Thursday 2 July 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.

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
• Stay alert
• Service changes
• Parks reopening
• Litter in public places
• Parking patrols boosted
• Public toilets
• Domestic waste and recycling collections
• Parking offers
• Meeting up with friends and family
• Pubs and restaurants reopening
• Stay safe, leave a space
• Community hub
• COVID-19 local outbreak plan
• Legionella risks after lockdown
• Keeping children safe online
• Shielding reminder
• Coronavirus statutory sick pay scheme
• Stay in touch

Latest update

This week the Prime Minister made a speech outlining how the Government would be bringing forward £5billion of funding for capital investment projects to support jobs and the economic recovery. Projects include:

• hospital maintenance;
• road network improvements;
• school re-building and repairs;
• digital upgrades and maintenance to some court buildings;
• prison building maintenance and creating temporary prison places;
• a series of local growth projects; and,
• money to speed up investment in town centres and high streets.

You can find out more about the Prime Minister’s announcement athttps://bit.ly/PMBuildSpeech

Stay alert

We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. You can find more information on what you need to do atwww.chichester.gov.uk/coronavirus and the very latest government advice is available atwww.gov.uk/coronavirus

Service changes

Please visitwww.chichester.gov.uk/councilservicestatus for all the latest information.

Parks reopening

Our play parks will be open again by this weekend. Please make sure that you refer to the guidelines that we have placed at each site to make sure that you and your children stay safe.

Litter in public places

Our litter enforcement officers are patrolling busy areas and fining anyone who is caught littering. We have seen an increase in the amount of litter that is being generated, especially on our beaches and in our car parks. We want to assure you that our teams are working flat out to keep on top of this, but we ask that if you find a full bin, or you can’t find somewhere to place your rubbish, please take it home with you.

Even though we are regularly clearing up and emptying bins, the sheer volume of people using our car parks and beaches has meant that we have seen an increase in littering. We will be increasing our messaging from our Against Litter campaign, to remind people that they have a role to play in making sure that our district is kept beautiful. Find out more atwww.chichester.gov.uk/againstlitter

Parking patrols boosted

We have boosted parking patrols, especially in our coastal areas, and we will continue to do this. We’ve also met with the West Wittering Estate who own and run West Wittering beach and car park to discuss concerns raised by local residents. They are gradually increasing parking capacity, and they are advising anyone who has not booked that they should not visit West Wittering beach. We have been issuing Penalty Charge Notices to anyone who parks illegally, and we are looking at other possible measures that could be taken. We are also working closely with West Sussex County Council, which is responsible for the roads, and the Police — who have the powers to deal with anti-social behaviour — to discuss what further action could be taken, especially when hot weather is expected.

Public toilets

All of our public conveniences remain open and are being cleaned regularly. Please remember to maintain social distancing when using our parks and toilets.

Domestic waste and recycling collections

We are continuing to empty your bins as usual, including household waste, recycling, green recycling and trade waste. The teams have been working hard to make sure that all services are running.

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 over the next three months. We are also offering free parking at Avenue de Chartres car park on Saturdays and Sundays for the next three months. Find out more atwww.chichester.gov.uk/parking

Meeting up with friends and family

From Saturday, two households will be able to meet up in any setting with social distancing measures - updated guidance on social distancing can be found athttps://bit.ly/SDUpdated

Where it is not possible to stay two metres apart, this will be reduced to a distance of ‘one metre plus’. This means staying one metre apart, plus mitigations which reduce the risk of transmission.

Pubs and restaurants reopening

This weekend, many pubs and restaurants across the district will be reopening. We have written to all of them offering advice and guidance, especially around licensing and planning as the Government has indicated that restrictions in these areas could be eased this month, to help them get back on their feet.

However, we do ask that everyone makes sure that they plan ahead because many pubs and restaurants will be working to a strict ‘bookings only’ policy to limit numbers. Please make sure that you follow social distancing guidance at all times and avoid large gatherings or congregating outside licensed premises.

Stay safe, leave a space

It is vital that we all observe social distancing rules as part of our fight against coronavirus. We’ve produced signage which is being displayed across the district, reminding people that they must stay safe and leave a space. We’re currently working on another project which will further expand on this work and we’ve also produced a video with our local businesses to welcome shoppers back to our High Streets atwww.chichester.gov.uk/supportlocal

While our Civil Enforcement Officers, Foreshore Officers and Community Wardens have all been closely monitoring social distancing and offering advice, they do not have any powers to enforce these measures.

Community hub

We are continuing to work in partnership with West Sussex County Council and its Community Hub which is there to support the most vulnerable residents in our communities. We have been supporting the hub by collecting and delivering food, supporting volunteers, calling people to check that they are okay.

You can contact the Community Hub if you, or someone you know, need help, or if you want to volunteer your services in these difficult times. This will be available seven days a week and staff will be on hand to respond to enquiries from 8am-8pm. The team will be contacting the most vulnerable to tell them how to get help. The best way to contact the hub is online; if you have access go towww.westsussex.gov.uk/covid19communityhub.

A dedicated telephone helpline is also available for residents who are unable to go online: 033 022 27980. We are trying to keep the resources available through the hub for those who are most vulnerable, so if you do have support in place already, such as from family or friends, then please continue to use their support.

COVID-19 local outbreak plan

We have been working very closely with West Sussex County Council and our other partners to create a Covid-19 Local Outbreak Plan. The plan works hand-in-hand with the test and trace system, providing a strategy on how we will reduce the spread of the virus if infections start to increase locally. If we see a local spike in coronavirus cases, the plan will ensure a speedy response to contain the virus and prevent it from spreading further. This could range from making sure that infected individuals self-isolate, to locking down a specific local setting or even introducing a wider local lockdown where we will all need to follow this agreed plan.

Legionella risks after lockdown

Our Health Protection Team is reminding local businesses and voluntary groups that they must legally consider the potential for hazardous bacteria if their water system has been fully or partially closed during the lockdown period. If premises have been closed, or operating at reduced capacity, there is an increased risk of Legionella, which grows in water systems that have not been flushed through regularly, and where water has stagnated.

Those premises currently preparing to reopen can find information and advice at www.chichester.gov.uk/article/34084/Council-urges-premises-to-carry-out-post-lockdown-Legionella-checks?fbclid=IwAR2CdZ8IkfD_RGsH5FCZdv4ixAWOgtwHKhi3I4KhZc-uBYIK6ymgTvZ1GXs as well as helpful links atwww.chichester.gov.uk/foodguidance.

Keeping children safe online

Advice and guidance to help parents and carers to keep children safe online during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has been updated and can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-online

Shielding reminder

Millions of people shielding from coronavirus will be able to spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6 July. You can find out more information atwww.gov.uk/government/news/plans-to-ease-guidance-for-over-2-million-shielding

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

The guidance for employers on whether they can use the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme to claim back employees’ coronavirus-related statutory sick pay has been updated to include Information about employees who have transferred under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. Find out more atwww.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19

Stay in touch

Make sure you stay in touch with our daily updates on:

www.chichester.gov.uk/coronavirus

www.facebook.com/ChichesterDistrictCouncil

www.twitter.com/ChichesterDC

www.instagram.com/ChichesterDC

www.linkedin.com/company/chichesterdc

You can also now sign up for our e-newsletters atwww.chichester.gov.uk/newsalerts