Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Council Services and Service Changes

Schools, Colleges and Early Years

Arrangements for returning to education

The Council is supporting local schools and early years settings in returning to school.

Arrangements for returning to education in Rotherham

Help with Council Tax

Depending on your household's individual circumstances, you may be elegible for one or both of these sources of support.

  1. Council Tax Support (hardship fund): if you are a working age recipient of Local Council Tax Support payments you will receive additional Council Tax support of £200 which will be deducted from your current year (2020/21) Council Tax bill. This includes people who are newly eligible for Local Council Tax support.
  2. Council Tax deferral: This is available if you are struggling to pay their Council Tax for the current year (2020/21) because your income (and/or that of your partner) has reduced by 20% or more as a result of Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. It will allow you to temporarily defer and reschedule payments of your Council Tax by up to three months.

Find out more about Household Financial Support

Remembering Loved Ones

Changes have been made to registration and funeral services.

Registration and Funeral Services 

Cemeteries, Burial grounds and Crematoria

The eight Council-owned cemeteries are open. These are: East Herringthorpe, Maltby, Moorgate, Haugh Road, Greasbrough, Greasbrough Lane, Masbrough, Wath and East Herringthorpe. The East Herringthorpe crematorium building is closed except for when funerals are taking place.

Bereavement Listening Service

If you have lost a loved one during the coronavirus pandemic, you can talk to a trained therapist who can offer emotional health and wellbeing support.

Freephone 0800 048 5224

Visit the Listerning Service website 

Bin Collections and Recycling Centres

All bin collections are currently being completed on schedule. Household Waste Recycling Centres are open.

See Environment and Waste

Reporting Business Concerns

Report concerns on businesses operating social distancing:

  • Daytime between 8.30am and 6pm: 01709 823118, or where the issue relates to a food business, 01709 823164
  • Out of hours, between 6pm and 12am (midnight): 01709 823140

Council Housing

Critical housing services are being prioritised:

  • Emergency repairs and gas servicing
  • Homelessness prevention and support
  • Supporting our most vulnerable tenants
  • Supporting people who are struggling financially
  • Dealing with serious antisocial behaviour
  • Supporting people who are at risk of harm

Find out more on the Housing page

Parks and Green Spaces

Parks are open. Social distancing guidelines must be adhered to. Car parks, toilets and hand washing facilities remain open where possible with regular cleaning taking place.

Rotherham Libraries 

There is a phased re-opening of libraries from Saturday 5 September 2020. In order to keep our staff and customers safe, there will be a temporary reduced service with a reduction in the hours that libraries are open with special measures in place.

The phased re-opening is:

  • Saturday 5 September 2020: Brinsworth Library, Thurcroft Library and Wath Library
  • Monday 14 September 2020 – Maltby Library
  • Monday 21 September 2020 – Wickersley Library
  • Monday 28 September 2020 – Greasbrough Library
The remainder of the libraries will open from October onwards subject to a review of the first phase of re-openings.
 
Once opened, these sites will cease offering the call and collect service. Order and collect services will continue to do so until they reopen to the public.

Order and Collect Service

Customers will be required to follow the guidelines set out below when visiting the library:
  • Wear a face covering at all times, unless you are aged 11 and under or have a medical exemption
  • Only access the library when you are advised to do so by a member of staff – there are currently limited numbers allowed into the library at any one time
  • Complete the track and trace form when entering the library
  • Use the public hand sanitiser points at the entrance
  • Observe the social distancing measures whilst queuing and browsing the library
The following services will be available from the library buildings when they reopen:
  • Basic return and issuing of books. Please use the self-service library units for issuing loans where these are available.
  • Limited public computer access. PC use is by pre-booked appointment y and are in two hours sessions.
  • Public toilets will be made available where it is considered safe to do so. This will be considered on a site by site basis.
The following services continue to be suspended:
  • Events and activities
  • Newspapers
  • Printing/photocopying
  • Payments
  • One to one digital support
  • Customer service functions

Rotherham Markets

Rotherham Markets are open as normal.

Find out more about Rotherham Markets