CORONAVIRUS: Latest information from Boston Council

All non-essential and external meetings have been cancelled at the council's buildings until the end of April when it will be reviewd further.

And all events planned for March and April have now been postponed. These include the Celebration of Farming, Boston’s Outdoor Cinema, Big Boston Clean Up, LinkedIn Local, Neil Wright talk at Boston Guildhall, Pilgrim Day at Boston Guildhall.

The council has also now taken a decision to cancel June’s 1940’s event.

The planning is operating a reduced service, and will be focusing on essential tasks.

A spokesperson saird: "Whilst working hard to maintain levels of service delivery, daily assessments are being undertaken on a regular basis to ensure the welfare of residents, staff and councillors remains our highest priority.

"The Council is open and fully functioning and services continue to operate fully – where possible, with extra measures in place to limit the potential for transmission of the virus.

"Where possible to protect you and our staff we would like to ask residents to find alternative methods of contacting us either via telephoning 01205 314200 or emailing the service department rather than face-to-face contact.

"Meetings are limited to those, which are essential only."

People can continue to access council services through the council website - mybostonuk.com - and if they cannot find the information or service they need there then by emailing [email protected] or calling 01205 314200.

Below are the full details from the Council's website.

Specific Service Information:

Funeral Services

At the present time funeral services are operating as normal at Boston Crematorium, however, the office and public reception area is closed but contact can be made by telephoning 01205 364612 or emailing [email protected]

Following government advice regarding social gatherings, we wanted to bring to your attention the following changes to the way we may operate whilst we face the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus.

In order for us to continue these services we may take the following measures to reduce the risk of infection:

Seating may be reduced in the chapel to discourage large numbers and reduce the close proximity of mourners (please consider whether it is wise for you to attend)

Mourners are discouraged from touching the coffin to avoid the risk of cross infection

Remove all hymn books but we are more than happy to photocopy the hymn for use in the service which can then be discarded afterwards. Please request this at the point of booking the service

Also we will be sanitising between services, handles, lectern, modesty boards, toilets and surfaces.

We want to reassure you that we will take every possible action to ensure that your service will be as safe from the Coronavirus as possible.

Waste Services

At this time we are asking any households where residents are self-isolating due to the Coronavirus outbreak to follow this advice when disposing of household waste.

In line with the advice from Public Health England, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection, personal waste (such as used tissues) and disposable cleaning cloths can be stored securely within disposable rubbish bags. These bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. This should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your green household waste bin (please avoid putting these in any of your recycling bins). Other household waste can be disposed of as normal.

By taking these actions you will help us to try and ensure that our staff remain safe and that we are able to continue providing the normal level of waste collection services for as long as possible.

If you have any questions about disposing of your waste please contact 01205 314200.

Homeless

Centrepoint Outreach revised opening arrangements

As from tomorrow, 19th March, there will be no afternoon Drop In sessions. The morning sessions will continue for the time being but will only be for people who are homeless (for our purposes this includes people who are rough sleeping, sofa surfing and in temporary accommodation). Showers will be available at these sessions and should be booked the day before.

Some of the chairs have been removed from the Drop In lounge so that people are not sitting too close together and everyone who comes in is required to wash their hands with soap and water before being able to access the Drop In lounge.

The staff are continuing to provide food parcels and their office is remaining open to deal with enquiries. They are asking people with homes to ring their project workers in the first instance if they need any help and the project workers will try and deal with the enquiry over the phone. If this is not possible an appointment may be offered.

Business Rates

*** New Changes to Business Rates – budget and post budget announcements ***

Retail Relief

It was announced in the budget (and amended since then) that Retail Relief will be increased from 50% to 100% from 1 April 2020 for one year only. This would be for qualifying businesses, plus it has now been extended to the Leisure and hospitality sectors and can now apply to all properties regardless of Rateable Value.

Pub Relief

From 1 April 2020, pub relief is being increased from £1,000 to £5,000.

Small Business Grant

The Government announced in the budget a small business cash grant of £3,000 to small businesses in receipt of small business rates relief. On 17 March this grant was increased to £10,000

Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant

On 17 March the Government announced that all businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector with a rateable value below £51,000 will be eligible for a grant of up to £25,000.

We are waiting for full details from the Government on the schemes’ implementation and will provide further information as it becomes available.

Business Interruption Loan Scheme

An update on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme following the further Government announcement late yesterday afternoon.

Colleagues at the British Business Bank are working hard to set-up the Scheme in a timely manner, fully aware of the urgency and exceptional circumstances faced by businesses.

We are being asked to refer businesses to the website https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/supporting-business-loans-enterprise-finance-guarantee/ whilst this work is being undertaken.

Further updates will follow when we have more details on the recently announce £330bn package of financial support.

Household Waste Recycling Centre

LCC are working really hard with partners to maintain the current levels of service – both with kerbside collections and at our Household Waste Recycling Centres across the county. At this time there are no plans for this to change.

At our HWRCs across the county we are, however, limiting the number of cars on site at any one time due to allowing for increased social distancing.

We are going to be using disinfectants to keep areas clean, and will be asking you what you have inside bags and boxes. This isn’t to be nosey – but to make sure things are going into the right containers. We are trying to reduce the number of bags we split.

Today we have seen a slight increase in the demand at all of our sites across the county, particularly for garden and household waste, which means that some residents are experiencing delays. We know that this can be frustrating but we are sure you will agreed that safety need to come first.

With this in mind, we need to ask – is it an essential visit?

If you do visit the HWRC, please help us by:

· Separating your waste into types

· Take batteries out of all electrical items and please put these in the dedicated containers signposted at the HWRC

· Remove all light bulbs and place in separate containers

· If you are bringing in additional household waste, please make sure that cleaning items and tissues are double bagged. If your property has been self-isolating, please make sure these items have been set aside for at least 3 days before bringing them to the HWRC.

We thank you for your patience and understanding

Environmental Health Services

All routine food hygiene ratings have been temporary suspended due to these involving face-to-face meetings and visits. All food premises have been advised to follow good hygiene practice to ensure the safety of their staff and customers and can remain open for business as usual.