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More pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to serve customers outdoors in plans announced by the government.

• The government will simplify and reduce the costs of the licensing process for outdoor seating and stalls, making it easier for people to safely drink and dine outside. 
• Proposed planning freedoms will mean that outdoor markets, pop-up car-boot sales or summer fairs will not need a planning application.
• Pubs and restaurants will be able to use car parks and terraces as dining and drinking areas, using their existing seating licenses.
• Temporary changes to licensing laws will allow many more licensed premises, such as pubs and restaurants, to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. Customers will be able to buy their drinks from a pub and consume them elsewhere, making social distancing easier.

These measures will give an immediate and much needed boost to many businesses, whilst supporting them to successfully reopen over the summer. Find more here.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement of further easing of Coronavirus restrictions from July 4 in England, including the reopening of culture, tourism and leisure venues as well as a relaxation of the two-metre rule, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:

“These steps will enable more Norfolk companies to reopen and will be cautiously welcomed by our business community.

“While the relaxation of the two-metre rule will help more firms increase capacity, we are still a long way from business as usual. Broader efforts to boost business and consumer confidence will still be needed to help firms trade their way out of this crisis.

“A comprehensive test and trace system, including a mass testing regime, must be in place to realise the benefits that the easing of restrictions could bring to firms across the UK, many of whom are relying on the swift return of consumer confidence.

“Our businesses also need to see a clear roadmap to recovery from the government, including fresh support for the worst-affected sectors and geographic 

On 23 June 2020, the Prime Minister announced further easements of the Coronavirus restrictions as part of Step Three of the government’s plan to return life to as near normal as we can. This guidance applies in England – people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should follow the specific rules in those parts of the UK.

In addition, all businesses and venues can reopen from 4 July, except for the list below, which remain closed by law:

• Nightclubs
• Casinos
• Bowling alleys and Indoor skating rinks
• Indoor play areas including soft-play
• Spas
• Nail bars, beauty salons and tanning salons
• Massage, tattoo and piercing parlours
• Indoor fitness and dance studios, and indoor gyms and sports venues/facilities
• Swimming pools including water parks
• Exhibition or conference centres must remain closed for events such as exhibitions or conferences, other than for those who work for the business or organisation who run the venue.

Cafes, restaurants and shops that are self-contained and can be accessed from the outside, will still be permitted to open.

The UK government will continue to phase reopening and hope to reopen other close-contact businesses as soon as possible.

All other businesses and venues can reopen from 4 July. Examples are available here including links to guidance to ensure their safe-reopening.

Reopen your business safely during Coronavirus

Employers that want to reopen their business have a legal responsibility to protect their employees and other people on site. Use this UK government guidance to help you carry out a risk assessment and make sensible adjustments to the site and workforce.

• If you do not carry out a risk assessment, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your local council can issue an enforcement notice.
• Employees can use this guidance to check what their workplace needs to do to keep people safe.
• This guidance is only for businesses that are allowed to reopen in England.

Working safely during Coronavirus

People and employers should stay safe in public spaces and workplaces by following the government’s “Working safely during Coronavirus” guidelines. This should enable more people to go back to work, where they cannot work from home, and encourage more vulnerable children and the children of critical workers to go to school or childcare as already permitted.

Shops in England selling non-essential goods can now re-open provided they follow government guidelines to keep staff and customers as safe as possible. The government issued detailed COVID-19 secure guidance for retailers and other sectors. Businesses should display a downloadable notice to inform customers and staff they have followed COVID-secure guidance.

Following earlier easements in May and June, from the 4 July, further businesses and venues will be allowed to open. For further details, please see the section on Official guidance from UK government.

The October edition of the Norfolk Infrastructure Update has arrived! Below are highlighted some of the key points from this edition.

• Rail Improvements – Continue the high profile campaign to improve the Norwich-London route – working with Network Rail and the franchise holder, Greater Anglia – and push for improvements on Norwich-Cambridge and Cambridge-King’s Lynn services.
• Broadband – By autumn 2015, the ‘Better Broadband for Norfolk’ project seeks to achieve: a minimum speed of 2 megabits per second (Mbps) for all premises and ‘Superfast’ broadband (24Mbps+) for as many premises as possible.
• Abellio Greater Anglia has had its franchise extended to 2016. The process for the new, longer term franchise post-2016 is likely to be put underway soon by government.
• A47 – Promote the status of the A47 and secure funding for key junctions, a new river crossing in Great Yarmouth and other targeted improvements.
• Fiveways to Thetford improvement – Ongoing speed restriction of 40mph, 24 hrs per day between Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills and London roundabout in Thetford.

To read the full report on the Norfolk Infrastructure Update, click here.

On the back of the news that Norfolk is to receive funding to start improvements to the A47, Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber hosted a Chamber business leaders gathering with the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

The meeting gave Norfolk Chamber members the opportunity to explain the importance, not just on this being the first stage to the development of the A47 and the need for the dualling of the Acle Straight, but also the importance of improved mobile and broadband speeds. Other topics discussed were the A140, NDR, improved rail, membership of Europe and how infrastructure investment in Norfolk will support our young people.

The Prime Minister was left in no doubt that the business community were the ‘power house’ of the region and were willing to develop their businesses and create new jobs, provided they were given the tools to do so, which included improved infrastructure.

Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said “It was great to have a robust and lively debate directly with the Prime Minister about the needs and wants of the Norfolk business community. The news today on the A47 is very welcome and a cause the Chamber network had been lobbying for over many years. This is just the beginning though, as we need a start date and discussions as to when other parts of the A47 will be dualled, especially the Acle Straight. We are now looking for good news relating to our lobbying with partners for a better rail service from the Chancellor later this week.”

Commenting on the government’s policy proposals for a points-based immigration system, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

 “The speed and scale of these changes will require significant adjustment by businesses.

 “Companies are already investing heavily in home-grown talent across the county, but critical labour shortages mean firms will still need access to overseas workers at all skill levels. 

 “The new points system must be able to respond quickly to changing market needs, and the application process must be radically simplified.”