Cornwall Council services and advice for 4 Jul Weekend

Re-post of Jess Morris (Penzance BID Manager) email 18.29  on 3 Jul 20

Dear All 

 Cornwall Council has sent out the following information about services and advice available to support you this weekend. 

 Public protection officers will patrol town centres throughout Cornwall from this weekend to help support hospitality businesses in reopening safely after the lockdown. 

Cornwall Council staff will be on hand to offer advice to pubs, restaurants, bars, and takeaways as they welcome customers for the first time from this Saturday, July 4. 

Hospitality businesses including pubs, restaurants, bars, takeaways, hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering accommodation and visitor attractions can reopen from this weekend provided they can comply with the Government’s Covid secure guidelines. 

The Council is reminding businesses of the key reopening requirements which include:

• A COVID-19 risk assessment for the business before reopening 
• A one metre-plus social distancing rule with mitigation
• A limit to the number of staff and customers on site to ensure social distancing
• A requirement to collect contact details for all customers to assist with the Government’s Test, Track and Trace system 
• No live performances, including drama, comedy and music, to take place in front of a live audience 
• Taking steps to prevent people from raising their voices, for example refraining from playing music or broadcasts at a volume that make normal conversation difficult and could encourage shouting
• Premises where close contact is highly likely such as nightclubs must stay shut for now

Businesses which have completed the necessary safety steps can display a Government poster showing they have complied.

For restaurants, cafes and pubs planning to place chairs and tables outside their premises from Saturday, Cornwall Council supports the use of outside areas, subject to risk assessments and it being safe to do so, in order to support social distancing.

Businesses must ensure that any use of an outside area does not block or impact on normal pedestrian traffic and should be respectful of neighbours. The Council will work with businesses to educate, inform and enforce where this is not done, under the existing licensing system.

Further licensing is required for the sale of alcohol (for consumption on or off the premises) and for supplying late night refreshment (hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am the next day).

If you already have a licence, please ensure it covers use of outside areas. If not, you may need to apply to vary the licence. The Council’s Licensing Team can help you with the application or authorisation process including providing other regulatory support needed. Please contact licensing@cornwall.gov.uk for more information or see here. 

New COVID-19 legislation is expected later this month which will require businesses to apply for a new permission known as a pavement licence. This is likely to have a consultation requirement. As soon as this regulation is approved by Parliament Cornwall Council will write to businesses and town and parish councils to explain how the rules apply to them.

Rob Nolan, Cornwall’s cabinet member for environment and public protection, said: “As our vital hospitality sector in Cornwall reopens for trade on Saturday our public protection teams will be out on the streets doing town centre walkthroughs giving safety advice, support and reassurance to businesses and the public during this momentous time.

“We are explaining, encouraging and supporting businesses to understand what they are required to do in order to reopen in a safe way that protects everyone from Coronavirus infection and which prevents or reduces the likelihood of any other untoward issues such as noise nuisance, littering and anti-social behaviour. 

“Enforcement actions will only be called upon where businesses are clearly creating COVID-19 infection risks such as failing to manage social distancing and necessary hygiene controls or failing to monitor the business and customers that could create noise nuisance, littering and anti-social behaviour. 

“Our primary aim is to help with business support and compliance with COVID 19 rules, so talk to our officers in the town centres when they are out and about, or get in touch with our business regulatory support team by phone or email.”

The Government has published guidance on working safely during Coronavirus. There is specific guidance for people who work in or run restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes or takeaways. 

If businesses have any queries relating to licensing matters for alcohol, email licensing@cornwall.gov.uk. Please be aware that we are expecting a high demand in calls for support at this time and we will get back to you as quickly as we can. 

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of anti-social behaviour and disorder. Additional resources will be available to support local businesses to resolve issues quickly and to provide help to people who are vulnerable.

If you need any further help contact businessadvice@cornwall.gov.uk

You can also join free Back in Business webinars hosted by the Council for specific sectors. Around 1,500 businesspeople have already taken part over the past month.

More advice is available at  https://wwwbusinessregulatorysupport.co.uk/ 

Anyone wishing to report issues where businesses may be failing to manage social distancing and take necessary hygiene controls can contact Cornwall Council on 0300 1231118 or email covid19@cornwall.gov.uk.

To report illegal social gatherings, anti-social behaviour or crime contact the police by calling 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk and call 999 in an emergency.

Devon & Cornwall Police has been anticipating the demand during this weekend and planning extensively with partners throughout the lockdown period for the re-opening of the region.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has provided a £500,000 investment to give support to 20 locations across the Force aimed at reducing drink related antisocial behaviour – providing elements such as extra street warden security, public toilets and CCTV monitoring.

People have a duty to drink responsibly, adhere to social distancing and not fight or commit criminal damage simply because we are coming out of lockdown. Police will take proactive action against any drink-related disorder and would ask people to think seriously about their actions.

Any questions please give a ring or email me

Have a good weekend

Take care

Jess

Re-opening of Hospitality & Accommodation Providers in Penzance

Re-post of email from Jess Morris (jessicacolliver@penzancebid.co.uk), Penzance BID Manager. Sent 17.43 on Thu 2 July 2020 to Penzance Businesses.

Hello All, 

Many of you have spent the past few weeks pouring over government guidelines and working out how you will be able to operate safely for your customers and staff, some of you have opened already and others will be opening this weekend and over the coming weeks. This weekend is the next phase of opening the town with customers able to once again enjoy a drink in the pub, a meal or stay overnight, I hope it will be an enjoyable weekend for all, Keep Safe and Stay Social. 

Restaurants, Pubs, Bars, Takeaways.
Please use the Government guidelines below which set out the overarching guidelines for respective sectors allowed to open:
Document: Keeping workers and customers safe during COVID-19 in restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway service (click here)


Risk Assessment
Please make sure that you have undertaken a risk assessment and that you have it available in a format which is easily accessible. Local authority officers and police can ask to see a copy of this risk assessment. A digital copy or a photograph is the preferred format. 

Customer Details 
In order to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 venues are expected to keep a temporary list of the details of customers who attend their venues. These details include the name, address and contact details of the customer. You must only keep the data for 21 days and then dispose of it in a safe manner. 

Groups/Capacity
The amount of people allowed in your venue is based on your own capacity calculation based on social distancing requirements. 

• limit those at a table to two households,up to a maximum of 6 people or two households. Indoor gatherings are limited to members of any two households (or support bubbles).
• It is strongly suggested that the venue offers a table service for customers both inside and outside the venue. 
• All customers inside the venue MUST be seated at tables.
• You must have a process for managing capacity (staff member, security at door etc.) and if capacity is reached you will need to prevent further customers from entering the venue. 
• Outside Areas - you must manage outside areas including capacity, social distancing, litter and behaviour of customers.

Off Sales

As Penzance is an alcohol restricted area, with a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), please advise customers purchasing off-sales that it should not be consumed in the PSPO area and if the drink is consumed within the PSPO area an authorised person can ask for it to be handed over or poured away.
 

New Legislation and 'Pavement' License

 A new Bill went through 1^st reading at the House of Lords on Tuesday and is likely to get Royal Assent via fast-track Covid-19 parliamentary process on Friday. Once this is passed any venue that has customers 'spilling' out onto the street will be required to obtain a Pavement License, more details on the process for obtaining a license will be sent out next week when they are published. For this weekend please ensure that you have a risk assessment in place and maintain a managed space for your customers.   See link here                      

Pedestrianising Chapel Street 

As part of the continuing work of the Penzance Covid 19 Recovery Working Group, we had several requests for a part of Chapel St to be closed to vehicles for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:30pm -11:30pm to allow for social distancing and for businesses to make the most of the summer months, this has been agreed with Highways and Cornwall Council.  From 4th July, Chapel Street from the junction with Princes Street to the junction with Abbey Street will be accessible by pedestrians,cycles and emergency vehicles only, for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings between the hours of 5:30 pm. and 11:30 pm, this will continue on the stated days and times until 4th October 2020. 

 

Visit Britain 'We're Good to Go'

As part of the continued work to open safely many accommodation providers are opening up this weekend to welcome their guests for the first time in months. Visit Britain has launched a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark,  businesses across the sector can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and check they have the required processes in place.  Thanks to the great work of the Penzance District Tourism Association (PDTA) most businesses in Penzance have already signed up for the scheme. 

If you haven't for your business, it is free to join and open to all businesses across the sector and you will be required to carry out your own risk assessments and submit them online. We encourage you to join this scheme to reassure both your guests and all those who enjoy and use  Penzance  (link here). 

Know before you go

Alongside the industry standard, Visit Britain have launched a ‘Know Before You Go’ public information campaign to support tourism in England as businesses start to re-open, reassuring visitors as restrictions are lifted by checking about what it is safe to do and when, and sign-posting to information about destinations and available services before travelling. Document: Know Before You Go (click here)  

Sorry for the long message, we are all working in a constantly changing world at the moment and I wanted to ensure that I had sent out the top line information to you all. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me and I will endeavour to help. 

 Have a good weekend. 

 Shop Local, Stay Safe, Keep Social

 Take care.

 

Jess