The charges in place for tables and chairs permits for those businesses serving food and drink to customers outside is to be waived.
This follows approval by the Council's Policy and Sustanabiity Committee today.
Adam McVey Council Leader said: "As lockdown restrictions have eased allowing the reopening of outdoor areas for bars and restaurants, we’ve been speaking to individual businesses and local representative groups who’ve asked us for additional help in relation to the charges in place for tables and chairs permits to allow them to make sure that safe physical distances can be maintained when customers are visiting their premises.
"We’ve recognised that city centre businesses need support due to the absence of both office workers and visitors and this will take time to recover. There is an urgent need to support businesses in the immediate term and I’m delighted that Committee has agreed to support them by waiving these charges entirely during this very difficult trading time. This will not only help businesses expand their footprint to help improve trading viability but also help maintain the pedestrian space and access, particularly for families and people with mobility issues or sight impairment."
Cammy Day Depute Leader said: "This is yet another move we can make which will make the coming weeks and months a little less challenging for businesses. For the local economy to recover, we also need to see greater footfall to small businesses and a new campaign will launch next week to draw residents and visitors back to their favourite places for shopping and visiting.
"This is alongside all of the steps we’ve already taken to support our high streets, like directing £112.5m to businesses in support grants and widening pavements and cycleways to make it easier and more enjoyable to visit town centres. It will also be supported by the local Champions Network which we’re setting up to provide us with a direct link to businesses, so that we can monitor the challenges they face and the help they need."
Background
Businesses will still be required to apply for tables and chairs permits, and the standard conditions will need to be met, however, there will be no charge for the time period 1 July to 31 October. Any business which has already paid for a permit will receive a refund for any payment made for this time period.
Tables and chairs permits allow anyone who sells food or drink to put tables and chairs on a public pavement between 9am and 9pm, seven days per week