Conservative government grant supports safe reopening of our high streets

The Conservative government has given a £259,000 grant to provide the opportunity for the safe reopening of Brighton and Hove’s high streets.

The money is being given to Brighton and Hove City Council – additional funding to support commercial areas to get our local economy back on its feet.

The funding provides the council with the chance to put in place additional measures to establish a safe trading environment for businesses and customers.

It comes on top of the government’s comprehensive package of support for businesses and workers during the economic emergency.

This additional £259,000 will be able to be used in four ways.

First, it will support the council in developing an action plan for how to start safely reopening the local economy.

Second, it will support temporary changes to the public realm to ensure that the reopening of the local economy can be managed successfully and safely.

They money can also be used for business-facing awareness-raising activities.

And finally it can go towards communications and public information activities to give the public the information and the confidence that they also need.

The Conservative group has been standing up for Brighton and Hove’s local businesses during the coronavirus crisis and has been scrutinising the administration of local grants by the council.

The council leader has made recent high-profile comments about wanting additional powers to shut businesses in Brighton and Hove.

This sends the wrong message at the time when we need to be supporting our local economy get safely back on its feet.

The Conservative group is calling for the council to use this funding in a timely manner to get an action plan together for a swift and safe reopening of our high streets and commercial precincts.

Councillor Steve Bell is the leader of the Conservatives on Brighton and Hove City Council.