COVID-19 - updated government guidelines
The Government has set out a roadmap over the coming five months that will gradually lift the restrictions on the hospitality sector. The steps in the lifting of restrictions are defined within the Government’s COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021.
Only when the government is sure that it is safe to move from one step to the next will the final decision be made. The decision will be based on four tests:
- the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths in those vaccinated
- infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalizations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern
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.
Preparing to reopen:
The Government advice is changing from Monday 19 July 2021 and the majority of the COVID-19 restrictions will be removed from law, but due to the rising number of cases in the UK, we adivise to keep following the COVID-19 safety measures.
To ensure everyone is safe to trade and visit our market(s) and trading sites, we will be keeping all safety measures currently in place, i.e. social distancing pitches will remain vacant until further notice. 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 and we are still maintaining 4m or 2m distance between stall set up to ensure proper and safe crowd management. There is no guarantee of pitches and pitches will be allocated by the market team subject to availability and in line with social distancing rules.
Street trading licences process:
All permanent licences remain suspended with effect from 16 March 2020. This gives us flexibility in managing the markets and trading sites in the event of change of COVID-19 legislation and regulations.
We will not be re-instating permanent licences and subsequent invoices at this time, but will review the position in August 2021 and will keep you updated.
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.
For those of our traders who are unable to trade, information about support is updated on our dedicated webpage.
Fees re-instatement:
We are introducing the fees in a staggered way to support traders back to trade as follows:
- 30 May 2021 to 31 August 2021 – Regeneration fees for all traders
All traders wishing to trade on a temporary licence on our markets or miscellaneous sites will pay £10.20 daily charges and if you are a market trader using an additional pitch an addition charge of £6.12 will apply.
As from 1 September 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.
Forecourt street trading charges - remain unchanged
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 wish to add registered assistants, vary your commodities or add additional pitch, the full fees will apply.
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.