COVID-19 - updated government guidelines
New COVID-19 restrictions to stop the spread of Omicron
To prevent rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the following restrictions are being introduced in England from 4am on Tuesday 30 November 2021:
- The reintroduction of mandatory face coverings in shops (e.g.: places that offer goods or services for retail sale or hire, malls and indoor markets), on public transport, post offices, banks, premises providing personal care and beauty treatmetns, pharmacies, takeaways without space for consumption of food or drink on premises etc.
- Pupils in Year 7 and above, as well as school staff and visitors, are advised to wear face coverings in communal areas.
- All international arrivals have to self-isolate, do a PCR test within 2 days, and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
- The reintroduction of the red travel quarantine list for travellers from 10 countries in Southern Africa.
- All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status.
For more information, please visit: Measures against Omicron variant come into effect: 30 November 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
It is essential that businesses continue to operate in a responsible and COVID-19 secure way.
Traders should have reviewed and implemented the Government’s guidance on minimising the risks and operating safely.
Markets to operate as business as usual:
During the pandemic we kept all permanent street trading licences suspended and temporary regeneration fees were applied to all traders in Camden, to support traders in their return to trade. This approach allowed flexibility of in paying a reduced fee only for the days that traders wished to trade and allowing for different days/markets/commodities to be tested.
In the line with the Government's decision to ease of the restrictions across different work streams, we have agreed to remove the social distancing measures from our markets to accommodate traders steadily returning to trade. Pitch allocations are being reviewed to ensure that permanent licensees can trade from their licensed pitches.
All traders must carry on with ‘hands, face, space’ and comply with the COVID-secure measures in all markets and trading locations.
We will continue to monitor the updating Government guidance. Please visit the current guidance that covers open air markets for more information.
Risk assessments:
All traders planning to resume trade will be required to undertake a risk assessment to ensure they are operating as a COVID-19 secure business. This is to protect both staff and customers from infection, or the potential spread of infection from asymptomatic people.
Find the suggested guidance and risk assessment templates
Staff:
All staff working on a stall must be registered with the Market Team.
It is important to protect your staff from coronavirus. The best protection for your staff is regular handwashing and to maintain a 2m distance from other staff and customers where possible, and 1m with mitigation where it isn’t. Staff should travel separately to work and not car share, should follow all safety measures on public transport and have a change of clothes for the workplace. It is recommended that regular shifts are organised, so people are working with the smallest number of different people as possible.
You are required by law to report if a member of staff tests positive for coronavirus. You may need to ask all your staff to self-isolate if one becomes infected so reiterate the advice to stay at home if they feel unwell, have a temperature or cough.
Queues:
It is your responsibility to manage the queues that form outside your stall and to ensure that customers are maintaining social distancing. This is 2m, or 1m with mitigation where 2m is not viable. You are required to manage your own queues and ensure compliance with the social distancing rules.
Face Masks:
Traders and their registered assistants are required to wear face mask at all times when carrying street trading activities. You must tell customers of the requirement to wear face coverings where social distancing is not possible and have signs displayed so they can easily see and read them. The requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to specific circumstances set out in the Regulations and guidance.
Social Distancing on our trading sites:
All markets have been risk assessed in accrodance to the COVID-19 saftery guidance.
Street trading licences process:
We are looking to re-instate all permanent street trading licences and full fees with effect from 22 November 2021 until 31 March 2022 (4-5 months) pro-rata . The full fees will apply.
We will be sending invoice statements to all permanent traders.
Traders that hold a licence for market areas, where there is a flexible licence fee, please review your permanent street trading licence(s) and confirm that you wish to remain licensed for the days, times, and commodities prescribed on your licence. Please submit partial surrender, surrender or variation requests as soon as possible so that you are charged the correct amount for trading.
If you wish to trade or continue trading you must submit a request for a temporary licence to the street trading team in writing in advance (at least 48 hours during working hours and office days) to the marketsteam@camden.gov.uk providing details of:
- the market or street trading location you wish to trade at
- goods that you would like to offer for sale
- days on which you would like to trade
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment
Note: Please ensure your Employers/Public Insurance Liability certificate, Food hygiene Level 2 certificate, Gas certificate, Pat test are valid to prevent delays.
If you wish to add registered assistants, vary your commodities or add additional pitch, the full fees will apply.
Parking:
Parking Permits can only be issued to vehicles registered in the name of the Licensee and will be withdrawn if:
- The licence holder does not trade for a period of four weeks or more
- The vehicle has unpaid parking fines
- The vehicle and/or users causes complaints from residents .
Debts:
Some permanent traders have outstanding debts on their account for 2019/20 . Although no action was taken to request the settlement of this debt, we will be writing to those traders to ensure that the debt is settled before we raise the invoices. Please note that arrears on your account will be grounds to propose not to renew your licence in 2022.
Credit:
Some permanent traders have outstanding debts on their account for 2019/20. This will be offset against the invoice we will raise in November 2021.
For those of our traders who are unable to trade, information about support is updated on our dedicated webpage.
Fees re-instatement:
As from 22 November 2021, we are looking to :
- Apply the full street trading charges. Please visit the fees and charges page for more information.
- Raise all invoices for permanent traders applying full fees.
- Registered casual trader (existing traders)/new trader trading on temporary street trading licence: traders have to make a request to the markets team and make advance online payment prior to trade. All requests to be submitted in advance of trading (at least 48 hours prior trading), Mondays to Fridays during office hours and make online payment prior to trade by following this link: Market Traders.
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Offer to temporary registered traders and new applicants to book pitch(es) in advance of trade up to 3 to 6 months subject to pitch availability and payment.
Market Licensees/miscellaneous sites kiosk (not trading since April 2020):
Permanent licence holders that are not currently trading, please review your current licence allocation and make contact with the markets team to amend your licence. The option to vary licences by reducing days is only available for traders operating in markets with a daily charge tariff.
Market Licensees/miscellaneous sites kiosk (currently trading):
Few traders have been trialling other markets, for instance Queens Crescent on Thursday and Saturday. Please review your permanent street trading licence to either vary your licence to reduce days and/or to apply to trade at other Markets. You will need to submit a formal application and your request will be considered.
Undesignated miscellaneous sites and traders 6 months on temporary licences:
Traders trading on a temporary street trading licence will be charged the temporary licence fee applicable to their commodity.
Red Telephone kiosk:
If you are using the telephone box only the fee of £18.42 and if you are using the telephone box and an additional space the daily charge will be £25.50.
Forecourt street trading charges:
Normal fees will apply.
Note: the above applies for all new applicants wishing to trade on our markets. If you decide not to trade once the temporary street licence has been issued, you can surrender the licence but the fee will be non-transferable and non-refundable. Any request for refund will be dealt on its merit.
If you break the rules:
The Police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines (fixed penalty notices).
You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.
Note: This above advice is subject to change if Government advice is amended. You will be notified of any future change.