DESPITE paying out more than £21 million to local business owners, West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) has been criticised for how it has dealt with business grant payments.

Several types of funding have been made available by the Government to support businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

For small businesses, and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, local authorities such as the district council were handed the responsibility of delivering the money to business owners.

However, the handling of business grants has been questioned by some businesses in West Oxfordshire.

See also: Large boat deliberately set on fire in Thames

Brendan Kay, owner of Parkers Properties in Witney, said: “Businesses, or the vast majority of them, are all struggling at the moment.

“I completed an application for the grant on March 31 but heard nothing back.

“I then resent it two weeks later but again heard nothing but some of the different offices had heard back.

“After four weeks of waiting, they finally acknowledged receipt of my application.

Witney Gazette:

“I’ve got a number of employees to pay and a young family to feed.

“Businesses are having to borrow from banks, which incurs further problems.”

Mr Kay, 44, has since received his grant from the council but said ‘it’s just a shame it’s taken so long’.

He added that the grant will help him with rents for his business, which has 13 offices in total, including Chinnor and Witney in Oxfordshire.

Read more: Inmate caught with lethal 'knife shank' in his cell

Jonas Cunningham, a chiropractor in Witney, backed up Mr Kay’s sentiments.

The 44-year-old said: “There was a lack of communication, they didn’t acknowledge receipt of the two forms.

“I filled in the application online but there was no confirmation from the council.

“It’s a bit of a worry for small businesses so you need that reassurance.

“The money is a lifeline for us, it means we can stay afloat during these difficult times.

“As a startup, we’re also still finding our feet.”

See also: Oxford United in the Community create homework packs for lockdown

Mr Cunningham, who has been a chiropractor for three years, added that initially it was difficult to find out where to look on the council website and who to contact about the grants, however has now received the funding.

WODC has said it has now paid out more than £21 million in business support grants to over 1,700 businesses in the district.

This places WODC 27th in the national league table of councils’ performance for the distribution of business grants, well within the top quartile.

“This has been a fantastic effort by our team who have achieved this despite most of them working from home under lockdown and having to set up a new payments system,” said council leader James Mills.

“Council officers are doing whatever is necessary to to get the job done.

“We understand what an incredibly stressful time it is for businesses and I would stress we are here to help them.”

Witney Gazette:

The council estimates that more than 100 businesses in the district could still be potentially eligible for a grant and have not yet applied.

Mr Mills added: “If you think you are eligible for a business grant, please do get in contact as we want to support local businesses.”

The council said about 190 businesses owners who have applied and not received the cash in their bank accounts are being investigated further to determine eligibility.

These applicants will be contacted by council staff.

The council can now typically process new applications in two working days if no further information is required, with payments reaching business bank accounts through the BACS system two working days later.

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for a grant should call 01993 861070 or visit: westoxon.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/coronavirus-business-and-licensing/