Support Hackney businesses impacted by rising cases of the Omicron variant and the 'Plan B' measures, Council tells Chancellor
Chancellor Rishi Sunak must commit as soon as possible to "avoid needlessly putting jobs and employers in Hackney at risk,
by making a clear commitment to providing additional support for businesses impacted by rising cases of the Omicron variant and the 'Plan B' measures coming into force," Hackney Council has written in a letter to the Treasury.
The letter, from Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville and Cllr Guy Nicholson, Deputy Mayor for housing supply, planning, culture and inclusive economy, calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give economic support to businesses in Hackney in the retail, hospitality, and cultural sectors who are already suffering after an extremely tough and unpredictable 20 months coping with the coronavirus pandemic.
As well as setting out the challenges facing businesses across the borough, the letter presses the need for additional funds to enable Hackney Council, and fellow Local Authorities across London, to provide grants to businesses affected by new guidance.
We have a fantastic array of retail, hospitality, leisure, cultural businesses and night time venues here in Hackney, but those I have spoken to were relying on pre-Christmas sales, as well as a usually prosperous festive period to recover, after an extremely tough and unpredictable 20 months coping with the coronavirus pandemic. Hackney businesses tell us that takings are falling low, but without the support or furlough options that existed in previous total and partial lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
Businesses are also being affected by staff shortages due to rising case rates and isolation, further highlighting the critical need for support.
We remain positive and ambitious about Hackney’s economy, but in the short term real damage is being done and we hope you will once again respond to the needs of businesses and employees, protecting jobs and the wider economy without further damaging delay.
