Dear resident
| · Changes to national restrictions from 2 December
· Self-isolation payments
· Free parking to shop local this Christmas
· Seeking projects to boost biodiversity and water quality
· We can be active
· Free online business training, 7-11 December
· Government spending review 2020 |
Changes to national restrictions from 2 December
Today the government announced the tiers different parts of England will be in from Wednesday 2 December.
From 2 December, the New Forest will be in Tier 2: High alert.
Common to many regions, this is a change from the tier we were in previously.
The new tiers, and the measures required in each, are necessary to protect the NHS and keep people safe. The more we stick to the rules, the quicker we can get back to normal. The government will review the tiers in 14 days.
The tier set for the area you live in determines what restrictions to follow. Each tier has tougher restrictions than it did last time.
In tier 2, the restrictions will include:
| · No household mixing indoors
· Rule of six will apply outdoors
· Pubs and restaurants can only serve alcohol as part of a substantial meal, and must close at 11pm
· Shops, gyms and personal care services will reopen
· Schools and colleges will remain open
· Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports will resume |
This is just a summary of the new rules. You can get more detail and information about what you can and cannot do from 2 December at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know
The current national restriction rules are still in place until 2 December and must be followed until they expire. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
Tiers are decided by public health recommendations based on the following:
| · Case detection rate – in all age groups (in particular, the over 60s)
· How quickly case rates are rising or falling
· Positivity in the general population
· Pressure on the NHS – including current and projected NHS capacity
· Local context and exceptional circumstances, such as a local but contained outbreak
· Areas can be moved up a tier if these indicators are not improving, and likewise down to a lower one if they improve. |
There has been promising news about vaccines, but for now, we must continue to be cautious and do all we can to keep each other safe and to follow the restrictions and guidance. This includes
| · washing your hands regularly,
· covering your face,
· keeping your distance from others. |
Our services continue to operate, but please check https://newforest.gov.uk/coronavirus for individual service details, and only visit our information offices if essential to do so.
Our Health and Leisure Centres will reopen from December 3. Please see https://leisure.newforest.gov.uk/home_page where details will be added.
The government have set out the way we will manage COVID-19 through the end of 2020 in their winter plan. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937529/COVID-19_Winter_Plan.pdf
You can see Hampshire coronavirus data at https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/coronavirus
Self-isolation payments
A one-off payment of £500, called ‘Test and Trace support’, is available for if you have to self-isolate, are unable to work, and receive benefits.
If this applies to you and you test positive, or are instructed to self-isolate as you have been in close contact with someone who has, read more and apply at: https://forms.newforest.gov.uk/ufs/ufsmain?formid=TEST_TRACE_SELF_ISOLATE&ebz=3_1606157603358&ebd=0&ebz=3_1606157603358
We have so far made 38 payments totalling £19k.
Free parking to shop local this Christmas
This year, where government restrictions on shopping allow, it’s even more important we support small businesses and shop local, safely, where we can.
Free Christmas parking days have proved popular over the past few years both with our residents, and local shops and business. So, to help you shop local in the run up to Christmas, parking will be free in all NFDC town and village car parks for five days during December:
| · Saturday 5 December, which is this year’s annual Small Business Saturday,
· Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, and
· Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December, the last weekend before Christmas. |
From 30 November you can buy an annual parking ticket (‘parking clock’) at https://newforest.gov.uk/article/1388/Pay-for-parking
Seeking projects to boost biodiversity and water quality
We are asking local landowners and groups to put forward ideas for projects to help enhance and benefit local wildlife and habitats, and help improve water quality.
We’d like to hear proposals for projects in the New Forest District area that will protect or improve the local biodiversity of plants and wildlife. In areas where water drains into the river Avon, Solent or Southampton Water, we’d like proposals for projects that reduce the phosphates and nitrates that are harming the water quality within these protected habitats.
Projects could include changing the current use of the land to reduce its impact on water quality in areas draining into the Avon or the Solent, using planting to absorb excess nutrients and create new wildlife habitats, or projects that focus on conserving or restoring particular habitats.
Full details including how to put forward ideas for sites or project proposals for consideration is on the Council’s website at: https://newforest.gov.uk/article/1779/Call-for-Projects-Biodiversity-Net-Gain-and-Nutrient-Mitigation The closing date for expressions of interest is 5 January 2021.
We can be active
‘We can be active’ is an online conversation about being active for everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Being active is vital for our physical and mental health. But not everyone enjoys exercise or feels confident or able to join in. That is why EnergiseMe, a charity which supports physical activity for all, wants to work with local communities to make it easier for everyone to be active on their own terms and is inviting you to join the online conversation.
The conversation is open 24 hours a day until 15 December, where you can anonymously share ideas, read and comment on what others have written, and vote on what you like or don’t like.
Register at https://wecanbeactive.clevertogether.com/welcome
Free online business training, 7-11 December
There’s still time to book your place for the free, practical, online business training we are providing through the Pop Up Business School.
The week-long course, from 7-11 December, is aimed at small businesses, entrepreneurs, and anyone thinking of starting a business in the New Forest or Hampshire. It will cover everything you need to build and maintain a successful business including sales and marketing, how to set up a website for free, and professional considerations around tax and legal issues.
Find out more and book your place at https://www.popupbusinessschool.co.uk/Hampshire
Government spending review 2020
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, presented his ‘Spending Review 2020’ to Parliament on Wednesday 25 November 2020.
The review determines how much is spent on public services over the next year starting April 2021.
The announcement included additional support to help local councils respond to Covid-19 pressures, including additional funding towards tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, and supporting households and businesses.
We are considering the details of the review and what it means for the budget and council tax for the coming year, which will be set at the council meeting on 22 February 2021.
Full details of the Chancellor’s spending review for 2020 is on the gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/spending-review-2020
Missed an email? Read previous residents emails at: https://newforest.gov.uk/article/1610/Residents-email-archive
Latest information from NFDC: https://www.newforest.gov.uk/coronavirus
Information on coronavirus from Hampshire County Council: https://www.hants.gov.uk/coronavirus
Latest information from central government: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
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