LICENSED premises that were forced to close due to Covid-19 restrictions are receiving a discount on their fees from Copeland Council.

The council’s licence renewal invoices being sent to premises contain a 15-week discount to reflect the period of their enforced closure.

Licence fees are made payable to the local authority and are set by the Government, based on a premises’ rateable value. The 15-week discounts range from £20 to £100; a total of £12,647 across the borough.

Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, said: “As a council we are doing all we can to support our local business community, and waiving this fee for this 15-week period as a one-off for places that were unable to be open and trade is the right thing to do.”

The discount has been applied to renewal invoices sent in September (delayed from April due to Covid-19) and those being sent in October.