Business Grants

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Dear Merton Borough Council,

I would like to request information about your business grants. What business grants do you offer to local start-ups/small businesses? What is the allowance per business in 2019 and what will be the allowance in 2020?

Also, if possible, do you have information about how much you have given (grants) to local businesses in the past 5 years in your area?

Yours faithfully,

Hana Bednarova

foi, Merton Borough Council

Thank you for your email message. We aim to respond to all requests under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information
Regulations 2004 within 20 working days.
More information about the way we deal with information requests is on our
web site at [1]www.merton.gov.uk/foi.
 
Information Governance Team
London Borough of Merton.
020 8545 4634
 
 
 

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Angela Flower, Merton Borough Council

Dear Hana

Freedom of Information Act 2000 / Environmental Information Regulations
2004 Information request

 

We have now considered your information request as set out below. 

 

You asked:

I would like to request information about your business grants. What
business grants do you offer to local start-ups/small businesses?

We are not able to provide grants for businesses to start up as the
council does not have the finances to enable grants for start-ups. We
signpost new businesses to the current loan funds available, the list can
be found here:

[1]https://www.merton.gov.uk/business-and-c...

 

The council does provide a Local Business Rates Discount Scheme for
eligible businesses. The full details can be found here:

[2]https://www.merton.gov.uk/business-and-c...

 

 

What is the allowance per business in 2019 and what will be the allowance
in 2020?  The Local Business Rates Policy has been running since 2017 and
the following allowances are given:

 

·       The scheme is aimed at businesses with a rateable value of between
£12,000 and £100,000 who occupy or re-locate within the borough or for
existing businesses expanding within the borough

·       The discount will run for a fixed period within the financial year

·       The discount can be awarded for up to two years but any discount
in year two can be no more than 50% of the discount awarded in year one

·       A business can apply at any time but can only benefit from the
discount up until the end of  financial year

·       The level of discount awarded can be between 20% and 100% of the
rates for a given period, up to a maximum of 6 months for retail premises

·       The level of discount awarded, and the period which is covers,
will depend on the individual circumstances of the application

 

Also, if possible, do you have information about how much you have given
(grants) to local businesses in the past 5 years in your area?

 

In terms of Business Rates discounts the following sums have been released

 

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  | Total cost  | Cost to Merton|
| | | |
| | |  |
|-----------------+------------------------------+-----------------------|
|2014/15    |                    £43,774 | £13,310|
|-----------------+------------------------------+-----------------------|
|2015/16 | £63,719| £19,115|
|-----------------+------------------------------+-----------------------|
|2016/17 | £18,000| £5,400|
|-----------------+------------------------------+-----------------------|
|2017/18 | £26,694| £19,004|
|-----------------+------------------------------+-----------------------|
|2018/19 | £93,319| £60,083|
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

 

                   

The council has also offered shop front improvements in some of our High
Streets. To date the total spend £1.4m over the past 5 years

 

Grants to Funds
  individual spent on Total per
shops whole year
parades
2014/15 £20,501 £0 £20,501
  
2015/16 £82,943 £0 £82,943
2016/17 £170,403 £700,805 £871,207
2017/18 £0 £215,426 £215,426
2018/19 £0 £250,831 £250,831
Overall
£1,440,909 total 5
years

 

If you have any queries or concerns about this please contact me.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, please contact
the Head of Information Governance at Merton Council, Civic Centre,
Morden, SM4 5DX or e-mail [3][Merton Borough Council request email].

 

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

 

Website: [4]www.ico.org.uk

 

There is no charge for making an appeal.

 

Yours sincerely

 

            Sarah Xavier

 

 

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References

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1. https://www.merton.gov.uk/business-and-c...
2. https://www.merton.gov.uk/business-and-c...
3. mailto:[Merton Borough Council request email]
4. http://www.ico.gov.uk/