another lockdown. We are calling on the Chancellor to publish an emergency Budget that will include a business rates holiday next year, an extension to furlough at least until the summer, and support for every self-employed person in the UK, including those who have so far been unfairly excluded.”
So here we are again, predictably, in another national lockdown – the third for the UK since the start of the pandemic.
Just a day after we were told that it was safe to send children to school, we are told tonight that all schools must close except for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.
The new rules are at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
They’re not without ambiguity, but it’s clear that once again restrictions are tightening until March, and that we’re back to ‘Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives’. With many hospitals at imminent risk of being totally overwhelmed, we’re in for a difficult few months.
Information and help for Cambridgeshire residents is at https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/coronavirus/coronavirus-information
Cambridgeshire County Council COVID hub is at 0345 045 5219.
East Cambridgeshire District Council hub is at 01353 665555.
Please wear a mask, wash your hands, make space. Look out for neighbours who may need support. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.