Safer places - business information pack
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In order to help businesses open safely so they can trade and do their bit in reducing the spread of COVID-19 we have produced this pack of information.
This includes the latest national guidance and links to that information for businesses – such as measures to help people keep their distance and actions you may need to take for the safety of customers and staff.
The pack also includes templates for signs and stickers you can download and copy to use within your premises – from direction and distance signs to specialist information to encourage people to follow the measures or talk to you about problems they may find.
We recognise that this is a new way of working for everyone and businesses have a responsibility to put these measures in. However, we know that these initiatives will evolve as guidance changes or improvements are made.
The public also have a role to play in this to stick to the measures put in place to keep themselves and others safe.
This is part of West Suffolk Council’s wider support of our communities and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as our creating Safer Places work. This is to help local businesses open as national guidelines allow and make it safe for people to use our town centres.
Find out our Safer Places principles
COVID early outbreak management action cards
The Joint Biosecurity Centre Action cards are available on the Public Health England (PHE) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Centre website. Cards have been released for the following settings:
| Setting category | Setting |
|---|---|
| Education | Early years Primary, secondary and special schools, and alternative provision for schools Residential settings in education Further education Higher education |
| Commercial workplaces | Contact centres, offices and operations rooms |
| Industrial workplaces | Working in factories, plants, warehouses and waste management and storage sites Laboratory and research facilities |
| Food and drink | Food delivery, food to go and mobile catering Food truck, kiosks, stands and open air markets Food contract catering |
| Institutional | Approved premises Armed forces and defence Detention and immigration removal centres Youth detention centres |
| Small and large gatherings | Business event venues Community activities and other hobby clubs Children's community activities, holiday clubs, after school clubs, tuition and other out of school provision for children Libraries Grassroots sports, gyms/leisure facilities Sports grounds and venues |
| Travel | Airports, seaports, stations and terminals Harbours and marinas Ships, ferries, aircrafts and other vessels Taxis and hire cars Trains, trams, tubes, buses and coaches |
Stickers and signs
Highways changes and signage supported by:
| Information signs | |
|---|---|
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| Takeaway signs | |
|---|---|
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Coronavirus: Information poster for takeaways and restaurants offering a pick-up service (PDF) |
Guidance for businesses
Businesses are responsible for making sure their premises are safe. Companies can see the latest guidance from the Government: GOV.UK - Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
You can also find more detailed:
- Advice for businesses to help disabled people through COVID-19 (added 5 August 2020)
- Guidance for retail businesses on risk assessing operations in line with coronavirus and health and safety regulations when re-opening
- Advice for re-opening businesses - including risk assessment and Legionella guidance
- Advice for re-opening hairdressing salons, barbers and beauty salons
- Advice for food businesses
- As many businesses remain closed and some are preparing to re-open, some simple checks and procedures should be carried out to manage any risks associated with Legionellosis, pest control, and so on. For basic advice download: Considerations for businesses that are currently closed due to coronavirus
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Pavement licenses: (amended 24 July 2020) Applications are open in West Suffolk for temporary pavement licences to help cafés, restaurants and pubs trade during COVID-19 and keep people safe.
The move by West Suffolk Council follows new legislation just agreed by Government to ease previous restrictions on putting items such as tables and chairs outside premises for the sale of food or drink for consumption.
A fast track process has been introduced so premises can apply, relevant consultees can have their say and a decision made in a much shorter time. Government allows councils to charge up to £100 to apply but West Suffolk Council has agreed during this time to make the process free. More information can be found at Temporary pavement licences
Legislation
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (Latest available (Revised – with Amendments 1-2))
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (amendment) (No3) Regulations 2020
Government guidance
- GOV.UK - Reopen your business safely during coronavirus (COVID‑19)
- GOV.UK - Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace
- GOV.UK Opening certain businesses and venues in England from 4 July 2020
- GOV.UK - Closing certain businesses and venues in England
- Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
- GOV.UK - COVID-19 Business support including the job retention scheme, self-employment support, advice for working safely or phone: 0300 456 3565
- Public Health England (PHE) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Centre
Local and organisation guidance
- Suffolk Resilience Forum
- TransportXtra - Green transport recovery webinars
- New Anglia Growth Hub – COVID-19 Business Toolkit phone 0300 333 6536
- Business Companion - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- COVID-19 Licensing update
- Hackney carriage and private hire COVID-19 update
- Bury St Edmunds BID members - Support and updates for businesses
- Federation of Small Businesses Advice - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice and guidance for small business and the self-employed
- Suffolk County Council Coronavirus (COVID-19) information
- Heart of the South West Growth Hub – COVID-19 support for businesses
- British horseracing Industry - COVID-19 Advice for equine and horse racing industry
If you have any queries about the guidance, please contact our enforcement team - email food&safety@westsuffolk.gov.uk to see what actions you need to take.
Highways information
To ensure appropriate safety measures can be put in place for communities across Suffolk, the county council, with partners has developed guidance and advice on how safe, social distancing measures can be maintained on the highway.
This includes empowering local councils and the business community to make small-scale temporary changes to enable safe, social distancing, without the need to seek consent from Suffolk County Council.
The guidance can be found at Suffolk County Council - Guidance for safer places in the highway