Dear Resident

It’s really heartening to see the pictures this week of the first people receiving their COVID-19 vaccines and I’ve got a short update below on how the vaccine is being rolled out in Buckinghamshire.

However, the main message of this update is to remind everyone that unfortunately, while the end is in sight, there is still a long way to go and as we move deeper into winter, it’s essential that we keep all playing our part in the collective responsibility of trying to keep the virus at bay.

We have already seen a concerning rise in cases again in Buckinghamshire following the lockdown and I don’t want to risk Buckinghamshire moving into tighter restrictions. We’ve seen cases go up from 117 per 100,000 people to 141 cases per 100,000 people in the space of a week. This is quite frankly moving in the wrong direction if we wish to move down to Tier 1. You can find the latest local data on the COVID dashboard on our website. It’s vital that as we all prepare for Christmas, we enjoy the festive season safely and keep following the rules.

You might also want to consider limiting your social contacts from this weekend to reduce your chances of having to self-isolate over Christmas – if you are self-isolating over Christmas it would mean you cannot be part of a Christmas bubble.

I know how hard it is and how desperate we all are for a return to a more normal existence, not least as we can see that on the horizon now, but we must keep going with strict adherence to social distancing, hand hygiene and mask-wearing if we are to avoid putting more pressure on an already very busy time for NHS services.

Please check out the extensive information, advice and guidance on the Government’s website and remember that at the moment, Buckinghamshire is under Tier 2 restrictions, so please make sure you’re familiar with the rules currently in place locally.

Vaccine update

Locally, the NHS will be starting to deliver the coronavirus vaccine in Buckinghamshire, in line with the government’s priority list of which people will get it first. If you’re expecting a vaccine, I know you will be keen to find out more but please don’t contact your doctor or the NHS to ask about it, as they will get in touch with you directly when it’s your turn. Supplies of the first vaccine to be authorised are limited, so please be patient.

There is more information about the COVID-19 vaccine on both the Government and the NHS websites, so please take time to click on these links and read through these pages if you want to find out more. We will keep you updated as plans for the vaccine programme progress here.

Helping Hand – how we’re helping vulnerable residents through Christmas

The pandemic has hit us all in different ways and life’s been especially tough for families who were already struggling to make ends meet. We are helping the most vulnerable families to put food on the table through the school holidays with our Helping Hand scheme which has launched this week.

Families already eligible for free school meals will be able to claim food vouchers across the Christmas holidays via schools, and many thanks to our schools for their hard work in helping us get the vouchers ready to go to families before the end of term.

We’ve also set up a Helping Hand helpline for anyone worried about food or warmth over the Christmas holidays. Please call 01296 531 151 or email helpinghands@buckinghamshire.gov.uk if you are struggling and need our help.

Bucks Business Grants

We’ve paid out almost £4m in grants to local businesses that have been badly hit by the coronavirus restrictions. We have helped almost 900 businesses with our Additional Restrictions Grant and nearly 2000 businesses with our Local Restrictions Grant. There is help out there for firms that have been affected by the four week national lockdown so please get in touch if you think you are eligible for this support.

The Additional Restrictions Grant scheme we are also running can help businesses from any sector that have seen their income drop by more than 30% as a result of coronavirus measures. It’s quick and easy to apply for both grants online via our website. Applications for the Additional Restrictions Grant close on Friday 18 December so please apply now if you haven’t done so already.

Don’t forget – if you’re on a low income and have been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate, but you cannot work from home, you may be eligible for a support payment. To find out more check these details on our website.

Staying safe at Christmas events

COVID safe Christmas events are planned in our town centres this year and I’m glad we are managing to strike a balance between getting out and supporting local businesses while having these safety measures in place. There’ll be free parking in some locations and car parks in our town centres in the run up to Christmas including Sat 12 and Sat 19 December. Please check the information on site at each parking location and please note, this won’t apply to every car park, so do look at the signage when you arrive.

More details will be posted on the Buckinghamshire Council website in the coming days so take a look online at locations and dates where you can park for free in the run up to Christmas.

There’s festive music from traditional bands, free film screenings, and other treats in store for Christmas shoppers in our main town centres – look out for the details in your local area.

Merry Clickmas! Please shop local

Our local businesses have had a really tough year so please take time to look beyond the well-known national websites this Christmas and see if any local firms can fulfil your gift-buying needs! Many Bucks businesses are also offering ‘click and collect’ services so please do shop local where you can and check out our Merry Clickmas webpage for more details.

Where to find information on how council services are running

Some of you have asked for up to date information on how services like leisure centres and libraries are currently running. The best way to find this out is by taking a look at our website and to follow our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram).

It’s very hard for me to include everything everyone wants and needs to know in these emails so please do use these resources if you have any questions or queries.

Please stay safe, and remember to follow the rules when shopping local!

Martin Tett

Leader, Buckinghamshire Council