How we're responding as a council
We are working hard to minimise disruption to our services as a result of coronavirus, however some of our services are changing due to new government rules and the re-deployment of staff to coronavirus related duties. Where possible, we are encouraging staff to work from home. We are increasing the cleaning frequency across all of our buildings and are providing supplies like hand sanitiser to help staff clean their hands regularly.
Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan
Led by our Public Health Team, we have been working to respond to local outbreaks of Covid-19 in Lambeth, particularly with our NHS partners.
Our Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan establishes how we will work together with our partners and communities to prevent and respond to outbreaks of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Lambeth. Read more about the plan.
Changes to services
See changes to services at a glance
We have created a live dashboard which shows the level of disruption to our services at the moment.
Detailed information about service changes (click to expand)
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Lambeth Civic Centre
The Lambeth Civic Centre has closed its face-to-face services following Government guidelines to stay at home. Find out more information on how to access the service.
If you previously paid your council tax bill in person at the kiosks, you can setup a Direct Debit, pay online, pay by phone, pay by post or pay in person at any post office, bank branch or PayPoint outlet. Visit our ways to pay your council tax page for more information.
Council housing
Covid-19 has had a number of implications on how we provide services for people living in council housing. The tenants June newsletter provides information on the impact on areas including repairs and estate parking, together with details of what support is being provided (June 2020).
Recycling and waste services
We are working closely with our partner Veolia to minimise the impact of coronavirus on recycling and waste services, street cleaning and other key environmental services. Currently, all collection services are operating with no significant disruption. Please continue to use your recycling and waste collection services as normal.
The current changes to our services are:
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Commercial waste customers can now freeze their agreement with us if they are closed due to coronavirus. This means you won't be charged for collections during the time you're closed.
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Lambeth's recycling centres have reopened, with new measures in place to keep residents and staff safe and to reduce queues. Smugglers Way re-opened on Monday 11 May 2020 and details regarding visiting the site can be found on the WRWA website. Vale Street re-opened on Thursday 14 May 2020 and details regarding visiting the site can be found on the Vale Street information page.
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Charities are currently unable to collect from the majority of on-street textiles banks across the borough. Please don't use the textiles banks and keep any unwanted items at home until collections from the textiles banks can resume
If you are self-isolating you must follow the government's advice on disposing of your waste to make sure you protect our collection teams and the public from the spread of coronavirus.
Please visit the main rubbish and recycling page for more information on specific services.
Lambeth Parks
All of Lambeth’s parks and our facilities remain open. Please follow the Government’s instructions for Tier 4 areas and only visit our parks or use any of the facilities either:
- On your own
- With your household or support bubble (if you live in a single adult household)
- With one person from another household
Organised outdoor sport can continue for under 18s and disabled people only.
Please note we operate a reduced toilet service over the Christmas and New year period. For the Christmas period, toilets will close from 1pm on Thursday 24th December and reopen on Monday 28th December. For the New Year period, toilets will close from 1pm on Thursday 31st December and reopen on Sunday 3rd January.
Sports & leisure
As of Sunday 20 December 2020, all Leisure Centres are currently closed following London being placed into Tier 4 restrictions.
Please follow the Government’s instructions for Tier 4 areas and only use our outdoor parks sports facilities, such as tennis courts or football pitches, either:
- On your own
- With your household or support bubble (if you live in a single adult household)
- With one person from another household
Organised outdoor sport can continue for under 18s and disabled people only.
Registration services
Lambeth Register Office will remain open as usual from 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020.
Bereavement services
We have introduced a number of measures to protect mourners and staff at our cemeteries and funeral services. Read more about the changes.
Reporting a noise nuisance
Our regulatory and public protection officers are currently deployed to emergency coronavirus activities to keep the public safe. As a result, staff availability for our anti-social behaviour & noise nuisance service is significantly reduced. Where appropriate, we will issue written advice to alleged perpetrators, however officers will not be able to visit properties as they are reassigned to other tasks, including coronavirus business closures, advising on social distancing and protective lockdown controls. Find out more about reporting a noise nuisance.
Lambeth VAWG
Get updated information on how residents who are impacted by the coronavirus and suffering from domestic or sexual abuse can access support services.Find out more about the support services available.
Support for Care Homes
Covid-19 has provided a significant challenge to adult social care. Using data and evidence we developed a comprehensive understanding of our adult social care market including care homes during the spread of infection. Our commissioners have used this as a key part of their daily interaction to support providers. It has underpinned and strengthened partnerships with providers locally and provided information on care homes in Lambeth. Since mid-March this has supported local operational responses: prioritising active delivery of PPE, ensuring appropriate staffing levels and providing public health infection control advice and support. Through our strong relationships with local care providers and the work of Lambeth Together, our Borough-based integration partnership, health and social care have been able to respond jointly and effectively to help those services most in need of support.
In a letter dated 14 May, the Department of Health and Social Care required local authority Chief Executive Officers to set out plans, consisting of the following covering letter and template, to support care homes in their local area. You can view these below:
Read more about how Lambeth has responded
Early this year, we published a special report on the council's response to the crisis, showing how we have adapted our services and worked with our partners and residents to keep people safe. Read 'Lambeth United: Our Response to Covid-19' ^
We also published three special coronavirus (Covid-19) editions of the Lambeth Talk residents magazine: