Labour is demanding a new rescue package for the hospitality and high street sectors.
High street businesses have suffered throughout the pandemic
The party says its aim is to prevent firms from going under - part of a plan protect more than one million jobs.
It also says the latest figures show a £1.7bn gap between what the Government has allocated to local authorities in retail, hospitality and leisure grants, and the amount of cash that has been distributed to businesses.
This money should be reallocated as a targeted Hospitality and High Streets Rescue Fund to protect jobs and help struggling firms fight back from the crisis, Labour insists.
Councillor Jim Grant, leader of the Swindon Borough Council Labour Group, said: “Hospitality and high streets have been battered by this crisis, with many businesses struggling to survive. Part of that must be a new Hospitality and High Streets Rescue Fund to give local councils the flexibility to help businesses in their area still in distress.
“The money is allocated - it just needs to reach the right places, so it must now be refocused on those most in need to save our high streets and protect jobs.”
Fellow Labour councillor Junab Ali, the group's economic spokesperson, said: “Last week saw one job losses announcement after another.
“It was good to see many local businesses opening again on Saturday - that’s something that Labour welcomed.
“But many smaller businesses, like beauty salons and gyms are still closed. It’s clear that better support is needed to ensure that businesses can weather this crisis. The money is there – we’re calling for it to reach the businesses that need it most.
"Let’s back our high streets and our hospitality industry. This has to be part of a longer-term plan for our economic recovery.
"That’s why Labour has been calling for a Back to Work budget to protect jobs.”
As well as calling for a rescue fund, Labour wants the Government to end what the party describes as a ‘one size fits all’ approach to unwinding furlough, with sectors that remain fully or partially shut down being exempt from employer contributions at least until they are trading well again.
Labour says that despite the Chancellor’s pledge to do whatever it takes to help businesses through the crisis, many firms in the sector and supply chains are falling through the cracks for support because they have a rateable value above £51,000.
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