Staffordshire County Council’s Leader has welcomed bonuses for firms, a boost for young job seekers, eat out discounts and a stamp duty holiday unveiled in last week’s budget.
Billed as a plan to create jobs and stave off rising unemployment, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the measures in his mini budget last Wednesday, 8th July.
Highlights include:
- A jobs retention scheme, offering a bonus of £1,000 for firms who take back furloughed staff
- A Kick-Start scheme to reward businesses for employing 18 to 24 year olds
- A stamp duty holiday on houses under £500,000
- VAT on hospitality on food, accommodation and attractions cut to five per cent temporarily
- Eat Out to Help Out discounts in August
County Council Leader Philip Atkins said: “After months of uncertainty for many businesses and families, it is hugely important that we do everything we can to reboot the economy, get people back to work and give people more money in their pockets to spend.
“Here in Staffordshire, we are committed to doing everything to fire up our economy, so it was great to see new and immediate measures to help us do just that. And while it is important that we all continue to play our part in preventing a second peak of infections by following the safety advice we can, and we all should, support our local economy.”
The Chancellor also announced a £4m tax catalyst to support the hospitality sector and an Eat Out to Help Out offer to encourage people to visit premises. The county council, which has been at the forefront of Staffordshire’s Covid-19 efforts, has made it clear that spending on the virus is also likely to outstrip current funding to local authorities.
Philip Atkins added: “It is clear that the financial impact on this county, on business and our families will be felt for some time to come so it is imperative therefore that long term sustainable funding solutions are found for local government, particularly around care services, which is why we are working hard with government to inform the Spending Review expected later in the year.”
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