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Due to the evolving situation, we have postponed our regular resident newsletter, and will instead be sending daily updates and information about what the council is doing and how to stay safe in these challenging times. For updates and advice, please visit our website at www.kingston.gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Update on Kingston Council services
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The council is following government guidance on social distancing and isolation. This is being reviewed on a daily basis. In order to support the most vulnerable, our staff are being re-deployed to support our most critical services.
For a full list of all council services that either have revised opening times or will be closed for the foreseeable future to limit the spread of the virus, please see our website.
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Community activities and volunteering
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We have established a volunteering network working in partnership with Kingston Voluntary Action (KVA) and Volunteering Kingston. We want to support and coordinate the volunteering efforts across the borough delivering effective support to those who need it.
We are actively recruiting volunteers in the borough and will be working with our partners to deploy them where they are most needed.
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The Food Bank have about 2-3 months’ worth of food in their main store but are continuing to receive donations. They are updating their website with the food they most need. The list will be reviewed each week and updated as necessary.
Their main food items are:
- Tea, coffee, milk, juice or squash
- baked beans, spaghetti, tinned tomatoes, pasta sauce, soups
- meat meals, fish, vegetarian meals
- pasta, rice, noodles, instant mash
- rice pudding, custard, steam puddings, biscuits
- tinned vegetables, tinned fruit
- jams and spreads
- extras like savory snacks, oil, chocolates etc
- baby items - food, milk, nappies
- toiletries
- pet food
All centres will be open next week but changes will be introduced to ensure the Food Bank operate to minimise contact time in the centres.
The Food Bank needs volunteers in the main warehouse to sort the food donations and possibly some delivery people to collect the donations from the supermarkets.
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Kingston Council has a statutory duty to collect Council Tax and is required to issue annual bills at least 14 days before the first instalment is due (1 April 2020). Over 68,000 bills were issued this year and preparation began months in advance.
Resident taxpayers who are experiencing problems and finding it difficult to pay are advised to call 0208 547 5007 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday), as it may be possible to make an alternative instalment plan. The lines are quite busy at the moment but we would urge you to contact us and we will do all that we can to assist you.
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We are updating our website and advice section on a daily basis, as well as communicating all updates on our social media channels.
There will be information coming on Monday in this newsletter covering topics such as committees, health and wellbeing, parking and information for renters and home-owners.
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- It has been arranged for 240kg of prepared food to be distributed between care providers.
- A letter of support is being shared with all our Adult Social Care providers and care homes for them to send to supermarket managers to request they reduce restrictions on the number of items they can purchase in case their own delivery systems fail.
- A letter is being sent to main retail outlets in the borough asking them to support shopping by identified people helping vulnerable residents due to the virus and to continue donating supplies to food banks.
- Our library service has created an online tutorial to help people access e-books, audio books and e-magazines whilst our libraries are closed and if they’re self-isolating.
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