Monthly Archives: April 2020

There are a number of local and national charities continuing to provide support on issues such as mental health, loneliness and domestic abuse.

These contacts are supplied by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council:

MIND(mental health charity)Call 0300 123 3393text on 86463email: info@mind.org.ukweb: https://www.mind.org.uk

SAMARITANSCall 116 123email: jo@samaritans.orgweb: https://www.samaritans.org

THE SILVER LINE(advice and friendship for the elderly)Call 0800 470 80 90web: http://www.thesilverline.org.uk

AGE UK(friendship service for over 60s)Call 0800 678 1602web: http://www.ageuk.org.uk

HAMPSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICECall 03300 165112

NATIONAL DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINECall 0808 2000 247

CHILDLINECall 0800 1111

RESPECT PHONELINECall 0808 802 4040

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For more information contact http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/coronavirus

From Basingstoke & Deane And thank you to our local Councillors for keeping us informed

The Basingstoke & Deane Revenues team has been working hard to administer the financial support available to residents and businesses across the borough.

Council TaxFollowing the decision to automatically apply a council tax payment holiday in April and May 2020, new bills are being sent to all properties across the borough this week. This also includes further support for working-age residents eligible for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

GrantsThe team has been contacting small businesses and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors that are eligible for grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 to ensure this support is administered as quickly as possible. An estimated 1,600 businesses are eligible for this support at a cost of almost £21 million and so far grants totalling over £16 million have now paid to over 1,200 businesses.

Business ratesAround 820 businesses in the leisure, retail and hospitality businesses, as well as early years providers, estate agents, letting agencies and bingo halls, will not pay business rates in the 2020/21 financial year.

Rent and Service chargesIn recognition of the position the council is in as a landlord to many businesses, a three-month rent and service charge holiday has also been made available for all 344 small businesses in council-owned properties with annual rents of up to £50,000.

 We are continuing to work to the clear guidelines the government has provided, including eligibility criteria, when administering grant support for businesses.

ContactDue to the number of businesses the team is currently supporting with this, it is important that businesses continue to come directly to the Revenues team so enquiries can be logged.

Businesses can visit the dedicated webpage – www.basingstoke.gov.uk/COVID-19-business-guidance

Firstly we would like to say a big thank you to every carer, key worker, volunteer and neighbour in our community. Especially we would like to thank all the kind people who have supported Two Rivers practice in Derrydown and Whitchurch since the Covid-19 outbreak began.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF BASINGSTOKE AND DEANECllr Diane Taylor

I have always noted that humans are great adjusters.  Whenever there is a difficult and significant change in our lives, perhaps a death or illness or relationship break-up, we can feel that we will never get used to it… but somehow, with time, we always manage to adjust to our “new normal” and get on with life in its different format.

 If you had told me last year that in Spring 2020 I would be confined to my home for weeks on end, working forever at the computer, not meeting people face-to-face, queueing to get into food shops, unable to attend a single public meeting or event, I would have been horrified.  How can I live like that?  Guess what – I can!  Like everyone who is either completely isolated for health reasons or, at the other end of the scale, working all hours to save the lives of dangerously ill people, somehow we humans adjust and find a way to get on with life.

 One of the final public duties of my Mayoral year would have been to lead the celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on Friday 8 May.  Needless to say, there will be no public event to mark this significant occasion – just a video of me at the War Memorial at 10am on that morning which will go out on social media.

 However, can I encourage everyone to find a way – perhaps in the afternoon at about 3pm – to raise a glass or a tea cup in in your own homes in celebration of a victory that brought us the great life that we are privileged to lead today.

 The resilience, courage and determination of this nation during World War Two astounds me.  Let’s celebrate the outcome of a war that logically we should have lost – but, with our great allies, we won!  And what’s more, we will win the Coronavirus war too! In the meantime, please stay safe by staying at home unless it’s for an essential journey as outlined by the government and help to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

 If you are a vulnerable resident self-isolating due to an increased risk of illness, and have no friends or family nearby, you can register for support to access food supplies and collection of prescriptions. Call the Coronavirus Hampshire Helpline on0333 370 4000, available seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm or visit COMMUNITY HUB for more information.