COVID-19 information

The Civic Offices are open to the public for essential and pre-booked appointments only. Visit our 'Coronavirus' webpages for the latest service, national and local information.

Find out more

Coronavirus: council service updates

LAST UPDATE: 27 January 2021

Latest government measures and guidance

Get boosted now

Data shows a booster jab is needed to protect ourselves and the NHS against the Omicron variant.

Read more about the spread of the Omicron variant and the booster programme

England has returned to Plan A

This means:

  • The government is no longer asking people to work from home if they can. People should now talk to their employers to agree arrangements to return to the office.
  • Face coverings are no longer advised for staff and pupils in secondary school and college classrooms.
  • Face coverings are no longer advised for staff and pupils in communal areas of secondary schools, nor for staff in communal areas of primaries.
  • There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering. The government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet.
  • Venues and events are no longer required by law to check visitors’ NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis.

View the government's full guidance to help prevent the spread of infection 

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

View the latest support grants open to local businesses.

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

Visitors are welcome to visit tenants at Brockhill. To help minimise the risk of Coronavirus and protect tenants, we ask that visitors take a lateral flow test before visiting and before each visit.

There are no restrictions on the amount of people that can visit a tenant and visitors are welcome to visit tenants inside their flats as well as the gardens. On arrival, we ask visitors to sign in and sanitise their hands and to check their temperature - sanitiser and temperature machines are available for use in the foyer. We also request that visitors wear a face covering whilst walking around the building.

For more information about visiting Brockhill, please contact the 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 are open with a full range of activities on offer. Day care services are running currently from St Mary’s in Byfleet and The Vyne in Knaphill. All centres have been updated with new look cafes and family-friendly play areas.

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

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 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.

Tenants experiencing financial difficulties

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

Parking

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

Planning and building control

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, remain open with COVID safe 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 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.