|
This is a regular Living in Havering bulletin designed to keep you up-to-date with how Havering Council and our borough is responding to COVID-19
For all the latest information see our website or follow us via our facebook and twitter channels if you can.
You can find details of any confirmed changes to Council services, or opening hours, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the regularly updated, service disruption pages.
Although the vast majority of residents in Havering have broadband services at home, or internet on their phones or tablets, there are a few that don't. If you know someone, perhaps a friend or relative, in this category, please share any relevant information you see in these bulletins with them by phone call or text message.
|
We are today launching Havering Helps, a package of measures worth more than £4.5m to support residents, businesses and care providers in the borough cope better with the financial impact of coronavirus.
With the borough heeding government’s advice to ‘stay at home, support the NHS and save lives’, the Council’s package recognises that these measures will have financial impacts for many in the borough.
The Council is committing that no resident in the borough in either Council Tax or council rent debt will be evicted, or subject to court or bailiff action, for at least the next three months, and has challenged private landlords to do likewise.
The package will include:
- £2m from Council emergency reserves for Havering’s Emergency Assistance Scheme which will provide residents in real financial need with up to £100 a time in cash, up to a limit of £1,000 a year, as well as food vouchers and help purchasing replacement essential home white goods.
- £1.8m provided from government to give all residents currently benefiting from Council Tax Support a discount of £150 on bills. More than 8,000 households in the borough currently benefit from this help.
- £320,000 to increase capacity to administer new applications for Housing Benefit and Council Tax support.
- £500,000 to help adult social care providers, personal assistants and voluntary sector care providers ‘keep caring’ as they provide a front line response to coronavirus.
Many businesses in the borough will be able to support their employees thanks to government measures on salaries and by accessing grants of up to £25,000.
Business rates are paused for three months and we have already applied 100% relief to businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors as well as cancelling direct debits. This will enable the borough’s employers to do the right thing for workers.
My sincere thanks to everyone who is following the government guidance to stay at home in order to protect the NHS. Together we will beat this virus and my Council will do everything it can to help you through this unprecedented crisis.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
The Council’s full programme of measures, with links to apply online, is available on our website.
|
 Havering Council is running a free-to-call helpline for residents with urgent needs because of coronavirus.
The helpline - 0800 368 5201 - is for emergencies only and will be answered by staff redeployed from other Council services. You can call between 8.30am and 6pm on weekdays and between 11am and 4pm at the weekend.
You can also email: covid19support@havering.gov.uk
Please do not use this number to report a missed rubbish collection. That should be reported online.
Residents with less urgent needs, or requiring advice on other Havering Council services, should go to our website for a range of contact options.
Havering Council has plans in place to keep vital frontline services running.
Other services will be subject to change.
|
Havering Music School
Havering Music School and Fairkytes Arts Centre are closed.
However, the music school is offering online lessons.
Langtons House and death registrations
Langtons House is now be closed to visitors.
Please email registration@havering.gov.uk or call 01708 433481 on weekdays if you have an urgent query.
Due to coronavirus the process for registering a death has changed.
Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of Havering residents have been helpful and understanding of the need to make changes to a number of Council services in order to keep essential services running.
Unfortunately some residents have been a bit too eager to help our refuse collection teams.
We have lost some staff who are not happy about being approached by residents trying to talk at close distance with them, or hand them rubbish bags thinking they are doing them a favour. Please don't do this. Leave your bags where they would normally be picked up and keep at least 2 metres away from anyone who is not living in your household.
|
If you have symptoms of Coronavirus (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), use the 111 coronavirus service.
If you need help or advice not related to Coronavirus:
- for health information and advice, use the NHS website or your GP surgery website
- for urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service – only call 111 if you're unable to get help online
- for life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance.
Help and support from a GP
If you need to contact a GP, do not go into the surgery in person.
You can:
- visit the GP surgery website, where you may be directed to the eConsult service providing you with advice and treatment from the surgery online
- use an online service to contact your GP – find your GP to get their website details
- phone your GP surgery – most practice answerphones in Bexley explain how you can access the advice of a GP if you are unable to get online.
A phone or video call with a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional may be booked for you.
You'll only be asked to visit the surgery if absolutely necessary.
Your GP surgery may be very busy at the moment. So you may have to wait longer than usual to speak to someone if it's not urgent.
Repeat prescriptions
If you have a repeat prescription that you normally request at your GP surgery or pharmacy, you can do this online.
To do this, you'll need to register to use online services.
|
Thanks to staff at Sainsbury’s Hornchurch and M&S Romford who kindly donated carrier bags to support our Council-led COVID-19 emergency response.
Sainsbury’s donated a huge box of carrier bags to package up our NHS parcels for vulnerable residents, whilst M&S donated 2,400 medium sized and 1,800 large carrier bags whilst the Council sources further bags to support our delivery operations.
|
Big thanks to Darren Wright who works for Havering Passenger Transport Service at their Rainham depot.
Normally Darren drives children to Corbets Tey School however the school is currently closed.
This morning he collected a refrigerated lorry from the Thomas Ridley distribution centre in Bury St Edmunds and delivered it to the centre in Havering where food packages are kept before distribution to vulnerable people in Havering. Using the lorry means that more food packages can be prepared and kept at the correct temperature.
|
Havering Volunteer Centre is providing a service where local residents can get support during these uncertain times, and talk to a friendly voice at the end of a phone line.
If you would like to get involved and support your community by being that friendly voice on the end of the line please email volunteering@haveringvc.org.uk or call 01708 922214 and they will do the rest.
If you need to chat to someone please also call 01708 922214.
|
 NELFT are currently updating their Facebook page daily to help keep Havering residents up-to-date on the health services available for children living in our borough.
To find details of services available Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm call 0300 300 1635 or email nem-tr.haveringhv@nhs.net
The London Growth Hub has launched a new portal to support businesses and employers.
The portal includes a checklist outlining what steps businesses should take to reduce their risk of exposure to coronavirus, as well as to prepare for future disruption.
This is updated daily with all the latest information and guidance available.
If you run a buisness operating in Havering sign up to receive our twice weekly Business Briefing email newsletter.
|
 This Friday at five, it’s Havering Music Live.
Join hundreds of music students, teachers and others in a home music performance this Friday, 3 April, at 5pm. Open your windows, doors, and, if you play or sing, treat your neighbours to a tune.
Children and adults of all ages are welcome – help get Havering singing and dancing… at a distance, of course!
If you know of firms or shops that you think are remaining open in breach of guidelines, or exploiting the current situation through unjustifiably high prices or misleading claims, you can report this via our website.
|
|
