Information from Councillor Martin Earl

Stirling will move to Tier 4 ( highest) level of restrictions from Friday 20 November at 6pm for three weeks.

Not travelling out with your own Tier 3 & 4 Council area unless for essential reasons as defined by Scot Gov will become the law from Friday as well.
Use following link to check details of what this will mean https://www.gov.scot/…/coronavirus-covid-19-protection…/

All non-essential shops will close as will all hospitality except takeaway provision. No indoor socialising, outdoor max 6 from 2 households. Gyms will close. Schools remain open.

Information from Councillor Martin Earl

Please see attached the various tables from the Scottish Government framework document that show the restrictions, requirements or guidelines that apply in a range of areas.

These are much the same as those currently in place and that will remain until the official Tier 3 designation begins  on November 2.

Information from Councillor Martin Earl

Further to my email yesterday on the new restrictions the Scottish Government has today published the new regulations. The new regulations can be found here.

The restrictions will come in to place at 6 pm on Friday 9 October 2020 until midnight on Sunday 25 October 2020. The restrictions are as follows:-

Licensed Premises

Any person who carries on business at a premises licensed to sell alcohol under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and situated within the District of Stirling Licensing Board (the “Board”) area must close and cease selling food and drink for consumption on the premises from 6pm on Friday 9 October 2020 until midnight on Sunday 25 October 2020.

There are some limited exceptions to this general position and these are as follows:-

• A limited exemption for premises where the service of food and drink forms part of another business. The part of the business serving food and drink must close but the remainder of the premises can remain open. An example is a golf clubhouse, where the bar must close and cease selling food and drink, but the club shop may remain open.
• Cafes and canteens are excluded from the definition of licensed premises but must cease selling alcohol with food if they hold a premises licence. A café is defined as “an establishment whose primary business activity, in the ordinary course of its business, is the sale of non-alcoholic drinks, snacks or light meals, which may be consumed on the premises”
• limited exemption for service of meals and non-alcoholic drinks for guests only in accommodation and student residences that are licensed premises. Hotels and commercial providers of accommodation can serve alcohol via room service only, and can serve food and non-alcoholic drinks for consumption in other areas of the hotel or commercial accommodation.
• exemption for specific life events such as wedding receptions or a funeral which may continue with alcohol being served with numbers present being restricted as per current rules.
• exemption for takeaways and home deliveries which remains subject to local license conditions.

If there is dubiety as to what is a café or not, Council officers will have regard to the licensed premises operation plan to ascertain whether the primary activity in the ordinary course of business is the sale ofnon-alcoholic drinks, snacks or light meals, which may be consumed on the premises :-

“For the purposes of these regulations Stirling Council regards a café as a small establishment with the primary purpose of serving light meals and snacks, coffee, tea and other soft beverages. The Council will have regard to the operating plan of any licensed premises which claims to be a café in ascertaining whether that licensed premises is indeed a café.”

Unlicensed Premises

Unlicensed premises may open between 6 am and 6 pm and cannot permit the consumption of alcohol on the premises such as BYOB.

Other Listed Businesses

All persons carrying on a listed business located in the Board area must close and not carry on that business for 16 days from 6pm on Friday 9 October 2020 until midnight on Sunday 25 October. The only exception to this is where the listed business forms part of a larger business premises. In this situation the requirement to close the listed business is met if that part within the larger business premises is closed.

Listed businesses are:-

(a) a nightclub or discotheque,

(b) a sexual entertainment venue,

(c) an indoor theatre,

(d) a concert hall,

(e) a soft play centre,

(f) a snooker hall,

(g) a pool hall,

(h) a bowling alley,

(i) a casino, or

(j) a bingo hall.

Restrictions of Gatherings

The current restrictions on gatherings in public places remain; no more than 6 people from no more than 2 households can gather together. The specific exceptions for life events such as weddings and funerals remain.

You will appreciate that we are responding very quickly to a fluid and changing situation. Whilst the regulations provide a definition of café, the Council will try to be as helpful to license holders as possible. However, there will be situations where licensed premises will not fall within the Government’s definition of a café.  

The Council’s licensing team is responding to enquiries as quickly as they can but we are currently experiencing a high volume of calls and emails; we are working as hard as we can to deal with queries. Information will also be placed on the Council’s website.

Information from Councillor Martin Earl

After the FM announcements today regarding restrictions being imposed for the next two weeks, extra restrictions apply to Central Belt Health Board areas ( Including Forth Valley that is made up of Stirling, Clacks and Falkirk council areas)

Central belt area focusing on five health board areas (Ayrshire & Arran; Forth Valley; Greater Glasgow & Clyde; Lanarkshire; Lothian):

·         Restrictions on licensed premises will come into force from 18:00 on Friday 9 October, with all other restrictions applying from 00:01 Saturday 10 October.

• All licensed premises will be required to close, with the exception of takeaway services. Cafés (unlicensed premises) which don’t have an alcohol licence will be able to open between 6am and 6pm

·         Takeaways (including from pubs and restaurants) can continue

·         Evening meals may be served in accommodation for residents only but no alcohol can be served

·         Specific life events, such as weddings and funerals, may continue with alcohol, with current meeting rules for these events (20 person limit in regulated premises only)

·         No group exercise classes for indoor gyms and sports courts, pools with an exemption for under 18s

·         No adult (18+) contact sports or training, except professional sports, indoor or outdoor

·         No outdoor live events

·         Snooker/pool halls, indoor bowling, casinos and bingo halls are to close

·         Public transport use should be minimised as much as possible, such as for education and work, where it cannot be done from home

·         Current meeting rules, maximum of six people from two households, continue to apply

Information from Councillor Martin Earl

Dear All,

Here is the latest information on Covid 19 restrictions. This contains the requirements set for indoor and outdoor private & public spaces, Hospitality Businesses and Car Sharing. Including information on exemptions from the visiting/meeting restrictions.

https://www.gov.scot/news/new-measures-to-drive-down-infection-rate/

Here is a link to UK Gov Business support where there is a subscribe option to receive e mail updates when schemes change or are added:-

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

Here are links to two community organisations/third sector funding opportunities currently available. The Adapt and Thrive programme and the Communities Recovery Fund:-

https://scvo.org.uk/support/coronavirus/funding/scottish-government/community-recovery/atf

https://scvo.org.uk/support/coronavirus/funding/scottish-government/community-recovery/crf

Here are some links to information regarding a number of subjects that may be helpful:-

Face Coverings including exemptions and how to make your own

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-phase-3-staying-safe-and-protecting-others/pages/face-coverings/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Testing: Who, How, Where:

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-testing

Guidance of self isolating and  households with possible infection present

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-infection

Information from Councillor Martin Earl

This document contains an update from the Scottish Government regarding latest status of restrictions and phased reopening.

Pages  8-10 show key confirmed and indicative dates for a range of activities.

Note – confirmed dates are when detailed activities can reopen if they are in a position to meet all guidance requirements set.

Information from Councillor Martin Earl

ACTIVE STIRLING

Here is a link to an information film that details how Active Stirling are planning to reopen when Scottish Government advice allows. https://youtu.be/eum-LNDc8FA

MCLAREN LEISURE CENTRE

Here is a link to the McLaren Leisure Centre website that contains information on activities currently being run online and information on their reopening planning http://www.mclarenleisure.co.uk/

LIBRARIES

Stirling libraries are once again offering hearing aid batteries, food waste caddy liners and dog waste bags for collection as part of the next stage of their re-opening.

While there is still no access to libraries, People can now make an appointment to collect Food waste bags, Dog Poo bags and Hearing Aid batteries as well as books during an available slot at each library every week.

Residents wanting to collect items should contact individual libraries via phone or email to choose their item and book a time to collect them.

When contacting a library, people can ask for the following bags/batteries they wish to collect:

Batteries – 2 packets of batteries per hearing aid

Food caddy liners – 1 roll  (max 6 per year)

Dog bags – 1 packet.

Contact details and times to call for Stirling Libraries are listed below.

Balfron – 01360 440407/ balfronlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 13, 14 August (10am-2pm)

Bannockburn – 01786 812286/ bannockburnlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
12-14 August (10am-4pm)

Bridge of Allan – 01786 833680/ bridgeofallanlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 11, 13, 14 August (10am-2pm)

Callander – 01877 331544/ callanderlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
11, 13, 14 August (10am-2pm)

Cambusbarron – 01786 473873/ cambusbarronlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
11, 12, 13 August (10am-2pm)

Central – 017876 237760/ centrallibrary@stirling.gov.uk
11 August (9.30am-12.30pm)
12-14 August (9.30am – 12.30pm), (1.30pm-4.30pm)

Cowie – 01786 816269/ cowielibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10 13 August (1-5pm)
11 August (10am-1pm), (2pm-5pm)

Doune – 01786 841732/ dounelibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 13 August (10am-2pm)
12 August (9am-1pm)

Drymen – 01360 660751/ drymenlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 13, 14 August (10am-2pm)

Dunblane – 01786 823125/ dunblanelibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 11, 13, 14 August (10am-2pm)

Fallin – 01786 812492/ fallinlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10 August (10am-1pm) (2-5pm)
11 August (10am-12pm) (1pm-5pm)
12 August (10am-2pm)

Killin – 01567 820571/ killinlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 14 August (10am-2pm)
12 August (2pm-5pm)

Plean – 01786 816319/ pleanlibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 11 August (12pm-5pm)
13 August (10am-2pm)

St Ninians – 01786 472069/ stninianslibrary@stirling.gov.uk
11, 12, 13, 14 August (10am-2pm)

Strathblane – 01360 770737/ strathblanelibrary@stirling.gov.uk
10, 14 August (10am-2pm)
13 August (2pm-5pm)

SMITH MUSEUM

The Smith Museum is re-opening on Thursday 20 August. They will be operating reduced hours and will not be taking any group bookings or holding events in the lecture theatre until Jan 2021, when the situation will be revised. New opening times will be Thursday to Sunday 11am-4pm.

To keep staff and visitors safe they have introduced several safety measures. Here is what you need to know before you visit.

• One-way system in operation marked by arrows on the floor.
• Please maintain the recommended 2 metres social distance.
• Please pay by contactless where possible.
• Hand sanitising stations throughout the museum.
• Increased cleaning of all touch points and toilets.
• We recommend visitors wear a face covering, particularly at reception.
• If you feel unwell with any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay at home.

The Front of House team will be on hand to direct you and answer any questions you have.

The Smith Café will also re-open on 20 August – same days and times as the museum. The café layout had been changed slightly to allow the required distance between tables and service procedures have been revised to ensure café visitors remain safe.

Here is what you need to know before you visit the cafe

• There is no need to book a table (however, if coming from a distance perhaps book to avoid disappointment).
• There will be a time slot on tables of 60 minutes.
• Table service will be in operation.
• Last orders 3.30pm.

The Smith Café is an independently run enterprise and it is not managed by the museum. Please contact café operator Lisa Bryson by email TheSmithcafe@mail.com or call 07933560153 for bookings and enquiries. The Smith Café also has an active Facebook page where you can find regular updates.

Information from Councillor Martin Earl

Here is the latest guide to the support available in Scotland to people, businesses and charities affected by COVID-19.

This contains the following updates:

• The UK Government’s Self-Employed Income Support Scheme has now closed to first grant claims, and the second grant opens on 17 August.
• The Newly Self-employed Hardship Fund has now closed.
• Applications for business support grants via local authorities have now closed.
• Registration for the UK Government Eat Out to Help Out Scheme has opened.
• The Music Venue Trust has been handed funding to help grassroots music venues.
• The Early Stage Growth Challenge Fund has opened for innovative start-ups. The deadline for applications is 31 July.
• Restrictions on childcare have been lifted.