The Civic Offices are open for essential appointments

The Civic Offices have reopened to the public for essential and pre-booked appointments only. For more information on how to access council services and contact us, click the link below.

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Coronavirus: council service updates

LAST UPDATE: 19 July 2021

Latest Coronavirus guidance

How to prevent the spread of Coronavirus

Most legal restrictions to control COVID-19 have been lifted at step 4. This means that:

  • You do not need to stay two metres apart from people you do not live with. There are also no limits on the number of people you can meet.
  • However, in order to minimise risk at a time of high prevalence, you should limit the close contact you have with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually. This includes minimising the number, proximity and duration of social contacts.
  • You should meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces.
  • The government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can. However, the government expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer.
  • The requirement to wear face coverings in law has been lifted. However, the government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.
  • There are no longer limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other life events (including receptions and celebrations). There is no requirement for table service at life events, or restrictions on singing or dancing. You should follow guidance for weddings and funerals to reduce risk and protect yourself and others.
  • There are no longer restrictions on group sizes for attending communal worship. COVID-19 has not gone away, so it’s important to remember the actions you can take to keep yourself and others safe. Everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious.

Read the full government guidance

Get vaccinated

All adults in England have now been offered at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are safe and effective. They give you the best protection against COVID-19.

If you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, you should get vaccinated. It usually takes around two to three weeks for an antibody response to develop. You need two doses of vaccine for maximum protection against COVID-19.

The NHS offers the option to book your appointments in advance or choose a walk-in clinic service.

Find out more about local vaccination clinics

How to get tested for Coronavirus - with or without symptoms

If you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, you must  self-isolate immediately and book a test via the NHS.

Get a Coronavirus test if you have symptoms

Around one in three people with COVID-19 have no symptoms, but can still pass it on to others - we all need to play our part to help protect each other.

Symptom-free testing uses rapid COVID-19 tests (lateral flow devices) to identify people who have Coronavirus without symptoms. These can be obtained in a number of ways - from a nominated collection point, temporary testing site or order online and receive by post.

Find out more, including how to get a symptom-free Coronavirus test

Civic Offices

The Civic Offices are open for essential appointments only.

Visitors can only enter the Civic Offices if they have a pre-arranged appointment. On arrival, visitors will be asked to sanitise their hands and wear a face covering to ensure the safety of both other visitors and staff members.

Residents with non-essential enquiries should:

To make an essential appointment, please call 01483 755 855 (9am to 4.45pm) and ask to speak to the department required.

Please note, only if an enquiry is deemed essential by the department and, cannot be dealt with via our website, email or phone, will an appointment be arranged.

Council facilities open to the public

Council service updates

Business

Business rates

All businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector will be given a business rates holiday for 12 months from April 2020. They will not be asked to pay in respect of the financial year 2020 to 2021.

Read more about the business rates holiday.

Business grants

There are currently no grant schemes open to local businesses. Information about any future grants will be posted on this webpage as and when they are available.

Commercial tenants

We will review our corporate estate and provide support to tenants which may need a flexible approach and delay rent payments. Where possible, we will delay the obligation to pay if that enables a business to survive and retain employees.

Guidance for food businesses

Advice for food businesses is available from the government website.

Food businesses registered with us, should email environmental.health@woking.gov.uk if they have any questions or queries.  

Read the latest government advice for food businesses.

Business advice and support

Read useful guidance and support for businesses affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Community and living well

Brockhill Extra Care

Tenants can receive a maximum of five visitors in their flats between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 4pm on a Friday. All visitors are required to take a lateral flow test on the day they visit and the registered test result must be shown to staff before they can visit. Babies and young children are exempt from testing.

In addition to this tenants can receive visitors in the garden at any time and these visitors are not required to take a test.

The visitors pod is still available to book, Monday to Friday and no test is required for this.  Bookings can be made by calling the Brockhill team on 01483 743 975.

Community support and helpline

Surrey County Council runs a county-wide helpline and support services for vulnerable residents and those struggling to access the right services, finances and food supplies.

Read about the support available.

Community meals service

The community meals service remains open. This covers residents who have come out of hospital or those who are unable to cook their own meals. 

Careline personal care alarms and sensors service

Careline is running a normal service.

Centres for the Community

Our Centres for the Community (Moorcroft, Parkview, St Mary’s and The Vyne) are closed to members of the public, except for health and educational services by appointment only.

Find out more about our centres for the community.

The Art Cafe at St Mary's (Byfleet) and the Cafe at The Vyne (Knaphill) are open for takeaway service only.

Handyperson service

The Handyperson service is operating as normal although priority will be given to work required for hospital discharge. All works are conducted following the latest social distancing and Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) requirements.

Returning home after a stay in hospital

Our Homesafe Plus service is not operating in its usual format due to staffing capacity at local hospitals. Hospitals will continue to refer patients to relevant council services where possible.

Social prescribing

The social prescribing service is operating a normal service. Home visit appointments have resumed where there is an identified need and appointments may also be offered in a GP surgery setting or Community Centre. Phone based appointments are still available to those who would prefer this contact method.

Vulnerable residents

Vulnerable people known to us are being supported and engagement with community networks continue.  

Council Tax

Council Tax payments

Council Tax payments will be taken as usual.

Anyone who is struggling to make payments, should contact us to agree a revised payment plan.

Read more about Council Tax payments and support.

Council and democracy

Council and committee meetings

Full Council, Executive and committee meetings continue. From Thursday 20 May, all meetings will be held in person and no longer via Zoom.

Housing

Housing - choice based lettings

Bidding for properties via our  Choice based lettings (CBL) system is operating as usual on a fortnightly basis.

View future bidding cycles.

Homelessness prevention

We are proactively working with the York Road Project to ensure our rough sleeper community has accommodation during the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

Our housing advice team are conducting homelessness assessments by phone. If you are homeless or have been made homeless due an emergency situation, phone 01483 743 834.

Housing applications

Our housing needs team are still managing phone calls, letters and emails.

Housing register applications are still being accepted by post and processed. Until further notice, we have suspended verification visits until further notice. Unfortunately, this may delay some allocations.

Many properties are still being allocated but there is a delay on repairs due to contractor staff shortages.

Read more about how to apply for housing.

Tenancy information for New Vision Homes tenants

New Vision Homes is making all efforts to keep its services running with as little disruption as possible, including scheduled repairs.

Read New Vision Homes' Coronavirus guidance and service updates.

Tenants experiencing financial difficulties

We and ThamesWey are working positively with tenants in financial difficulties to avoid the risk of homelessness.

Licensing and permits

The licensing team are continuing to offer driver badge and vehicle renewals only. All enquiries and requested documentation must be emailed to the licensing team and not posted to the Civic Offices.

Until further notice, the team are not accepting new driver licence applications.

Find out more about applying for taxi and private hire licence renewals.

Email: licensing@woking.gov.uk

Parking

Car park and on-street parking charges and civil enforcement are operating a normal service, including parking charges and penalty enforcement. 

More information about car parks and on-street parking.

Planning and building control

Building control applications and site visits

We are still accepting electronic building regulation applications and conducting some visits.

Read the latest building control service updates.

Pre-planning advice

Pre-planning meetings are being conducted as virtual meetings. Written advice will be provided by email: development.control@woking.gov.uk

Planning applications

The planning service is still accepting and processing planning applications.

Read the latest planning service updates.

Waste and recycling

Community recycling centres

Community recycling centres (CRC), run by Surrey County Council, will remain open with social distancing rules. There is a site located within Woking borough, this is the Martyrs Lane community recycling centre.

Read more about the new rules for using Martyrs CRC.

Waste and recycling collections

Joint Waste Solutions is running a normal waste and recycling service at present.

See the latest service updates for waste and recycling collections in Woking.

Due to advice to stay at home, Joint Waste Solutions is experiencing more demand for its services and it has issued advice on how residents can assist collections during this busy time.

Residents are requested to put out their bins for collection the night before their scheduled collection.

Read Joint Waste Solutions waste and recycling advice for residents.

Joint Waste Solutions has issued specific advice for residents who are self isolating. This involves double bagging your personal waste and isolating it for at least 72 hours.

Read Joint Waste Solutions waste and recycling for residents who are self isolating.