Local Alert Level Change

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15/10/2020

Local Alert Level Changing: From Saturday, 17 October, London will move to the High (Tier 2) Local Covid Alert Level. For businesses operating in London, this means new considerations and restrictions:

No one must mix indoors with anyone who they do not live with (or have not formed a support bubble with). Venues must ensure people do not meet in their premises with people from outside of their household or support bubble
Outdoors, people can meet in groups of up to 6 people. This includes in pub and restaurant gardens or licenced pavement table and chairs.

As previously, under the Medium (Tier 1) Local Covid Alert Level, the same restrictions remain:

Businesses selling food or drink on their premises must close between 10pm and 5am. Takeaway can continue after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through. Orders must be made via phone, online or by post. Check here for exemptions
Businesses and venues are required to collect customer, visitor, and staff data and display QR codes to support NHS Test and Trace
Customers and staff in indoor settings must wear face coverings
Businesses must ensure that they operate in a COVID-secure manner, including restrictions on table service and group bookings
Businesses must ensure that if their workers are required to self-isolate, they do not work outside their designated place of self-isolation.

Westminster City Council Inspectors will be visiting premises on Saturday to hand out posters that will help customers to understand the new restrictions.

See full guidance on which businesses and venues are permitted to be open where the local COVID alert level is high. Businesses and venues that fail to comply with these restrictions may face fines of up to £10,000, prosecution, or in some cases closure.

New support for al fresco dining: While the current programme of temporary road closures and other measures that were introduced to support outdoor eating and drinking will come to an end at the end of this month, we want to help our wonderful restaurants, bars, pubs and cafés to continue to provide a safe and enjoyable service. So we're working to allow umbrellas and heaters to prolong al fresco dining throughout the winter months.

The Council now wants to hear from local communities and businesses about potential new schemes which are winter-appropriate and supported by residents, businesses and emergency services alike. Please contact the team with potential solutions at movementstrategy@westminster.gov.uk.

Business Tracker Survey Results: We've now released the full results of our wave one business tracker survey, available online here. The first wave produced useful insights into the support measures in the re-opening of the City and vital insights into the business community's current challenges, and how we can help. You can download the f ull results report here.

Don't forget - we have extended the quarter 2 tracker to ensure we get a fully representative sample. I f you haven't already shared your important insight, please take a few minutes to do so now. The survey closes this Sunday.

Support for your business

Free Support to Digitally Transform your Business: In partnership with Three and Imperial College, Westminster City Council is offering a series of free in-depth digital skills training sessions. Beginning on Tuesday 27 October, and hosted in the lunch hour, these expert sessions have something for every business. Sign up now through the links below!

Open Forum: This your chance to have your questions answered live by the Leader of the Council Rachael Robathan, and Cabinet Members. Register now to join us online on Monday 26 October to ask us about our plans to create a greener and cleaner Westminster, and how your business can get involved.

Peer Network Programme for the Food Hospitality Sector: Impact Hub, in partnership with the GLA, is running a Peer Network Programme to help businesses in the food hospitality sector develop agility and confidently navigate the next few months. This fully-funded online programme is supporting 10 select businesses. It's a great opportunity to receive tangible insights, find solutions and be held accountable by a supportive group of peers who are experiencing similar challenges/opportunities. Gain confidence in your business survival and resilience, as well as leadership and management abilities, with the support of a new network. Apply online now.

Licensing Policy: Westminster is at the heart of London’s night-time and visitor economy, and licensed premises contribute a huge amount to the economy and vibrancy of the City.

The Council is required to review and revise our Licensing Policy by Wednesday 6 January 2021. The consultation will run until Sunday 15 November 2020. Read more about the Licensing Policy and our proposed changes at this link. As part of this process, we want to hear from you on the changes we are proposing. Please have your say by filling in our short online survey

You can also join an online Q&A session with Cllr Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Licensing on Monday 19 October, book your ticket today.

Test and Trace Support Payment: As of 28 September, you may be entitled to a Test and Trace Support Payment of £500 if you are self-isolating because of COVID-19 and you are either employed or self-employed. The payment is to support people on low incomes who are unable to work from home if they are told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace and lose income as a result. Visit our site for full details on how to claim.

New hotline launched to report COVID fraud: A new hotline has been launched to stop fraudsters illegally targeting COVID stimulus schemes. In an initiative between government and the independent charity Crimestoppers, the public can now call a new COVID Fraud Hotline (0800 587 5030) anonymously and free of charge to report suspected fraudulent activity.

GLA property advice seminars: The London Business Hub has launched a Property Advice Service designed to help level the property playing field in the complicated pandemic landscape.

The service provides free support and advice to London-based micro and small/medium sized businesses. Which cover issues such as signing your first lease or licence, renewing an existing one, rent disputes, considering going to arbitration and eviction. Register your interest for sessions on 6th November & 4th December by following this link.

NHS COVID-19 App & QR Codes: Guidance has been updated to add further clarification on the venues who need to display NHS posters. Guidance has also been added for hospitality venues on how to verify whether an individual has checked in on the NHS COVID-19 app.

It’s fast and easy to create these posters on the Government QR website. The NHS COVID-19 app enables customers and visitors to ‘check in’ to your venue by scanning the QR code. For more information on the app and QR codes, and what they means for your business, please visit the NHS COVID-19 website.

For more information on ways Westminster City Council, the UK Government and the community can help, please follow the links below:

Whilst we are dealing with a greater volume of queries than usual, if you do need bespoke advice, don’t hesitate to contact our Business Unit as they may be able to help with your situation.

Visit the Business Westminster website