Basingstoke and Deane: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Virtual Meetings and Council Tax Bills

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Parent Category: Notice Board

Category: Coronavirus COVID-19

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:13

Published on Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:09

Written by Parish Clerk

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Virtual Meetings

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) are completing testing of using virtual meetings and are hoping to hold the first Development Control (DC) commencing the 20th May.

Council Tax 

To help residents who may find finances tight during the coronavirus outbreak, all council tax payers have been given a two-month payment holiday in April and May so they only need to start paying their bill in June. 

As the only council in Hampshire who has offered this support to its residents and therefore is rebilling them, the council has had the opportunity to get important information out to all residents about help available to them during the coronavirus outbreak. Other councils have had to put information leaflets out to residents who may not use digital communications by paying to send them out with postal deliveries to all homes or employing people to drop leaflets through every letterbox. 

The leaflet has been used to highlight the help available to vulnerable residents who need support, via the Coronavirus Hampshire Helpline on 0333 370 4000. It explains how locally this help getting shopping or prescriptions, and other support, is being arranged through the Basingstoke and Deane Community Hub, a network of volunteer and community groups coordinated by Basingstoke Voluntary Action. 

It outlines the financial support the council is providing to residents, businesses and community groups giving help to people in need during the coronavirus outbreak, including signposting to other help available. A colour infographic showing all the financial support from the council is attached. 

‘Stay home, stay safe’ advice and information on avoiding scams is included. Contact numbers are provided for local and national charities providing support on issues such as mental health, loneliness and domestic abuse for those who are finding it hard staying at home. It also reminds residents about the temporary changes to bin collections to protect the service and crews during the outbreak.

Reminder about bin collection changes

A reminder that temporary changes to bin collections during the COVID-19 outbreak began on Monday 20th April.

This is to ensure waste, recycling, glass and clinical waste collections can continue and get to everyone.   Grey waste bins will be collected once a fortnight instead of every week.

This will be monitored and reviewed regularly to respond to changes in government guidance as they emerge.

To allow staff to follow guidance on self-isolation, these measures are being put in place to protect the crews and ensure residents receive a regular and reliable service.

Those residents currently receiving an assisted collection, as they need help to put out their own bins and do not have anyone who can do this for them, will continue to get this support from the bin crews. The clinical waste service will also continue to run as normal for those customers who are registered to use this service.

Households with smaller 140 litre waste bins will be able to leave out two extra black sacks. Those households with larger 240 litre waste bins can only fill their bin as normal.

For more information on the changes and answers to frequently asked questions visit https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/covid-19-bins-and-recycling.