Amenity Societies’ meeting with Westminster City Council Leader Rachael Robathan

A large number of Amenity Societies and Neighbourhood Fora participated in a call with the Leader of WCC today. The takeaways were:

1. Westminster remain well staffed in all key areas.
2. WCC have adequate supplies of PPE for their workers.
3. They will be issuing a list of do’s and dont’ s for volunteers to ensure we all stay safe.
4. Public toilets have been cleaned and opened. Pay toilets are now free and cleaning is happening daily.
5. Rough sleepers are mostly housed now in hostel and hotels. 2 meals a day are being provided by WCC (900 meals a day). There is a group of circa 50 who refuse any help and there are new homeless arriving all the time. Less than 3% of the homeless in Westminster have a connection with Westminster. Westminster hotels are also housing the homeless from other boroughs and work is being done to ensure that when the lockdown is over they do not remain in Westminster.
6. Westminster Connects is busy with volunteers and those in need of help. A list of local shops that remain open during the lockdown will be published here soon. Please can everyone encourage shop owners to register with Westminster Connects, it is free advertising for them and helps everyone? We must also encourage all restaurants and shops, where possible, to convert to a deliveries and take away provision.
7. Westminster have processed 75% of the Covid 19 grant applications they have received and the money should start to arrive within a week.
8. Westminster is the largest planning authority in the country and, as per Government guidelines, they must continue both the planning and licensing functions. Committee meetings are now held virtually, the first planning one was last week where Berger House in Berkeley Square achieved permission to redevelop. The first virtual licensing meeting is to be held next week.
9. If we notice poor social distancing practices on building sites then we must report them to the Health & Safety Executive as well as WCC. Only the HSE have the power to close sites down.
10. Rateable Values in London mean that a lot of businesses do not qualify for the help on offer. Rachael Robathan is in constant contact with the Government on this point and is lobbying for London, she has written many letters to the Chancellor.
11. Credit was given to Violia for their excellent work maintaining a near normal waste collection service through the lockdown. They have their own regulations for social distancing etc. masks And gloves are to be worn by workers in the trucks. If anyone notices poor practices then please report it to WC

Links For Help and Volunteering Westminster Connects https://www.westminster.gov.uk/westminster-connects

The easy way to report any issues to WCC is via Report It. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it

If you see a homeless person in your neighbourhood and you want to ensure they get help then please contact Street Link. https://fisd.westminster.gov.uk/kb5/westminster/fis/service.page?id=oRjTs9e-IvE

Reporting poor construction practices to the Health & Safety Executive https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/concerns.htm