Tuesday 4 August 2020

Issued by the Communications Team –publicrelations@chichester.gov.uk

www.chichester.gov.uk/coronavirus

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This briefing is to keep you updated on the evolving situation around coronavirus (COVID-19) and the actions being taken in the district.It is currently issued once a month.

Who does it affect?

• Residents and businesses within the district
• Chichester District Council staff and councillors
• Parish councils
• Community groups and charitable organisations

In this briefing

• Latest update
• Service changes
• COVID-19 Recovery plan approved
• District Dispatch – Economic Recovery
• Council boosts tourism sector with £150,000 investment
• Free pavement licences to help restaurants and cafes
• ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme restaurant finder and reimbursement
• Parking offers
• We’re here to help – advice on accessing our services
• Project to increase short stay homeless accommodation reaches key milestone
• Council tax hardship scheme expanded to help more financially vulnerable residents
• The Novium Museum shortlisted for national award for lockdown activities
• Help us in our fight ‘Against Litter’
• Have your say on dog control rules in the Chichester District
• Beach goers urged to follow foreshores safety guidelines this summer
• Chichester Wellbeing launch online Move it and Lose it workshops
• Face covering mandatory in additional public spaces
• Free downloadable posters for businesses
• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
• Getting Tested
• Coronavirus FAQ on what the public can and can’t do
• Better Health Campaign

Latest update

The Government’s new ‘Eat out to Help out’ scheme has started this month, to support restaurants, cafes, hotels and pubs. Please see further details below.

The Government paused shielding from 1 August, but this could change if the transmission of COVID-19 in the community starts to rise significantly. You can find more information herehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

On Saturday 1 August, the government had hoped to reopen a number of higher risk settings that had remained closed in England. The Prime Minister confirmed that these changes are being postponed for at least a fortnight.

This means that, until 15 August at the earliest:

The government will also extend the requirement to wear a face covering to other indoor settings where the public are likely to come into contact with people you do not normally meet, such as museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship.

The government now recommends face coverings are worn in these settings, and this will become enforceable in law from 8 August.

People are being urged to stay alert, follow social distancing advice, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and wash their hands regularly. More information can be found atwww.gov.uk/coronavirus

Service changes

All of our services are currently running as normal, but you can visit:https://www.chichester.gov.uk/councilservicestatus for all the latest information.

COVID-19 Recovery Plan approved

Preventing homelessness, providing more community grants and helping to support the arts and tourism industry are some of the immediate key aims of a COVID recovery plan that have been set out for the Chichester District. Over the next year, the council will focus on four key recovery areas: community and housing; economic; planning, health and environmental protection; and organisational. You can find out more herehttps://www.chichester.gov.uk/article/34286/Council-sets-out-its-key-priorities-in-COVID-recovery-plan-for-Chichester-District

District Dispatch – Economic Recovery

Over the next few weeks, our cabinet members are explaining each recovery area in more detail through district dispatch. You can read more about this here https://www.chichester.gov.uk/districtdispatch

Last week, Cllr Roy Briscoe focused on the community recovery, https://www.chichester.gov.uk/article/34311/District-Dispatch---Community-Recovery - highlighting on how we are supporting our communities and voluntary sector, including new grant funding.

This week, Cllr Martyn Bell explains our plans for the economic recovery in the district, including how have been working with business groups and associations, parish, town and city councils, West Sussex County Council and Chichester BID to identify the support needed in each of our locations. He also explains about how the council will shortly be setting up a £250,000 grant fund to help eligible businesses with their recovery plans. You can read more here: https://www.chichester.gov.uk/article/34322/Business-recovery-plans

Council boosts tourism sector with £150,000 investment

A major-long term investment to boost jobs and the economy in the tourism sector has been agreed by the council.

We have trebled our annual funding to £150,000 as part of a five year plan to support Visit Chichester following the coronavirus pandemic. This will enable Visit Chichester – which supports holiday accommodation, venues, museums, gardens, retail outlets, the arts, the festival theatre and the cathedral – to pioneer new approaches to attracting people to the region. Find out more herehttps://www.chichester.gov.uk/article/34280/Council-boosts-tourism-sector-with-150000-investment

Free pavement licences to help eligible businesses

Chichester District Council has announced that it will issue free temporary pavement licences to eligible hospitality businesses.

Short-term pavement licences are being issued to help pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, snack bars, coffee shops and ice cream parlours, which have been closed for months during the coronavirus lockdown. To apply or find out more about this please visitwww.chichester.gov.uk/pavementlicences

‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme restaurant finder and reimbursement

Please support our local restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels by using the ‘Eat Out to Help Out Scheme’ this month. The offer can be used Monday to Wednesday throughout August and offers every diner a 50% discount of up to £10 per head on their meal, in any participating food service establishment. HMRC has launched an online tool for the public to find restaurants that are registered for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. The restaurant finder tool shows results within a 5-mile radius of a postcode.

Restaurant finder tool: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/eat-out-to-help-out/find-a-restaurant/

HRMC has also published guidance for registered establishments on how to claim the reimbursement for discounts given to diners with the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. Guidance:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-money-back-through-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme

Parking offers

Don’t forget, that if you are paying to park in Chichester District Council car parks, you can select two hours and get a third free if you use the Mipermit app until 7 September. You can find out about the app at https://www.mipermit.com/

Using MiPermit means you won’t need to use the parking machines, providing you with a cash-free option, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Plus, you can also extend your parking using the app, if you need more time while shopping. We are also offering free parking at Avenue de Chartres car park every weekend until 7 September. You can find out more here https://www.chichester.gov.uk/parking

We’re here to help – advice on accessing our services

Although our offices are currently closed to the public due to Covid-19, we are still here to help.

• Our services can be accessed anytime, anywhere atwww.chichester.gov.uk
• If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can email us atcontact@chichester.gov.uk
• You can also reach us on the phone between 9am and 5pm weekdays on 01243 785166.
• If you need to contact us out of working hours (after 5pm weekdays and throughout the weekend) and it’s an emergency, please call us on 01243 785339.
• If you need an emergency face to face appointment, please call us on 01243 785166 and we will arrange for you to be seen by a member of our staff.
• If you need to buy a visitor’s car parking permit, please call us on 01243 534500 so that we can take payment and send this to you through the post.
• If you want to watch one of our public meetings, you can now do this by visitingwww.chichester.gov.uk/viewcouncilmeetings
• If you want to access help from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau please visitwww.citizensadvice.org.uk or call them on 0800 144 8444 between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

Thank you for your continued patience and support during this time.