Agenda item

The Assistant Director, Environmental Health & Public Protection to be heard.

The Committee received an oral update from the Assistant Director, Environmental Health & Public Protection, providing Members with an update on the Covid Compliant Accreditation Scheme.

Following a meeting of Central London Chief Executives, a proposal was made to the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy to run a scheme whereby businesses could get accreditation for demonstrating they were doing all they could to be Covid secure and ultimately give confidence to customers that the business was safe to visit.

This scheme was launched on 14 September 2020 as a localised pilot and is being led by the City Corporation in collaboration with the Southwark and Camden Boroughs. Any interested business can apply by submitting key documentation (e.g. Covid Risk Assessments, procedure notes) which is checked by an Environmental Health Officer who then carries out an on-site visit to verify the case. if the business meets the requirements, they are awarded the Covid compliant sticker to display in their window.

Unfortunately, the launch occurred just before major changes in legislation and take-up by business was low leading to the scheme being suspended. However, it is hoped that post the current lockdown, the scheme can be relaunched when trading begins and will be promoted to all businesses in the City.

A Member enquired if the scheme was working with the Culture, Leisure and Tourism Sub Committee for the EC Partnership bid?. The Assistant Director confirmed that the scheme was working with a number of bids including Cheapside, Aldgate, EC, Fleet Street and would be offered to any business Citywide that was eligible.

Members were supportive of the scheme and agreed that businesses needed help to maintain and grow. It was noted that there had been rekindled interest from Local Authorities and the GLA following efforts to relaunch and promote high streets and UK Hospitality and the Cabinet Office had been notified of the scheme.