Changes to environment services due to coronavirus
- Food safety
We require all staff to wear face masks during tfood hygiene inspections and keep at a safe distance. We are responding to matters of an urgent nature and focusing our inspections at the highest risk businesses. If you are a new business and waiting for an inspection please note we have a long list due to the original lockdown. We are working hard to contact every business as quickly as possible.
- Health and safety
Our focus is on supporting businesses to be COVID Secure and we are therefore not carrying out routine health and safety work. However, we are responding to matters of an urgent nature.
- Local land charges search enquiries service
This service is still operating but due to the coronavirus our offices are closed to the public and officers are working from home in-line with government guidance. Please do not post or try to hand deliver your application for a search to be made.
We prefer applications to be submitted online via NLIS, TMGroup or InfoTrack portals.
But you can also submit your requests by email. You will need to include all relevant documents (forms and location plan) and send to land_charges@lbhf.gov.uk. Please ensure the following wording is used in the subject line of your email: Search Request + Address of search + (your own reference). A member of the team will telephone you to take a card payment for the fee required.
- Alcohol, entertainment, gambling, scrap metal and sex establishment licensing
Many licensed premises are able to remain open in a restricted capacity during the current lockdown and as such we are continuing to accept applications for all licence types online. Find out about applying for a licence online
In an effort to assist businesses further we are also offering a free pre application advice service for up to one hour. As part of this service we can help businesses understand the limitations of their licences and in some circumstances assist them make valid applications to ensure they can continue to trade in some capacity.
As well as helping businesses the team is also enforcing the closure, or part closure, of many businesses across the borough. If you have concerns that a premises is open when it shouldn’t be, or is otherwise operating in a manner which is inconsistent with the recent closure regulations, please contact the team as detailed below.
For any of the above issues the licensing team can be contacted on licensing@lbhf.gov.uk or 020 8753 1081. Please note that our phone line is manned from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. However the email address is also monitored at the weekend for any information relating to premises which are potentially breaching the closure regulations.
- Massage and special treatments
During this period all licenced massage and special treatment premises are subject to certain requirements.
- You must register for an official NHS QR code and display the official NHS QR poster.
- Everyone working in close contact services must wear a visor or goggles and a Type II face mask (medical face masks made up of a protective 3-ply construction that prevents large particles from reaching the client or working surfaces).
If you have any massage and special treatment licence renewal questions, please send an email to mst@lbhf.gov.uk
- Pest control
We are still able to carry out pest control treatments following government guidelines and would ask that social distancing measures be followed. Residents should also open windows to ventilate the property before officers arrive. We require all staff to wear face masks and appropriate personal protective equipement during the inspection and would ask residents to also wear face masks to protect pest control staff.
If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, please follow government guidance and self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms started. Please do not book an appointment for us to attend during this self-isolation period.
- Noise and nuisance
The noise daytime service is currently restricted to providing telephone advice only between 8am and 4.30pm, 7 days a week. We are not able to make any visits during the day for the time being.
The out of hours service can be contacted between 4.30pm and 3am, 7 days a week, but visits to investigate noise will be limited to those which can be carried out without entering the property. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.
- Construction noise
We realise that construction noise during the day may become more of a problem as residents are forced to stay at home and many are working from home. However local authorities have no legislative powers to close construction sites providing that the sites follow the Public Heath COVID-19 Guidelines.
The permitted hours for construction site noisy works are as follows:
- Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
- Saturday: 8am to 1pm
- At no time on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.
If you experience any problems with noise from construction sites outside the permitted hours please report the matter immediately.
- Trading standards
We will continue to respond to complaints, but in line with government guidance will minimise direct contact by making increased use of email and phone to approach traders.
We will use these methods when contacting businesses about enforcing closure. If businesses want to verify that the contact is from us, please email trading.standards@lbhf.gov.uk or phone 020 8753 1081.Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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