All our help and information for 02/09/2020 is now available in a single place on the SCC website https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-latest-advice/
This page is refreshed through the day so please check in regularly to keep across developments and news.
Top stories today:
Guidance on the return to school
Children are returning to schools and colleges across Somerset this week and we are providing updated guidance to help parents, carers and families.
Somerset County Council’s Director of Children’s Services has recently written to all parents and carers to reassure them that all agencies in Somerset are working together to make the return to school as safe and smooth as possible.
You can access the letter and guidance here: Coronavirus – Education guidance for parents and carers
There is useful information on returning to education with links to the Government’s guidance, the use of face coverings in education settings, the current position in Somerset and support for the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
Our web pages also have specific information on school and college transport COVID-19 School transport guidance and on transport for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) COVID-19 SEND school transport guidance
Read more
£1m climate emergency fund opens for bids next month
A pot of £1 million is now available to help local communities become carbon neutral and mitigate the impacts of Climate Change in Somerset. Somerset County Council Leader David Fothergill announced in February 2020 that £1 million would be made available for city, town and parish councils to support local communities.
From 1 October, city, town and parish councils across Somerset are invited to bid for between £5,000 and £75,000 for innovative projects that can make a real difference in reducing carbon emissions and can contribute to making Somerset resilient to the effects of Climate Change.
Kerbside collections resume for “wearable” clothes and shoes only
Kerbside collections of clothes and shoes start again this week, but with tough new conditions. No textiles – bedding or curtains – will be taken, and the clothes and shoes must be of good enough quality to be worn again.
Anything of lesser quality should be considered for other uses at home – such as cleaning rags or cloth wipes. Failing that, it should be put in the rubbish and will go to a new Resource Recovery Centre where it will be used to generate electricity.
Book first at new look library service
Somerset Libraries have rolled out a new order-and-collect service giving customers access to library books while staying safely socially distanced.
Libraries have been opening over the last few weeks in phases across the county and offering the new service, with the final four – Chard, Cheddar, Glastonbury and Martock libraries – now open.
Jobs Retention Scheme
From 1 September, organisations that have put staff on furlough will have to pay 10 per cent of their wages, as well as the associated employer National Insurance and pension contributions they have had to pay since 1 July. The employer contribution will rise to 20 per cent next month, before the scheme ends on 31 October.
Home moving during the coronavirus outbreak
The guidance for people moving into homes in England, whether as owner-occupiers, private or social renters was updated on Saturday (29 August) to include information on face coverings, shielding and repossessions.
Repossessions: six-month notice period
The Government has confirmed the change to the law to ensure that most renters have a six-month notice period. Landlords must provide at least six months’ notice period before seeking possession through the courts in most cases.