Services Operating to reduced standards:

•  Bourne Corn Exchange is open for a limited number of events and activities.
•  Stamford Arts Centre is open for film, hires, workshops and activities. Box Office Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 8pm
•  The Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham is open for a limited number of events and activities. Box Office Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm.

Services operating to normal standards:

Online and Telephone Services will operate as normal (and customers are encouraged to utilise these routes).

Services withdrawn until further notice:  

Face to face advice and site visits have been withdrawn to minimise avoidable physical contact.
 

Business Grants

SKDC is committed to supporting business during this difficult time and is working closely with InvestSK who are administering this funding to business - you can find more information on how to access this support on https://investsk.co.uk/businessgrants

Services operating to reduced standards:

Bus Stations in Bourne, Grantham and Stamford are open and being utilised by bus operators, which are running reduced schedules.

SKDC-operated car parks are open.

Services operating to reduced standards:

Grantham cemetery and crematorium remain operational for funerals and burials. 
To maintain social distancing a maximum of 30 people are able to attend each ceremony.

Grantham crematorium and church yard cemeteries are available as a walk through space, but social distancing should be observed on all occasions.

All car parks are still operational with guidance on social distancing and cleanliness placed at the car parks.

Public toilets are now open: They will be regularly cleaned, and hand sanitiser will be provided, while signs will be on display to remind users to maintain good hygiene and observe social distancing guidelines.

SKDC is running virtual committee and council meetings.

Click through for more information on how to join our meetings and/or to see the agenda: https://bit.ly/2Ypr0Pu

Please refer to the links below for further advice and support

•  Council Tax Hardship Fund SKDC [67kb]
• www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus

Services operating to normal standards:

• Online and Telephone Services will operate as normal (and customers are encouraged to utilise these routes)

Services operating to reduced standard:  

• Revenues Visiting Officer visits to empty properties only, on a Monday and Wednesday. 

Services withdrawn until further notice: 

• Face to face advice, site visits and house visits have been withdrawn to minimise avoidable physical contact

To make a general enquiry:

• Contact Us form online
• Email: customerservices@southkesteven.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01476 40 60 80
• Out of hours/emergency number: 01476 59 00 44

Services operating to reduced standards:

Grantham - All services are available by appointment only, these can be made by contacting us. Post boxes remain available for document drop off, these are collected weekly.

Bourne - Open for Library services as well as Council appointments that can be made by contacting us. Post boxes remain available for document drop off and are collected weekly.

Services operating to normal standards:

• All services are on offer, with restrictions on face-to-face contact

Services operating to normal standards:

• Processing of online applications and email enquiries

Services operating to reduced standards:

• Telephone enquiries

Services withdrawn until further notice

• Viewing the electoral register
• Receipt of evidence 

Most services operating to normal standards:

Advice for restarting a business

EXTENDED CONSTRUCTION HOURS

Following the announcement by the government on 13 May 2020 regarding a relaxing of working hours on construction sites to enable greater productivity following the COVID restrictions, South Kesteven supports this approach but would remind developers of the need to balance extended working hours whilst continuing to consider the impact on local residents, some of whom may be working prolonged hours as key workers in the fight against Coronavirus.

If your planning permission contains restrictions on construction working hours, you must make a request to our Planning Team who will consider your request in consultation with our Environmental Health Colleagues and issue a response to you before you begin to operate the extended hours. Please forward any requests to: planningenforcement@southkesteven.gov.uk .

It may also be helpful to Inform local residents, through your websites or by letter drop, of the Government's relaxation and your intended working hours. You may also want to consider offering a complaint helpline should be people feel they are being excessively disturbed. Please remember that the relaxation of working hours does not exempt enforcement action by this authority where a Statutory Nuisance has been established.

Services operating to reduced standards:

• The council will use its discretion on deadlines for Freedom of Information requests
• The Information Commissioner's Office states that people should expect delays on FOI and Subject Access requests as resources are diverted to other areas

Most services operating to normal standards

If you are registering a new food business, please do this online at southkesteven.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8309   

Government guidance for food businesses
gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-food-businesses

Also: Advice for restarting a business

Message to Restaurants, Cafes and Drinking Establishments 

Restaurants, cafes and drinking establishments (Use Class A3, A4, mixed A3 and A4 and Class AA) can now sell takeaway food for a limited period of 12 months. 
It is subject to a condition that the owner notifies the Local Planning Authority if the building and any land within its curtilage is being use, or will be used, for the provision of takeaway food at any time during the relevant period.
The provision of takeaway food includes the provision of hot or cold food that has been prepared for consumers for collection or delivery to be consumed off the premises. 
Notification should be made in writing or by email to planning@southkesteven.gov.uk

Grounds works are fully functional. 

EnvironmentSK Ltd is SKDC Contractor for Grounds Maintenance

Services include:

• Grounds maintenance of Grantham crematoria and Grantham Cemetery
• Litter picking and grass cutting of parks and larger open spaces to allow the public to exercise etc.
• Emergency tree works
• Litter picking and grass cutting of SKDC open spaces
• Grass cutting of closed burial grounds
• Grass cutting of verges within Grantham only
• Assisted garden maintenance to council properties

Business as usual for SKDC's Housing land taking into consideration principles of PPE and social distancing.

Covid19 and Renting - Guidance for Landlords and Tenants 

• Renting guidance for tenants and landlords
• Understanding the possession action process (guide for landlords and tenants)

SKDC services operating to reduced standards:

• Applications for disabled facilities grants are being processed as normal, however, there may be delays in surveying and installation of adaptations.

SKDC's responsibilities on homelessness operating to normal standards.

Repairs & Maintenance described below operating to normal standards:

• The priority for our Housing Improvement & Repairs service will be for emergency and external repairs only.

An emergency/urgent repair is something that needs to be fixed quickly because it is a danger to health or safety.

For example:

• no heating or hot water (during extreme weather)
• no electricity
• no cold, clean drinking water
• dirty water coming up through plug holes or toilets
• a damaged door or window that has left your home insecure
• a severe leak or burst pipe
• leaks affecting the electrics
• unsafe electrical fitting that is sparking or smoking, or bare wiring.
• excessive damp affecting the health of the occupant or the building structure
• external work eg roofing repairs

Services operating to a reduced standard:

Routine repairs will be logged. They will be dealt with at a later date as resources will be directed to ensure emergency and urgent repairs are dealt with.

Services withdrawn until further notice:

• Communal rooms at sheltered schemes remain closed.

SKDC's leisure centres at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre, Stamford Leisure Pool, Deepings Leisure Centre, and Bourne Leisure Centre, have re-opened under Government guidelines. 

Gym and swimming has commenced across all four centres, activities must be booked in advance via the LeisureSK website.

Group exercise classes and sports hall use - for badminton, five a side football etc. have all resumed.

For any queries please contact your centre.

Services operating to normal standards:

Applicants for new hackney carriage and private hire driver licences who have completed all parts of the application, including the Group 2 medical, can make an appointment with customer services for their application to be taken.

Services operating to reduced standards:

Vehicle Licences ​

• Vehicle licence applications should continue to be made as usual and will be processed when accompanied by all necessary documentation. Vehicle plates will be available for collection on an appointment only basis.

Driver Licences

• Driver renewal applications should be made as usual. Where the applicants own GP is unable to provide a group 2 medical due to reduced services, the applicant may obtain the medical from a different GP/Doctor who as access to their medical records. The standard SKDC medical form must be completed and signed by the practitioner.  

We are pleased to be able to welcome back traders that are classed as non-essential, which means our markets are now fully open.

They include Bourne (Thursdays), Stamford (Fridays and Saturdays) and Grantham (Saturdays).

All visitors to the market are reminded of the importance of maintaining a two-metre distance from anyone outside of their household.

Public toilets are now open:

Toilets in Abbey Gardens, Wyndham Park Visitor Centre and Dysart Park Buildings, Grantham, are open 9am-4pm seven days a week. Those in Red Lion Square, Stamford, are open 9am-4pm Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and 7am-4pm on Fridays.

Facilities in Bourne Community Access Point are open 9am-4pm seven days a week, South Street, Bourne, from 9am-4pm seven days a week and in Market Deeping from 9am-4pm Monday to Saturday.

Public safety risk assessments have been carried out prior to the toilets reopening. They will be regularly cleaned, and hand sanitiser will be provided, while signs will be on display to remind users to maintain good hygiene and observe social distancing guidelines.

All services operating to normal standards.

Most services operating to normal standards

• Wyndham Park Visitor Centre is re-opens Thursday 15 April and will be open Thursday-Sunday, 11am-3pm.
• Play parks are open with usage guidance in place (eg sanitising hands)
• Wyndham Park outdoor gym.
• Tennis courts.

Operating to reduced standards:

• Angling at Queen Elizabeth Park

Planning Services

If you are intending to submit a new application, we would encourage you to use the Planning Portal's comprehensive online submission and payment service. Please see our website here for how to apply through the Planning Portal: http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8169

Applications made directly to the Council by email or post, together with cheque payments, could take much longer to process.

Services operating to normal standards:

· Planning Applications, Street Naming and Numbering, Land Charges and Planning Support will continue to be provided as normal.

· Planning Committee meetings have resumed.

· Processing Applications for temporary changes of use to allow takeaway services during COVID period.

· Coordinating requests to extend construction hours on building sites.

· Member training 

· Planning Policy functions

Services operating to reduced standards:

· Submission and payment for planning applications electronically via the Planning Portal are encouraged. Email and paper applications may take longer to process.

· All planning applications are being determined but with restrictions on site visits, including visits by Members of the Planning Committee.

· The duty planner service is replaced with telephone appointments.

· Non-statutory site notices are replaced by wider neighbour notification by letter.

· Urgent enforcement complaints are being prioritised.

· Site visits for enforcement cases that were delayed due to Covid restrictions are being visited as officers work through the backlog of investigations.

· Planning Policy enquiries will be dealt with via email where possible, or telephone.

Services withdrawn until further notice:

· Placing non-statutory site notices at application sites

Extended Construction Hours

Following the announcement by the government on 13 May 2020 regarding a relaxing of working hours on construction sites to enable greater productivity following the COVID restrictions, South Kesteven supports this approach but would remind developers of the need to balance extended working hours whilst continuing to consider the impact on local residents, some of whom may be working prolonged hours as key workers in the fight against Coronavirus.

Until 30^th September 2021, if your planning permission contains restrictions on construction working hours, you must make a request to our Planning Team who will consider your request in consultation with our Environmental Health Colleagues and issue a response to you before you begin to operate the extended hours. Please forward any requests to: planningenforcement@southkesteven.gov.uk .

It may also be helpful to Inform local residents, through your websites or by letter drop, of the Government's relaxation and your intended working hours. You may also want to consider offering a complaint helpline should be people feel they are being excessively disturbed. Please remember that the relaxation of working hours does not exempt enforcement action by this authority where a Statutory Nuisance has been established.

Message to Restaurants, Cafes and Drinking Establishments

Temporary Permitted Development rights allowing for the provision of moveable structures such as marquees, decks and large canopies within the grounds of the establishment cease to apply after 1^st January 2022.

If your establishment has erected such a structure it must be removed immediately after this date. If you wish to retain any structures after this date, you should apply for planning permission not less than 8 weeks before the end of temporary period to allow adequate time for your application to be determined.

Services operating to normal standards:

Online and Telephone Services will operate as normal (and customers are encouraged to utilise these routes).

House visits will be undertaken but entry to the property will not take place.

Services withdrawn until further notice:  

Face to face advice has been withdrawn to minimise avoidable physical contact.

The Big Clean service is running as normal, initially concentrating on our rural areas.

Please visit investsk.co.uk for all advice on:

• Funding
• Business support
• Reopening guidelines
• New business opportunities

Further specific government guidance is available on:

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough):
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Self-employment Income Support Scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

Go to www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19 to find guidance for employees, employers and businesses about the Coronavirus outbreak.

All SKDC services operating to normal standards

Waste matters

Coronavirus impact on your waste collection service

Given the pace of the coronavirus national emergency, we are reacting on a daily basis to the way we do things and it is understandable that residents have questions about how this affects their waste and recycling collections.

At present there is no change in the way we collect and empty your bins and we are working hard to do what we can to maintain this essential public service. We continue to operate our rounds as we have always done, taking every care to ensure our customers' and our crews' safety and welfare.

This could change, however, and we will ensure that we update you as soon as possible. If government guidance changes or we don't have enough crew for a specific round, we will make you aware of that as this may mean that we need your support to enable us to collect the bins at a different time or day. Whilst we will seek to redeploy staff from elsewhere in the council first, there may come a time when we have insufficient staff, through their own illness or the need to self-isolate, to fulfil all our collections and duties.

Our collection crews take every precaution they can and wear protective gloves when collecting your bins, so we are asking you to wash your hands before relocating your bin, wipe down the handle and wash your hands after moving it.

We have taken note of comments on social media about three crew members being in the cab of a refuse lorry. We assure you we are closely monitoring the national guidance and taking sensible precautions to ensure their welfare.  Our arrangements are being informed by the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum and include promoting hand washing, high levels of personal hygiene, the wearing of personal protective gloves and clothing and being highly vigilant in respect of the monitoring of COVID-19 symptoms.

The collection of black bin household waste is our priority, but it may be that we must divert colleagues away from other tasks to achieve this.

If this happens we will do everything we can to make customers aware of any impact, through our website, social media channels and the media.

Side Waste (additional bags)

We have been asked whether we will be taking side waste at this time.

We appreciate that with more people being at home for longer, residents may see additional accumulation of extra waste and recycling. But in order to ensure the service continues to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, we are unable to take any side waste with your black bin at this time.

We ask that you try and maximise capacity in your bins at home by crushing down packaging as small as possible and using a home composting bin (if you have one) to dispose of as much vegetable and garden waste as possible.

Recycling

Please remember to only recycle the items allowed in your silver bin:
http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9021

Help us protect our staff so we can continue our service for you

Please help us continue our service and protect our staff by following the guidance below for households displaying coronavirus symptoms:

• any personal waste (such as used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths) from households should be stored securely within rubbish bags
• these bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste
• this should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your black bin

It is extremely important that tissues are NOT put in recycling bins or wastepaper bins.

By taking these actions you will help the refuse teams remain safe and continue to provide the normal level of waste collection services for as long as possible.

Garden waste should, as usual, not be put in your general waste bin/bags. It should be put in your garden waste bin or taken to a HWRC, when they reopen.