Council’s message to businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure sectors

The council has sought to reassure those who own business in the retail, hospitality or leisure with this message:

• if you pay your business rates by Direct Debit, we will stop your Direct Debit before the 1st April
• if you pay by cash, don’t pay
• if you pay by standing order – please cancel it
• if we take a payment from you and you think you are an exempt business – contact us and we’ll pay you back straight away if we have made a mistake.

Ian Floyd of City of York Council said the city’s leisure and hospitality sector “are a key part of what makes the city such a special place to live, visit and work”, adding:

• We welcome today’s Chancellor’s announcement that will protect 80% wages across the city.

  We hope that this goes some way to alleviate the anxiety of residents about their employment.

  We are now working to make sure all our businesses can access support from both the council and the Government and will be announcing more information about our emergency fund for residents, businesses and communities early next week so people can get the help they need as quickly as possible.