Review of Cheltenham Borough Council's discretionary grant procedure @beaumonthousecheltenham @bhguesthouse willowboutiquehotels.com
Like all customer facing businesses, my boutique hotel was closed to commercial business on 23 March without any alternative cash-flow to settle invoices or meet ongoing fixed costs. But unlike most businesses in Cheltenham, my rateable value meant I was above the threshold for support. I couldn’t even furlough myself as I had to continue working to try and cover some costs, staying open for key worker accommodation. I was running and cleaning a boutique hotel on my own, with a 3 year old who was unable to go to nursery, while all other staff were furloughed… This sudden 80% drop in revenue was devastating. It wasn’t until I saw the COVID discretionary fund announced in the media that I wondered if I could qualify. As I am relatively new to Cheltenham (I left London 2 years ago with my then toddler to buy a boutique hotel), I didn’t have any real network to approach. I had been too busy learning how to run a hotel and manage a team of 10+ employees! What I was astounded by was that all the parties I contacted (found via Google!) actually responded to me. I started initially with an email to a local Councillor, Stephen Cooke, who within a day got back to me and suggested I contact several parties, one being Paul Jones, executive director of finance and assets at Cheltenham Borough Council. In parallel with my communication with Cllr Cooke, I also contacted Alex Chalk MP, Dev Chakraborty, deputy chief executive of GFirst LEP, and a business coach I had used at the Growth Hub, Angela Spenley. Dev was very informative and explained how the finance directors for the seven local authorities in Gloucestershire were pulling together to devise a way to assess who could be suitable parties for this fund. But it was Paul and his team at the council who took my case under their wing.
I had already slipped through the net for initial COVID funding offered by the council, so I was relieved to be given a chance to make my case. From my business case, the council saw clearly the destruction caused by COVID to my business. My hotel was such an anomaly as bigger hotels qualified for funding yet mine didn’t. Cheltenham Borough Council ensured that my case was heard at the various meetings/calls held with other consultees when devising a consistent approach to allocating the discretionary funds. Cheltenham Borough Council have worked tirelessly to support all local Cheltenham businesses in need, so I was humbled to get a mention at the table. It was spectacular to see how my lobbying ensured Beaumont House was heard, just one of many, many businesses in the town.
The council really are serious about supporting local businesses. This grant will play an important part in getting Beaumont House back on track and in part, returning Cheltenham to being a destination of choice. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone in Cheltenham Borough Council including their business rates team whom I spoke to on many occasions, and the bodies who worked so hard to allocate funding.
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