|
Our thoughts are with the Royal Family following the sad passing of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh. The Council is flying flags at half-mast on our buildings during the Period of National Mourning. The Duke’s funeral will take place on Saturday 17 April at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle along with a national one minute’s silence at 3pm. Businesses may wish to make arrangements for observing this, but there is no expectation for businesses to close during the mourning period unless they wish to do so. This is a decision for individual organisations.
Union flags flying from Royal Residences and Government buildings were half-masted on 9 April and will remain half-masted until 8am on 18 April, the day after the funeral. Businesses or other organisations wishing to pay their respects by half-masting flags or holding silences should follow the guidance that has been issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
If you are intending on announcing or conducting any special tributes in Westminster to commemorate The Duke’s passing, please let us know what you have planned by emailing communications@westminster.gov.uk.
|
|
|
From today, Westminster, along with the rest of the country, entered Step 2 of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown. For the business community, this means:
- All non-essential retail, including hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services can reopen.
- Restaurants and pubs are allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors.
- Gyms and spas can reopen, along with zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres.
- Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation.
- Weddings can be attended by up to 15 people.
- Funerals can be attended by up to 30 people, wakes up to 15.
- Driving lessons can resume, with driving tests restarting on 22 April.
Please visit our website for the latest on restrictions and exemptions.
|
|
|
|
Symptom-Free Home Testing Available: Symptom-free testing is now available for everyone who lives in, works in and visits Westminster. Regular testing of people without symptoms is important to help stop the virus spreading.
With the reopening of retail and hospitality, we have launched a dedicated site in Soho for the distribution of free home testing kits. These are available at 62 Broadwick St, Soho, W1F 9BD from 10am to 5pm daily. There is no need to book in advance.
Click for a list of further locations to collect free, easy-to-use test kits.
You can also order free home testing kits by visiting the GOV.uk website.
|
|
|
|
The Return of Al Fresco Dining in Westminster: Visitors to Westminster are now once again being welcomed back to our outdoor hospitality venues. We are pleased to have processed over 600 Pavement Licence applications to venues to provide al fresco dining from today. If your Pavement Licence is due to expire on 30 April, you must submit a new application so that you can continue to provide outdoor dining throughout the summer.
New applications made this year are valid until 30 September. Please note that a condition of this licence is that your business adheres to the guidelines of serving seated customers only. Please ensure that there are robust systems in place for any queues that may form and that there are clear access routes for pedestrians at all times. Our City Inspectors and COVID-19 marshals are on hand to ensure everyone is able to enjoy themselves safely. For more details on guidance on al fresco dining, click here to download our brochure for businesses.
|
|
|
Protect Duty Consultation – Now Live: The Home Office is seeking views on a legislative requirement to consider and take forward protective security and preparedness measures at ‘Publicly Accessible Locations’.
Publicly Accessible Locations include any place to which the public has access. The Duty has the potential to impact many Westminster venues, including hotels, bars, retail premises, educational institutions, places of worship and the public realm. For some, the requirements of the Duty could entail minimal new costs.
This consultation seeks views from all parties and we would encourage you to respond to the consultation, particularly if it will affect your business.
Click here for more information and to take part in the consultation.
|
|
|
Helping the Hospitality Sector: We’re planning to create an informative video series to help hospitality businesses learn more about Council services, regulations with regards to commercial premises, how to adhere to these and proactive steps you can carry out to achieve compliance and resilience. We’ve put together a survey to help us understand whether businesses are interested in this offer, and if so, what topics you’d like support with.
Please take a minute to complete this short survey to help inform us of the support we should be making available to you as a Westminster Food & Beverage business.
|
|
|
Round 2 of the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Scheme: We have received a £2.3m ‘top-up’ to the ARG scheme, bringing the total funding available to £7.5m. The eligibility criteria has been revised and individual grant awards have increased. Our business website has a complete list of how funding is now being allocated and what categories of business are eligible.
The scheme will continue to operate on a first come, first served basis to eligible businesses, so please only submit an application if you believe your business meets all of the mandatory criteria listed here.
You can submit an application here and in the event that you encounter any issues, please contact the Westminster Business Unit by email or call 020 7641 2070.
|
|
|
Look up, Look out: The Metropolitan Police has launched a new campaign to reduce the vulnerability of Westminster’s communities. A dedicated robbery team is working to disrupt robbery and associated crime in and around the West End using, among other tactics, plain-clothes and high-visibility patrols in hot spot areas.
Click here for advice on how your business can become more resilient to crime.
|
|
|
Support for your Business
|
|
|
London Business Hub Property Advice Service Programme: Are you a small to medium-sized business in London looking for free advice on business rates, understanding your lease, landlord negotiations and finding commercial premises in these troubling times? The London Business Hub’s Property Advice Service is offering free masterclasses and one-to-one sessions on managing your commercial space.
Webinars will be taking place monthly from 15 April, 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Click here to find out more and register.
|
|
|
Debt Support for Business Owners: The Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s Specialist Debt Service is able to provide individuals with any types of debt advice. This includes advice on rents, business rates, loans, credit cards, utility bill and other issues. It can explain options available to debtors and the possible remedies available. The CAB will be able to signpost you to appropriate advice agencies if it is unable to help.
Click here to contact the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
|
|
|
For more information on the 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 need bespoke advice, don’t hesitate to contact our Business Unit to get appropriate help. |
|
|
|
|
