Coronavirus: Council tax arrears in Peterborough will not be chased up while businesses will not have to pay rates for 12 months

The authority said 538 people summonsed to appear in court on April 8 over unpaid council tax will no longer need to attend.

Moreover, households who fail to pay their council tax bill will not receive visits from bailiffs, and residents will also not receive any reminder letters during April and May (and possibly after that time as well).

Recovery action for other debt (e.g. benefits) is also being suspended if the household can prove it has been impacted financially by the coronavirus.

Anyone struggling to pay their council tax bill should contact the council on 01733 452258 or by email on [email protected].

The council said it is currently waiting for information from the Government on how to make sure that city residents who need it the most benefit from the £500 million national Hardship Funding set aside.

Moreover, the council has announced a series of measures to support city businesses. These are:

. A 12 month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in Peterborough from April 1. This will also apply to non-local authority childcare providers. This will mean these businesses have £33 million less to pay – collectively - for the next financial year. Revised bills, with zero to pay, are due to be produced and sent this week.

. Small business grant funding - All businesses in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief will receive a £10,000 grant fund to help ease the impact of Covid-19.

. Retail, hospitality and leisure grant funding - All businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure business, which occupy property with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000, will be receive grant funding of £25,000.

The grant funding will be automatically paid following the council getting receipt of government legislation.

Cllr David Seaton, cabinet member for finance at Peterborough City Council, said: “We are working hard to implement all the government guidance relating to Covid-19 that has come out over the past week to ease its impact on residents and businesses in Peterborough.

“We are pleased that we can now offer some relief to businesses, particularly those who have been hit hardest by the outbreak.

“We are also making changes to help residents who already have council tax bills stacking up. There will be further help on the way for residents who will have trouble paying council tax bills in the coming months and we are awaiting clarification from the Government before we can implement this.

“Although many people are being impacted financially by Covid-19 and the council is doing all it can to support these families, many others are not and in order for us to help those who have been most severely affected, we need to rely on these households continuing to make their payments on time.

“Peterborough City Council is doing all it can to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on residents and businesses. We want our city to continue to thrive once the outbreak is over and will do everything in our power to ensure this. Our overwhelming message is that if you are struggling, do not do so in silence, come and tell us.”