Census 2021

Households across the New Forest will soon be asked to take part in the 2021 Census.

The census happens only once every ten years and has been carried out every decade since 1841, with the exception of 1941.

The survey gives the Office for National Statistics the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales.

It will be the first Census run mainly online and you’ll get a letter to your household with a unique access code, allowing you to complete the questionnaire on your computer, phone or tablet.

Census information is used by charities, central and local government, and others, to put services and funding in the places where they are most needed. Which is why it is so important everyone takes part. At NFDC, we use it for nearly all services we provide, from planning to housing, and waste collection to our website.

Census day will be on 21 March, 2021.

Households will get their letters with the online codes from early March.

The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

For more information, visit https://census.gov.uk/

New NFDC planning advice available

The NFDC planning team has introduced a new duty planning officer system.

The officer can assist you with simple questions such as:

The appointments are on the phone for 15 minutes and can be booked online 14 days in advance at https://newforest.gov.uk/article/2001/Duty-Planner-Service

Make sure your are registered to vote in the May Parish Council election

On Thursday 6 May, residents in the New Forest District will be voting in elections for the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Hampshire County Council, and our Parish Council by-election.

NFDC is already making plans to help you stay safe at the polling stations, and there are a number of ways to have your say in May:

To vote in the elections – either at a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf as your proxy – you must first be registered to vote, which can be done online in just 5 minutes. If you aren’t already registered, you can register at: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you’re thinking about voting by post, you can apply to do this now. This will make sure your application is processed early, and your postal vote can be sent to you more quickly once the candidates for the elections are confirmed.

To apply to vote by post, download, print and fill in this form https://newforest.gov.uk/media/173/Postal-Vote-Application-Form/pdf/Application_to_Vote_by_Post.pdf?m=637309366170170000

Once you have completed the form and signed it, send it to the electoral team at New Forest District Council, Appletree Court, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA or you can scan it and email it to electoralservices@nfdc.gov.uk

If you aren’t able to cast your vote in person, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote for you by post. To apply for a proxy vote, complete the form to vote by proxy https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voting-person-post-or-proxy/voting-proxy, explaining why you can’t get to your polling station in person.

Have your say on the future of Hurst Spit

Hurst Spit to Lymington project

The Environment Agency, in partnership with NFDC and others, are looking at a sustainable future for the coast between Hurst Spit and Lymington.

As part of this project there is the chance to give your thoughts at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HurstSpit2Lymington/

The Hurst Spit to Lymington project will investigate how to respond to the significant challenges facing this area of coastline. The project will also look at how to fund any potential work.
More information: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/solent-and-south-downs/hurst-spit-to-lymington-project/

Update from NFDC 5/1/21 – Coronavirus, rough sleepers, council services and more

New coronavirus lockdown just announced

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has this evening announced tougher coronavirus restrictions in England from tonight (one-minute past midnight on 5 January 2021).

The new set of lockdown restrictions for England has been introduced to stop the current fast spread of coronavirus which has reached a record high.

The increasing pressure on the NHS means healthcare services are at risk of being overwhelmed.

You may now only leave home for limited reasons such as to shop for essentials, to work if you absolutely cannot work from home, to seek medical assistance such as getting a COVID test, or to escape domestic abuse.

You should follow this guidance immediately. The law will be updated to reflect these new rules.

Keeping to the lockdown restrictions, as well as reducing your social contact and continuing to follow hands – face – space, will save lives.

Stay home – protect the NHS – save lives

You must stay at home except for:

Primary schools, secondary schools, and colleges across England will close and move to remote provision from tomorrow, except for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

Full lockdown restrictions and updates will be added to https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus and a summary is now available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae

Council services

We are reviewing what this latest announcement means for our services.

Essential services, like waste collections, benefit payments and homelessness support continue, but please see https://newforest.gov.uk/coronavirus for any updates
and https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1162/Contact-us for how to get in touch.

Keep up to date at:

Hampshire helpline 0333 370 4000 – for advice and support if coronavirus has had an impact on you or any aspect of your life.

Coronavirus vaccine

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the second vaccination to be approved in the UK, has started to be given across the country.

The vaccine, which has been through stringent safety checks and extensive trials, is our best defence against the virus and will help curb infections and then allow restrictions to be lifted.

The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus. The vaccine is being offered in some hospitals and hundreds of local vaccination centres run by GPs.
It’s being given to:

The vaccine will be offered more widely, and at other locations, as soon as possible.

The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.

Read more: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

Reporting a breach of coronavirus restrictions

If you are concerned that there has been a breach of restrictions you can contact Hampshire Constabulary at https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/tell-us-about-possible-breach-coronavirus-measures/

If you have concerns that Covid-secure measures are not being met by a business, we would recommend you raise this with the business at the time and, if you are not satisfied with the response, contact our environmental health team at eho.office@nfdc.gov.uk 02380 285230.

Disposing of waste if you’re self-isolating

If you have any symptoms of COVID19 you must self-isolate immediately and book a test.
The main symptoms are:

You must change the way you put out rubbish for collection if you are self-isolating due to coronavirus, because you have had a positive test result, have symptoms or have been told to isolate by NHS Test and Trace,

Please double-bag your personal waste (tissues, cleaning cloths) before putting them in your black sack. Wait at least three days before putting your sacks out for collection.

By taking these extra precautions, you can help keep our staff safe and our collection services running during this time.

There is more information on our website: https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1579/Coronavirus-waste-and-recycling-changes#h20

Financial support for those who have to self-isolate – read more and see if you are eligible: https://newforest.gov.uk/testandtracepayment

Cold weather advice

Icy conditions and cold weather are forecast this week.

Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications, especially if you are 65 or older, or if you have a long-term health condition.

Please check on older neighbours and relatives, and those with heart or breathing problems, to make sure they are safe and well, and have stocks of food and medicines so they do not need to go out during very cold weather.
If you are concerned about someone, you can contact Hampshire County Council’s Social Care and Health team https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth
If you’re concerned the person may have hypothermia, contact NHS 111 or in an emergency call 999.

Keep warm and well:

Help with heating costs:

Tell us about people homeless or rough sleeping this winter
Contact our homelessness team as soon as possible if you see, or know of someone, that you suspect is homeless or sleeping rough: on our website https://newforest.gov.uk/article/993/Help-for-homeless, email homeless@nfdc.gov.uk, or call 023 8028 5222.