Changes to our services for residents

Please check what restrictions are in place on GOV.UK whilst we assess the impact to our services

Visit NHS.UK for health advice and GOV.UK:coronavirus for the latest guidance and support.

Find specific local coronavirus guidance.

If you or someone you know are struggling due to Covid-19 please call us on 01296 395000 8.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday.

While we deal with the current outbreak of Covid-19, some council services may be affected. The most up-to-date information on each area is below:

If you live in Buckinghamshire you might be able to apply for local Emergency Support. This is intended to cover urgent short-term emergencies (i.e. no immediate food, no heating or lighting).

If you are a tenant at a council owned property and you need to speak to us about your tenancy, contact [email protected] and a property manager will get in touch with you.

As the impact of coronavirus increases, we may need to make some temporary changes to some services. This is so we can protect people from infection and use our staff and resources where they are most needed.

The government is sending rapid (lateral flow) tests to care homes across the country to be used for visitors. Care homes registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC) should receive these tests during December in enough quantities to test up to two visitors per resident, twice a week by Christmas. Once care homes have been trained and able to offer testing visitors will need to:

• arrange visits directly with the care home in advance
• wear masks, aprons and gloves at all times
• have a test each time they visit
• follow any policies in place to ensure the safety of care home residents and staff

Government guidance will be updated shortly clarifying how visits during the national lockdown should be conducted. For more information, visit GOV.UK: visiting care homes during COVID-19.

All sites remain open despite the national lockdown. No changes to opening days or hours. The reuse shops at Aston Clinton and High Wycombe are closed until restrictions are lifted.

Stay up to date with any service disruption by visiting the Coronavirus Waste Services page.

The Coroner's Court will only be open for inquests listed on the forthcoming inquest list. At all other times it will be closed to the public.

If you're attending an inquest, you'll need to confirm this with the Coroner’s Office no later than 12 noon the day before an inquest by:

• calling 01494 475 505
• emailing [email protected]

The Coroner's Office remains accessible for all other services by email or telephone during normal office hours.

In light of the seriousness of the situation, we are asking that you limit the number of immediate family attending to as few as possible with no more than thirty.

For more information, see the funerals service page.

Registration services are by appointment only.

Full details can be found on the registration service updates page.

Get support with food and energy bills over the winter

We will update the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service and Buckinghamshire Council websites when we have more information.

Fostering Information Events are taking place online for the time being.

We will always need foster carers to come forward and are still here to talk to anyone considering fostering. Please do get in touch with the fostering team.

Visit our fostering pages for more information.

A limited service range of daytime short breaks and overnight short breaks that comply with government guidance for Personal Protective Equipment and social distancing is being offered to children and families deemed by Children’s Social Care to be at the greatest need.

Visit the short breaks services status page for further details.

Cemeteries maintained by Buckinghamshire Council are remaining open for the time being.

View our current guidance about visiting a cemetery.

Guidance about what constitutes a nuisance in the current situation.

Black Park, Langley Park and Denham Country Park parks are now open. For information about opening times, facilities available and restrictions currently in place, visit the country parks page.

Parks and children’s playgrounds will remain open, however outdoor gyms, multi use games areas and tennis courts are currently closed in line with the latest Government guidance.

The restrictions on movement announced by the government now apply to public rights of way and the countryside access network.

Public leisure centres across Buckinghamshire are currently closed in line with the latest government guidance. Visit your local leisure centre website for further information or refer to the government guidance.

On site access at Buckinghamshire Archives is now closed. A date when we will reopen is not yet known.

We are continuing to respond to email enquiries, so please get in touch via [email protected] if you have any queries.

Our libraries are closed until further notice. Loans have been extended to 31 March and no fines will be charged.

To continue to use library services online, you can use our eLibrary to borrow books, magazines and newspapers online.

Our planning and building control officers are now working remotely. This will have some implications for how we operate. Please see our planning services status page for more information.

Find information about any school or other educational centre closures.

Advice for educational settings is available on Buckinghamshire Schoolsweb.

Please see ourschool transport during coronavirus webpage.

Latest on public transport including buses and concessionary passes