1,200 masks given out and 51 pavement licences granted to help Sheffield's hospitality sector

Sheffield Council gave away 1,200 face coverings for people heading home on public transport after they’d been to bars and restaurants and taxi marshals were available for the first three weekends after reopening in the city centre.

Venues applying for pavement licences can put tables and chairs out immediately and decisions are made soon after, according to Coun Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment, who says the council is doing all it can to support city centre and suburban businesses.

"We developed a new process to reduce the time taken to approve outdoor seating requests from an average of 52 days to just seven days. The majority of applicants were able to put tables out from day one.

"So far this has seen 68 applications, of which 51 have been approved, nine withdrawn, one refused and seven in consultation.

"Seventy per cent of the applications have been in the city centre, other main areas have been Abbeydale Road, Kelham, Fulwood and Crookes."

Staff from environmental health, health protection team, licensing and city centre management have visited more than 1,500 premises to talk about social distancing and how they can be Covid secure, as part of an operation every weekend since July 4.

Coun Iqbal added: "Cafe barriers have so far enabled us to help 59 hospitality businesses with their outside seating areas.

"This service is free and helps businesses assist visually impaired people and meet social distancing restrictions. More sets have been ordered to cope with demand.

"More than 3,000 ‘Be Smart Stay Apart’ floor stickers have been installed, more than 3,000 ‘Queue Here’ stickers have been provided for businesses and we have lamp post banners and posters in every key district centre to remind people that the virus is still here."

The council has also produced a guide on reopening and staying Covid secure, provided temporary toilets during the day near the Peace Gardens and has four advisers dedicated to district centres to help businesses remain viable.

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