COVID-19 Services and Support

There are no coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in the UK.

If you have COVID-19 you should try to stay at home.

Most people cannot get free COVID-19 tests. You can buy tests in shops but you cannot report the result to the NHS.

You can get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the NHS.

You need to show a negative COVID-19 test if you are travelling to England from mainland China. You do not need to take a test when you arrive in the UK from any other country. You should check travel advice for any country you are travelling to.

For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus 

• Get help finding and choosing a private COVID-19 test provider
• Check if you can get free NHS COVID-19 tests
• Find out what to do after you get your NHS COVID-19 test result

Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ 

The shielding programme has now ended in England. This means that people who were previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) will not be advised to shield in the future or follow specific national guidance.

North Warwickshire Borough Council encourage customers to check whether enquiries can be dealt with via our website, contacting us by phone: (01827) 715341 or emailing customerservices@northwarks.gov.uk 

We currently offer face-to-face service by appointment only.  If you need to book a face-to-face appointment, please call our Customer Services team on (01827) 715341. 

Telephones have been made available in the Council House for visitors to contact our Customer Services team and a tablet to browse our services. 

Contact the Council online

Post Box Our post box is at the front of the Council House building on South Street in the wall between the windows - see the image below

The Job Centre is OPEN for APPOINTMENTS ONLY - People receiving benefits no longer need to attend job centre appointments - Apply online at GOV.UK for universal credit, employment support allowance or call 0800 169 0190 for further Job Centre information.

Council Tax COVID 19 Hardship Fund

The Government announced in March 2020 that a separate fund has been designated to reduce the Council Tax liability for people who qualify for Council Tax Support, during 2020/21.

We have used this grant to reduce Council Tax bills for our Council Tax Support customers by up to £250.00. This will show on your bill as "Council Tax Discretionary Relief"

This amount will be applied in full where there is £250.00 or more left to pay after the Council Tax Support has been calculated, or clear the remaining balance if it is below £250.00.

If you have already made payments towards this bill and your account is in credit, we will refund this credit to you.

If you pay by Direct Debit we will automatically refund this to you.

If you do not pay by Direct Debit and wish to request a refund then please contact us via email: counciltax@northwarks.gov.uk or call: 01827 715341.

Refunds will be made by BACS and we will require the following details

• Your name
• Council Tax Account number as shown on your bill
• Bank Account Name
• Bank Sort Code
• Bank Account Number

Please make sure you follow our Waste guidance for people with confirmed or possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection

Our workforce has been impacted by Coronavirus and we wish to ensure that we can maintain our current level of service as long as possible – for advice and answers to frequently asked questions about waste collections at this time.

Emptying your waste bins

Non-recyclable rubbish (black bins) - We are carrying out a full collection service.

Recycling (red-lidded bins) - We are carrying out a full collection service.

Garden and food waste (green bins) - We are carrying out a full collection service. The new green bin charge has been suspended until April 2021

Side waste - We are unable to collect side waste of any kind (rubbish and recycling) due to the pressure the services are already under and the need to keep waste contained to ensure that it can be stored and emptied safely in order to protect the public and our staff from Covid-19. 

Lower House Farm Recycling Centre - Now OPEN, but by appointment only. Guidance on booking a Recycling Centre time slot - links to Warwickshire County Council, opens in a new window

Trade - We are carrying out a full service for customers who are still open

Cesspool - A full service is currently in operation

• Parks - Open
• Allotments - Open
• Green Spaces/Recreation Grouds/Sports Pitches - Open

Street cleansing – operating as normal.

Fly-tipping – We are continuing with the removal of fly-tipped waste. 

Grass cutting as stopped for the season, we are now undertaking our winter schedule which included pruning shrubs, hedge cutting, tidying around recreation areas and parks etc.

Operating as normal. You can book a collection online.

Please do not book a collection if you have suspected or confirmed coronavirus. Please put all items outside as far away from your house as possible without obstructing the pavement or road and please observe social distancing while the items are being collected.

We are now accepting all housing repairs. 

In accordance with Government guidance our Tenancy Services Officers will be working from home. This means that our contact with tenants will be by telephone, letter or e-mail.
Tenants can contact their Tenancy Services Officer or the team in the normal way by telephone or e-mail. They are able to receive correspondence electronically. 
In order to safeguard our tenants and staff and following Government advice the team will only undertake essential visits to tenants’ homes. We will assess whether the visit is essential and ask the following before making a decision about face to face contact:

• If you or anyone in your household is suffering from a persistent cough or fever
• If you or your household are self isolating for 7 or 14 days
• If you or anyone in your household has recently been in contact with anyone with suspected corona virus COVID 19
• If you or anyone in your household has recently been in contact with anyone confirmed corona virus COVID 19

If we do decide to visit we will act to safeguard our tenants and our staff by wearing protective equipment and ensuring there is a safe distance during the visit.
These requirements mean that currently we will not be processing mutual exchange applications or transfer applications because they require a home visit.

In accordance with Government guidance we will only be having face to face contact with our customers if it is essential and no other means of communication is possible. Our contact with people who need housing advice will be by telephone, letter or e-mail.

Applicants can contact the Housing Options team in the normal way by telephone or e-mail. The team can receive correspondence electronically.

Current requirements mean that until further notice we will not be processing transfer applications, undertaking end of tenancy visits, accompanied viewings of properties or face to face tenancy sign ups.

Where possible we will continue to let our vacancies to meet housing need and alleviate homelessness. We understand that there may be practical issues with regard to moving home due to the safe distancing requirement.

We paused advertising our properties following the recent Government announcements to consider how we should act. We have decided that we will continue to advertise our vacancies. This will enable us to continue to meet housing needs in the Borough. We may need to adjust some of our procedures in order to act safely.

Following Government advice, in order to safeguard our customers and staff, the team will only undertake visits to applicants’ homes or have face to face contact when it is essential to do so. We will ask the following before we make a decision about face to face contact:

• If you or anyone in your household is suffering from a persistent cough or fever
• If you or your household are self isolating for 7 or 14 days
• If you or any of your family have been advised that you are part of the group being shielded
• If you or anyone in your household has recently been in contact with anyone with suspected coronavirus COVID 19
• If you or anyone in your household has recently been in contact with anyone confirmed corona virus COVID 19

If we do decide face to face contact is required and it is safe to do so we will act to safeguard our customers and our staff by wearing protective equipment and ensuring there is a safe distance during the visit.

From September onwards, the normal schedule of meetings (except the Planning meeting on 7th September which is cancelled) will resume.The meetings will remain online and will be available to the public on the Council's YouTube channel . Please visit our meetings, agendas and minutes page for more details. 

Searches of the Land Charges Register - from Monday 23 March we will be suspending visits to our One Stop Shop (Reception) for searches of the Land Charges Register.  If personal search companies or others need access to this information they must request it via email to llc@northwarks.gov.uk.  We will respond by email, although our response times may increase beyond those usually applied. 

Official Searches and CON29 searches -  should by requested by email and completed searches will be returned by email, although our response time may be longer than normal.

If for any reason we have to change these arrangements we will update the Land Charges information here: www.northwarks.gov.uk/llc

The Planning Inspectorate has issued guidance which will impact on the progress of the Local Plan.  The guidance can be seen at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance

Officers will work with the Local Plan Inspector to progress the examination as swiftly as possible once this restriction has been lifted. 

Further guidance / updates will be provided on the Local Plan Examination page of the website: www.northwarks.gov.uk/localplan

Borough Care Coronavirus Service Update

From Monday 23th March Licensing applications, renewals and questions must be submitted online or by email to licensing@northwarks.gov.uk.  Licenses will processed and returned by email or post.  To reduce none essential contact there will be no face to face appointments for license applications until further notice. More information about Licensing Changes due to COVID 19.

The public convenience in Station Street Atherstone are closed until further notice, NWBC apologies for difficulties this may cause.

COVID 19 - Environmental Health and Food Licensing Updates