London

London Cycling Campaign asks all road users to take extra care at this time as advised by Road Safety GB 

Yes, London’s roads are a lot less congested but there are key workers on bikes, including vital health workers, and families out for exercise, who may not be expert at cycling. (LCC is offering free advice for returning cyclists.)  

Please drive and ride with consideration for those who might normally be on public transport – the last thing we want is collisions that could put more pressure on the NHS. If you see someone wobbling – take extra care – that could be a key worker.

The best thing to do is to stick to speed limits or drive and ride more slowly and calmly, despite emptier roads and cycle tracks, and particularly give those cycling a wide berth – think ‘social distancing’ on the roads (that goes for cyclists as well as motorists). This light hearted video by the medal winning Brownlee brothers for Continental was made well before coronavirus but illustrates the point of staying wide apart.

Key workers and anyone else who needs cycling advice are welcome to contact LCC.

Around 20,000 families and single people on low incomes will receive a further rebate of up to £150 on their Council Tax bill and hundreds more will have access to crisis cash under new Hackney Council investment for those affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Working-age residents eligible for Hackney’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme will automatically receive the discount on their 2020/21 bills. Pensioners on a low income and young people leaving care already get 100% of their Council Tax paid.

An additional £500,000 will also be invested into the Council’s Discretionary Crisis Support Scheme, which residents can apply to for urgent financial support with emergency needs. A further £120,000 has been invested to support Discretionary Housing Payments for those needing support to pay rent.

Council tax discounts will be made from the borough’s allocation of the Coronavirus Hardship Fund announced by the Government in the Budget earlier this month and intended to target support at those on the lowest incomes. Delivering this through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme means these households don’t need to apply for support and we can apply the discount directly. The Council will also stop all Council Tax debt collection or enforcement action in cases resulting from Coronavirus.

Anyone who needs support, or people who know someone who does, should visit the Council’s dedicated Coronavirus support hub.

The Council is working closely with its service providers to apply the discount as soon as possible. We are also exploring how we can channel support to residents with No Recourse to Public Funds.

The Council is committed to urgently exploring what other additional support residents need and ensuring that this hardship funding reaches residents most affected.

To apply for help through the topped-up funds, residents should apply online for Discretionary Housing Payments or through the Discretionary Crisis Support Scheme. 

There are a range of other support options for residents who need financial support, including: 

• Applying for Universal Credit

• Applying for Housing Benefit or Council Tax support

For independent advice and support, the Council’s regularly updated Find Support Services Map shows organisations which remain open and are providing alternative services during the current restrictions.

For the latest information about how the Council is working hard to slow the spread of Coronavirus, and to sign up for daily email updates, visit hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus