A local authority has been named among the best councils in the country for handing out grants to businesses but its leader says now is not the time to get complacent.

Gravesham council leader Cllr John Burden stressed the importance of getting the local economy in Gravesend back on its feet as the country enters the second phase of its coronavirus recovery.

Business support grants, totalling £13.3 million, have now been handed by the authority to 99% of eligible companies.

In Gravesham, the council has paid out 1,086 grants in that time, placing it fifth nationally in terms of the percentage of companies receiving a share of more than £16m allocated to it by central government.

But the impact of Covid-19 has not been kind to local employers and workers as figures from the Office of National Statistics showed a steep rise in the number of unemployed seeking benefits – including nearly 1,500 more in Gravesham.

Cllr Burden praised the authority's workers who he said had worked day and night to get support to people on their doorstops and over the phones.

However, he urged caution at celebrating its successes too early and said more action would be needed to help struggling businesses.

The Labour leader said: “We have been doing everything in our power to support our local businesses through the current shutdown.

"We must recognise there are personal stories behind the figures, with some people likely to be finding themselves unemployed for the first time in their working lives."

He added many had appreciated the efforts of the council but for those with significant "cash flow" problems conceded turbulent times were likely to lie ahead.

His message for anyone struggling financially was simple – "talk to us".

“What I would say to all those who find themselves out of work and struggling to pay bills is talk to us," he said.

"There are ways we can help and support you. No two cases will be the same but we can help in terms of council tax issues and pointing you in the direction of additional help.

“What I would say to all those who find themselves out of work and struggling to pay bills is talk to us"

"It’s much better to talk to us and let us help you find a solution now than to wait and find yourself beginning to get into debt."

He mentioned how many workers – including the council's own employees – had adapted to working at home but hastened to add for many it has been "extremely stressful".

On this point he acknowledged the mental health aspect of working, adding "that conversation in the kitchen or over a coffee" can be just as significant.

Cllr Burden stressed the importance of people returning to work but said it was crucial they felt "safe again" to do so.

He advised anyone with concerns around their health to discuss it with their employers directly.

Despite the "months and months of unsettling news" Cllr Burden remains upbeat the local economy will bounce back from the blow delivered by Covid-19.

He said: "We are in a process of a recession but it is different to those before.

"I went through the 80s, early 90s and the 2008 recessions so we have been through three and each time there has been a different scenario and we have come through it and gone forward."

A huge part of this he says will be forging ahead with new projects such as plans for redeveloping St George’s shopping centre and more than 200 new homes planned on the site of the existing Horn Yard car park.

He said other big additions such as the London Resort theme park would not only give people things to look forward in the long term but much needed construction work right now.

Cllr Burden also acknowledged the crisis has thrown up the opportunity to solve other social problems such as ending homelessness in the borough.

The council has helped place nearly 40 people into short-term accommodation during lockdown, including a young family with children.

But he says unfortunately other people were evicted from properties due to complex issues the council would need to work together to solve.

In the meantime, he says council officers are continuing to try to contact the remaining businesses it had not managed to reach.

He said: “We are working on detailed plans for how we lead the recovery of the borough as we come out of coronavirus lockdown and this includes measures to help get the local economy growing once more.

“As part of that, our economic development team will continue to work with our local businesses to make them aware of the full range of support available to them and to understand what they need from us to help create jobs and equip local people with the skills needed to perform them.”

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