Businesses in Nottingham are to be visited by City Council officers to check they are complying with the Government’s Covid guidelines.

Many businesses in Nottingham have done tremendous work to implement controls so that their businesses are COVID-secure. Nottingham City Council is grateful to these businesses and the public for following the guidelines and playing their part to help contain the virus.

Evidence suggests that although there is broad compliance, some businesses within the city and county, have been failing to follow Government guidelines. Therefore as part of a joint initiative with other councils within the county, Nottingham City Council officers will be visiting premises across the entire city from next week, to check that business are compliant. Business will be given advice and guidance on how to implement adequate measures to control the spread of Covid, but any refusing to do so may be served with legal notices requiring improvements to be carried out.

The initiative is being led by Environmental Health, Trading Standards Officers and Community Protection Officers in Community Protection. Officers will initially be visiting licensed premises including pubs and restaurants, as well as businesses offering close contact services such as hairdressers and barbers, to ensure that suitable control measures are in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection being spread among employees and customers.

It is not possible to completely eradicate the risks associated with Coronavirus. However, businesses need to have measures in place to control the risk to an acceptable level. Checks will typically include looking at social distancing, adequacy of cleaning and disinfection, hand washing, risk mitigation measures such as the use of personal protective equipment, barriers and screens, as well as arrangements for recording customer contact details.

Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, Cllr Neghat Khan, said: “We’re grateful that overwhelmingly our local businesses have risen to the challenge of reopening to the public in Covid-secure ways. However, there are some which have not and in these cases we will of course make every effort to support and guide businesses on how to implement appropriate measures.

“However, if any business owners refuse to implement adequate control measures to ensure that they are operating in a Covid-secure way, legal action will be taken to ensure compliance with health and safety laws.”

The Government has published detailed sector guidance to enable businesses to become Covid-secure. For further information and access to this guidance, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19