Following Government advice, the council has taken a number of steps to help ensure the wellbeing of customers, staff and the wider community, while also keeping essential services running.
This means some of the services you usually use will be closed, or will be operating in a different way. We are working hard to make sure the services you rely on are available as far as we possibly can, and we are putting additional measures in place to make sure that people in at-risk groups who may be more greatly affected by the social distancing measures are supported.
Here you can find out the status of our services and we will update this page regularly.
Wherever possible, please use the council's online services. By doing this, it will help us respond to enquiries as quickly as possible.
| Service | Status | Further details |
|---|---|---|
| Customer contact centre | Although our offices are currently closed to the public due to Covid-19, we are still here to help. | Our customer contact centre is open from:
Out of working hours If you need to contact us out of working hours (after 5pm weekdays and throughout the weekend) and it's an emergency, please call us on 01243 785339. Emergency face-to-face appointments If you need an emergency face to face appointment, please call us on 01243 785166 and we will arrange for you to be seen by a member of our staff. Dropping off deliveries If you are dropping off deliveries, please contact our caretaking team on 01243 521145. Contacting the Citizens' Advice Bureau The Citizen's Advice Bureau is not one our services, but does operate from East Pallant House. If you want to access help from the Citizens' Advice Bureau please visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call them on 0800 144 8444 between the hours of 8am and 6pm. |
| Building Control | We are currently running a normal service with some alterations to the way services are delivered. Please contact Building Control in regard to inspections and the type of inspection that will be undertaken, remote inspection or physical inspection. Please note that to book a completion inspection it will be necessary to first complete the declaration form on the Building Control page on the Council's website and return to buildingcontrol@chichester.gov.uk | Wherever possible, please visit our website first: |
| Covid related enquiries and business closures | Complaints and requests for advice will be prioritised on a case by case basis. Urgent work will be actioned, including enforcement of all business closures (not just those relating to food) as part of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 where intelligence received regarding potential public health risks. Service still restricted but we are now operating within a social-distancing risk based approach with any person with whom we are intending to visit, inspect or enforce. |
healthprotection@chichester.gov.uk 01243 534602 |
| Cemetries and burial service | Our burial service will be available on certain days of the week. Please contact the service to discuss arrangements. | cemeteryservice@chichester.gov.uk |
| Choose Work | Telephone and email appointments only | www.chichester.gov.uk/choosework 01243 534889 choosework@chichester.gov.uk |
| Council meetings | Public meetings are now being streamed live online. | If you wish to submit a question for a public meeting, please visit Speaking at Council and committee meetings |
| Coastal and Land Drainage, including Ordinary Watercourse Consenting | We are currently operating a restricted service. Work is being prioritised based on current/future local flood risk. Ordinary Watercourse Consents applications continue to be processed, but may take longer than usual to determine. | www.chichester.gov.uk/environmentandhealth 01243 534689 |
Urgent commercial health and safety | This service currently covers high risk work such as serious accidents at work, or health and wellbeing issues where there is an imminent or serious risk to health. Service still restricted but we are now operating within a social-distancing risk based approach with any person with whom we are intending to visit, inspect or enforce. | www.chichester.gov.uk/healthandsafety 01243 534602 |
| Community Wardens | Most areas covered but with limited face-to-face contact | www.chichester.gov.uk/communitywardens 01243 534749 community@chichester.gov.uk |
| Council Tax and Benefits | Service running normally but appointments by telephone only. Services can be accessed online.
| We ask that you contact us by email where you can on taxation@chichester.gov.uk for Council Tax or benefits@chichester.gov.uk for Benefits. Please use our online services to make claims, update us of changes and check payments: www.chichester.gov.uk/counciltaxandbenefits |
| Culture and Sport | Leisure centres, sports pitches and tennis courts are currently closed in line with Government coronavirus restrictions.
| www.chichester.gov.uk/leisureandculture www.everyoneactive.com/centre/bourne-leisure-centre/ or 01243 376101 |
| East Pallant House reception | East Pallant house closed from 24 March, except for emergency appointments for those most at need If you feel you need an appointment, please call us first. Telephone lines are operating as normal, but customers may experience longer waiting times | www.chichester.gov.uk |
| Economic Development (Business Support) | We are currently running a normal service using email and phone contact | www.chichester.gov.uk/businesssupportandadvice 01243 534669 |
Emergency Planning | We are currently running a normal service. Corporate Health and Safety is currently running a normal service. | www.chichester.gov.uk/emergencies health&safety@chichester.gov.uk 01243 534605 |
Environmental Protection including pollution, noise/nuisance, pests | Service still restricted but we are now operating within a social-distancing risk based approach pre-agreed with any person with whom we are intending to visit, inspect or enforce. | www.chichester.gov.uk/environmentandhealth environmentalprotect@chichester.gov.uk 01243 785166 |
| Food safety issues and advice | This service is limited to potential public health risks. Urgent work will be actioned, including enforcement of all business closures (not just those relating to food) as part of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 where intelligence received regarding potential public health risks. Planned inspections for registered food businesses are currently being deferred until 30 June 2021. On-going enforcement work will continue to ensure remedial action has been taken to reduce the risk to public health. Food businesses should notify us by telephone if it is changing its activities. Service still restricted but we are now operating within a social-distancing risk based approach with any person with whom we are intending to visit, inspect or enforce. | www.chichester.gov.uk/foodsafety healthprotection@chichester.gov.uk 01243 534602 |
| Foreshores | The Foreshore Office is now closed for the winter. | Report any issues at the foreshores to Foreshore@chichester.gov.uk or 01243 785166.
|
| Hall hire | Community venues are closed temporarily and we will not be accepting new bookings at this time. | |
Housing | Services currently still being provided: Housing Advice and homelessness - on line and telephone service. Appointments will only be offered where they are essential. Housing Standards
HomeMove (housing register) - applications are being accepted, properties are still being advertised but registered providers are unable to sign up new tenancies. Homefinder - property management service for private sector landlords. Housing Enabling | www.chichester.gov.uk/housing 01243 785166 |
Land charges | We are currently running a normal service but with limited face-to-face contact | www.chichester.gov.uk/landchargefees 01243 534664 |
| Licensing | We are currently running a normal service but with limited face-to-face contact. Taxi & private hire Knowledge Tests are now running again. | www.chichester.gov.uk/licensing |
| Markets - Farmers' Market | Farmers' Market: operating with limited stalls on a fortnightly basis from the Cattle Market Car Park trading 9am to 2pm. See scheduled dates at: https://www.chichester.gov.uk/aboutfarmersmarket#dates Social distancing measurements are in place with council representatives present to advise customers and traders on these. | www.chichester.gov.uk/farmersmarket 01243 785166 |
| Markets - Wednesday and Saturday city centre |
The Wednesday market is operating every week from the Cattle Market car park with limited stalls on a temporary basis, trading from 8am. The Saturday market is operating every week in Cattle Market car park with limited stalls, trading from 8am. Social distancing measures are in place. | For market enquiries during the national lockdown period, contact estatesservice@chichester.gov.uk Contact market operator Bray Associates on 01895 639912. For market stallholder enquiries contact the - Market Manager, Sam Theuma Tel 07737 630843, email samtheuma@icloud.com For general or Boot Sale enquiries Contact Bray Associates Tel 01895 639912 and email email@bray-associates.co.uk |
| MOT tests | We are currently running a normal service. | www.chichester.gov.uk/mot |
| Parking services | All of our car parks are open and operating as normal. The Civil Enforcement team are also operating fully with a focus on safety and ensuring the free movement of traffic, especially for the emergency services, carers and delivery vehicles and where there is a higher demand in parking. There continue to be alterations to the way some of our services are delivered. | 01243 534500 All customers are encouraged to visit the website and make use of online services. We are encouraging the use of contactless methods of payment in car parks so customers can use the MiPermit App where possible to avoid queuing at payment machines. We are continuing to offer free car parking for NHS and social care workers in Northgate car park, Chichester until April 2021 by providing a digital season ticket. Please visit https://www.mipermit.com/kwpermits.aspx. Face to Face services such as Resident Visitor Permits are being carried out by telephone and customers should allow sufficient time for these to be posted and find alternative parking if a permit is unavailable. Residents who have been furloughed, or who are moving onto the reduced hours scheme can still purchase on street parking dispensations providing evidence is provided to support the request. NHS staff, health or social care workers or NHS Volunteer Responders are able to park on street and off street in council car parks, free of charge, with a permit which is supplied through their employer. Staff should visit the government website for more information about obtaining a permit, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions. Visitor car parking permits If you need to buy a visitor's car parking permit, please call us on 01243 534500 so that we can take payment and send this to you through the post. |
| Parks and Gardens | Parks and play areas are open as normal. | www.chichester.gov.uk/parksandopenspaces Our play areas have now reopened and we are asking people to follow the guidance in place at each site. You can find this at Children's play areas. |
| Planning Applications and Enforcement | We are currently running a normal service with some alterations to the way services are delivered. | www.chichester.gov.uk/article/24069/Planning-applications
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Planning policy | We are currently running a normal service with some alterations to the way services are delivered. Community Infrastructure Levy - applicants and agents are advised to submit all forms, in particular the Commencement Notice Form, electronically to the council using the email address: cil@chichester.gov.uk as there could be delays in processing paper copies. Further details can be found at: www.chichester.gov.uk/cil | www.chichester.gov.uk/planningpolicy 01243 785166 Please email Community Infrastructure Levy forms to cil@chichester.gov.uk |
| Play parks | Our play areas are open for you to enjoy. We look forward to welcoming you, but please make sure you follow the guidelines that are in place at each site for your own safety. | Parks - Covid-19 (Coronavirus) update |
| Public toilets | All of our public toilets are open daily from 7am - 7.30pm and are regularly cleaned and checked throughout the day. Please remember to observe social distancing and hygiene measures when using these facilities. | map of our public toilets |
| Private water supplies | Service limited to high risk supplies including commercial private water supplies | www.chichester.gov.uk/environmentandhealth |
| Public conveniences | All of our public conveniences are open as usual. | www.chichester.gov.uk/publictoilets 01243 534619 |
| Registration of new food businesses | New food business registrations will still be processed. Service still restricted but we are now operating within a social-distancing risk based approach with any person with whom we are intending to visit, inspect or enforce. | www.chichester.gov.uk/foodsafety 01243 534602 |
| Social prescribing | Telephone and email appointments only | 01243 521041 |
| Stray Dog Service | We are currently running a restricted telephone based service with cover for stray dogs in emergency situations. Our kennels for stray dogs remains open. | www.chichester.gov.uk/environmentandhealth environmentalprotect@chichester.gov.uk 01243 785166 |
| Street care and cleansing service | We are operating a restricted service, focusing on emptying dog bins, clearing fly tips, litter picking, and emptying litter bins in priority areas | www.chichester.gov.uk/contractservices |
| The Novium Museum | Following changes to Government guidance, The Novium Museum and Chichester Tourist Information Centre is temporarily closed. For online collections and exhibitions, visit: www.thenovium.org/virtualmuseum | www.thenovium.org 01243 775888 |
| Waste and Recycling services | We are currently operating a full waste collection service (black, burgundy and green bins).
Household Waste Recycling Sites are operated by West Sussex County Council. Information about their service status can be found on their website . | Please put the relevant bin out for collection on your normal day and, with exception of customers that receive an assisted collection, place them at the roadside for ease of collection. This requirement extends to owners of isolated properties and those with private drives. In all cases, please leave your bin out for collection all day as our crews may be arriving later than usual. We will do all we can to collect your waste but if this is not possible please keep hold of it and present it on your normal fortnightly collection day. www.chichester.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling |
| Wellbeing | Telephone and email appointments only Chichester Wellbeing can provide advice on: eating well, losing weight, being more active, reducing alcohol, stopping smoking, improving emotional wellbeing or support to access other services. | chichester.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk info@chichesterwellbeing.org.uk 01243 521041 |
Our corporate risk assessment
We are constantly reviewing our Corporate Covid Risk Assessment in line with changing Government guidelines and restrictions. You can view the latest version here.