General Updates

update

Latest information as of 1pm on 8/05/2020

8th May 2020 - Welsh Government has extended the lockdown but there are amendments

 

  • Allowing people to exercise more than once a day, but people should stay local. This means any exercise should start and end at home and not involve going a significant distance from home.
  • Enabling local authorities to begin the process of planning how to safely reopen libraries and municipal recycling centres.
  • Allowing garden centres to open provided they comply with the physical distancing duty.

NEW 27TH April** Today, the Chancellor has announced a new coronavirus loan scheme. A simple, quick, easy solution for those in need of smaller loans.

Businesses can apply for new Bounce Back Loans up to a maximum of £50,000, or 25% of turnover, with the government paying the interest for the first 12 months.

These loans will be available from 9am next Monday and there will be no forward-looking tests of business viability; no complex eligibility criteria; just a simple, quick, standard form for businesses to fill in.

For most firms, loans should arrive within 24 hours of approval and he has decided, for this specific scheme, that the government will support lending by guaranteeing 100% of the loan.

High street benefits from £22 billion grants and business rates package

High streets begin to receive £22 billion coronavirus boost, with grants of up to £25,000 already being paid into bank accounts of high street businesses

Thousands of high street firms are beginning to receive £25,000 cash grants and will be exempt from business rates from today (Wednesday 1st April 2020) – as they begin to benefit from a £22 billion package.

As part of a raft of unprecedented measures announced by the Chancellor to support those affected by the coronavirus outbreak, eligible properties, including those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, will not pay business rates for the next 12 months. The measure comes into force today and will save firms in England £11 billion.

The smallest businesses in these sectors are also beginning to receive one off grants of either £10,000 or £25,000, with money landing in their bank accounts.

Rishi Sunak commented:

High street businesses are at the core of what keeps our economy thriving.

That is why we are taking the unprecedented step to provide businesses with the vital cash they need to ensure their survival during this difficult time, with 300 businesses having already received money in their accounts.

An early payment of £3.4 billion was made to local authorities last week (Friday 27th March 2020) to ensure grants would get to businesses as soon as possible. Westminster City Council paid grants to 300 businesses on Monday night. Every local authority in England has now received the full amount of grant funding they need to support their local businesses.

The business rates holiday, which also applies to England’s nurseries, forms part of the government’s economic response to Covid-19.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said:

Business rates can often be one of the main fixed costs for small companies up and down the country, which is why today’s suspension of business rates for retailers and our hospitality and leisure industries will offer much-needed support in these challenging times.

The rates relief and grants are in addition to the government’s wide-ranging support for the economy. This includes the government paying the wages of millions of employed and self-employed people by covering 80% of monthly incomes through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

For devolved matters, including the business rates measures, the Devolved Administrations will receive funding under the Barnett formula to support businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. So far the UK government has provided £5.3 billion of funding to the devolved administrations to support people, business and public services in response to Covid-19.

This includes over £2.7 billion for the Scottish Government, over £1.6 billion for the Welsh Government and £900 million for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Cllr Rachael Robathan, leader of Westminster City Council, said:

We are proud to play our part in the government’s scheme to ensure that businesses are getting the financial assistance that they need.

The first 300 grants worth more than £3 million have now gone to some of the borough’s small businesses and we are working as fast as we can to process others.

Help to companies now is vital to help them survive and be ready for normal trading when the epidemic eases.

Nathan Clark, Director of the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, welcomed the news, commenting:

The schemes and support measures brought forward by the Chancellor in respect of Covid-19 have and will undoubtedly aid Brudenell Social Club navigate through one of our greatest business challenges in our 106 year history.

We will look to utilise all schemes where possible, such as the small business grant, alongside furloughing our employees and furthermore appreciate the business rates holiday which will give us much more flexibility in our cash-flow over that period.

This package will give us a fighting chance to pull through and continue to support the community in the future.

Mike Cherry, National Chairman, The Federation of Small Businesses said:

Many small businesses across England in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors alongside nurseries, estate and letting agents and bingo halls, will be very pleased that the one year business rates holiday has started.

This intervention combined with the quick delivery of grants for those small businesses eligible for the expanded Retail Discount and the 700,000 small businesses in receipt of small business rates relief and rural rate relief, could be the difference between surviving this crisis or folding.

Kate Nicholls, CEO UK Hospitality, said:

These are, naturally, very concerning times for businesses in the hospitality sector. Ours was one of the first sectors to feel the significant impact of the crisis as customers began to avoid social gatherings.

Cash flow is effectively at zero for many employers in hospitality, so we needed swift and significant support to ease the burden. The business rates holiday for our entire sector, the third largest in the country, will provide a substantial boost to businesses when they most need it.

This will help many employers survive the crisis and should help put us in a position to begin rebuilding our industry, and the wider economy, once the current challenges have been met.

Further information

If eligible businesses have made payments in the meantime, they will be refunded by their local authority. We are working with local authorities to ensure new bills are issued as soon as possible.

In most cases, local authorities will need to collect details from small businesses in order to be able to make payments. Local authorities will be in touch with all eligible businesses shortly.

The two business grant funding schemes help businesses manage their cashflow by:

  • Providing grants of £10,000 to small businesses eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief;
  • For businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure sectors: providing £25,000 grants per property, for each property with a rateable value over £15,000 and below £51,000; and £10,000 per property, for each property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less.

Read more about the government’s Covid-19 economic response measures.

NHS frontline workers visas extended so they can focus on fighting coronavirus

Doctors, nurses and paramedics with visas due to expire before 1 October 2020 will have them automatically extended for one year.

As part of the national effort to combat coronavirus, doctors, nurses and paramedics will automatically have their visas extended, free of charge, for one year.

The extension, announced today (31 March) by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to around 2,800 migrant doctors, nurses and paramedics, employed by the NHS whose visa is due to expire before 1 October.

The extension will also apply to their family members, demonstrating how valued overseas NHS staff are to the UK.

By giving them the peace of mind that they do not need to apply for a visa extension, this will allow those at the frontline – working around the clock in hospitals to treat the most seriously ill – to focus fully on combatting coronavirus and saving lives.

To get more doctors and nurses on the frontline, the Home Office has also lifted the restriction on the amount of hours student nurses and doctors can work in the NHS.

On top of these changes, pre-registered overseas nurses who are currently required to sit their first skills test within 3 months and to pass the test within 8 months, will now have this deadline extended to the end of the year as well.

This will give overseas nurses more time to pass their exams, whilst they spend the immediate term working on the frontline.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

Doctors, nurses and paramedics from all over the world are playing a leading role in the NHS’s efforts to tackle coronavirus and save lives. We owe them a great deal of gratitude for all that they do.

I don’t want them distracted by the visa process. That is why I have automatically extended their visas – free of charge – for a further year.

The extension to NHS visas will be automatic, there will be no fee attached and it will be exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Trainee doctors and nurses will also not be limited by the number of hours they can work in the NHS during term time.

Help for voluntary Sector

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has made £2000 available for a small grants scheme to help voluntary groups in the Vale of Glamorgan who are actively working in response to the COVID 19 outbreak. 

Small grants are available up to a maximum of £50 for new groups that are not constituted and up to £100 for constituted groups.  The grant can be used to purchase equipment for your group, to go towards printing leaflets and flyers or for any activity relating to benefit or support your community during this crisis.

To be eligible you must satisfy the following brief criteria:

  1. Be based in the Vale of Glamorgan
  2. Working in direct response to the COVID 19 outbreak
  3. Working for the benefit of your local community

Applications from businesses, groups outside the Vale of Glamorgan or individuals will not be considered. There is a short application form to complete. Vale Council hope to get a decision to you within a week of receiving your application. Application forms can be requested by emailing [email protected]

Support for non-profit sport club

Sport Wales have announced that they are making £400,000 immediately available to provide support to not-for-profit sports clubs. 

The funding will be targeted at clubs who are already facing significant challenges after a difficult few weeks and who are likely to need immediate financial support over the next 12 weeks if they are to remain an important part of their communities in the future. 

https://www.sport.wales/emergency-relief-fund-qa/?fbclid=IwAR2y-SP17qLo…

Crisis Support Team

For vulnerable residents in crisis as a result of Covid-19. For those unable to access shopping essentials, obtain crucial medication or are in need of urgent temporary support as a result of Covid-19. The Council can make sure that you get the help you need during this period by putting you in touch community groups in your area, connecting you with online support and voluntary organisations, provide advice and guidance as well as providing practical support if needed. 

So if you need help with accessing food and medication or if you are isolated and feeling alone or anxious – give the Council a call.

This service is specifically aimed at supporting vulnerable citizens. Please DO NOT use the service unless you are in crisis as your call will be redirected to Contact OneVale on 01446 700111.

The telephone number for the Crisis Support Team is 01446 729592 and this line will be staffed from Friday 0800-1700 Monday to Friday and outside of these times calls will be diverted to the emergency out of hours line.

Shielding Letters

The Welsh Government are in the process of writing to approximately 150,000 people across Wales who have significant underlying health conditions and are being advised to shield themselves for 12 weeks. 

This letter suggests that wherever possible, family, friends or neighbours should be asked to provide support in the form of food supplies, medication collection and general well-being. 

However, should people not have these mechanisms in place, they are advised to contact their Local Authority.

In response, the Council have setup a Crisis Support Team who will be making contact with all of these residents to ask what arrangements they have in place. 

Where people do not have support in place, the Crisis Support Team will offer to arrange for a basic free weekly food parcel to be delivered, as currently planned by Welsh Government. 

Alternatively, if people would prefer for shopping to be done for them (paid for by themselves), or require befriending support, the Crisis Support Team will make a referral for this to be put in place. The Council are working with Age Connects and GVS (who will coordinate a local group) to do this. 

Welsh Government are currently advising people to contact their community pharmacy if they need medication to be delivered and have no other means of getting this to them. 

Additional information will be provided to all residents on other services available to them.

The Council continues to liaise with Welsh Government to provide supermarkets with information about our most vulnerable, shielding, residents who could be given access to preferential online shopping arrangements but at this time, this is not available in Wales.

Volunteering 

Do you want to help your community during the COVID -19 episode. 

If you are in need of support, or wish to volunteer to help others in your community, you can search the database of voluntary groups on this page and use the details provided to get in touch. If you are a business providing services that could support residents in our community, please let the council know.

To make it as easy as possible for you to become a hero the council has listed which of the groups are currently looking for volunteers. You can register an interesting in volunteering by getting in touch using the contact details provided. https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/working/Volunteering/Vale-Heroes…

Changes to support for small business

This morning the Chancellor has announced further action to support firms affected by the coronavirus crisis by bolstering business interruption loans for small businesses and announcing a new scheme for larger companies.

To maximise the support available, he’s extending the CBILS so that all viable small businesses affected by COVID-19, and not just those unable to secure regular commercial financing, will now be eligible should they need finance to keep operating during this difficult time.

The UK government is also stopping lenders from requesting personal guarantees for loans under £250,000 and making operational changes to speed up lending approvals. It will continue to cover the first twelve months of interest and fees.

This is a national effort and the UK government will continue to work with the financial services sector to ensure that the £330 billion of government support, through loans and guarantees, reaches as many businesses in need as possible.

Food Waste Bags 

Due to the current situation, food waste bags are unavailable for collection.

If you are about to run out, you can tie one to the handle of your kerbside caddy and crews will leave a roll. 

Please only request if essential so the Council can ensure delivery to those who need them.

Coronavirus: Fake news crackdown by UK government

The government is cracking down on misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic.

A rapid response unit within the Cabinet Office is working with social media firms to remove fake news and harmful content.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said action was needed "to stem the spread of falsehoods and rumours, which could cost lives".
The specialist unit is dealing with as many as 10 incidents each day.

Renewing Library books

If you’ve got an item on loan from Library at the moment, you don’t need to worry about it going overdue. The Council are automatically renewing all loans until we are able to reopen.

Garden Waste

♻️ Garden waste collections will start again the week commencing Monday 13 April 2020.

If possible, please store any garden waste in your garden until collections begin

Free School Meals

As a result of national measures around the repurposing of schools to support key workers and social distancing, the Vale of Glamorgan Council is changing the way it provides meals for those children eligible for free school meals.

From Wednesday 01 April 2020, families with children who are eligible for free school meals will be receiving a voucher from the Local Authority, which can be redeemed at local supermarkets for the provision of food for children. Unfortunately, schools will no longer be able to accommodate deliveries or onsite meals to those eligible, unless they meet Welsh Government’s criteria for childcare in a school setting.

Families will shortly start to receive vouchers via email or post (if email is not available) on a fortnightly basis worth £39. This equates to a value of £3.90 a day, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks.

These vouchers will be redeemable at Asda or Tesco depending on availability and your location. The vouchers are non-transferrable and must be used to purchase food items for your children’s meals. Specific details on redeeming vouchers will be included when they are dispatched.

Should you have any urgent issues, please contact:

*ECONOMIC RESILIENCE FUND*.

The Welsh Government has announced a new £500m *ECONOMIC RESILIENCE FUND*.

The fund is made up of two main elements:

1. A new £100m Development Bank of Wales fund will be available for companies experiencing cash flow problems as a result of the pandemic and will provide loans of between £5,000 and £250,000 at favourable interest rates.

2. Businesses will also be able to benefit from a £400m emergency pot providing: 

i) Grants of £10,000 for micro-businesses employing up to nine people. This includes sole traders employing staff. Qualifying businesses will be able to apply by mid-April; 

ii) Grants of up to £100,000 for small and medium-sized firms with between 10 and 249 employees. Qualifying businesses will be able to apply from next week. 

iii) Support for larger Welsh companies, which are of critical social or economic importance to Wales. This element will be open to qualifying businesses within the next two weeks.

The £500m Economic Resilience Fund will support businesses forced to temporarily cease trading – to go into “hibernation” – or which need cash-flow support to adapt to a remote way of working.

***Registrars Service***
The Vale of Glamorgan Registration Service aims to treat the bereaved with care and compassion, ensuring dignity and respect for the deceased. 

To assist with the continuation of the Death Registration process and in line with Emergency legislation the Death and Still Birth Registration process will take priority over all other registration services.

Bereaved families are being advised that the Emergency legislation will enable Death notifications to be sent directly from the certifying General Practitioner, Hospital Medical Practitioner and / or Coroner to the Registration Service who will contact the next of kin or appointed informant to carry out the registration by telephone. As there will be no face to face registrations, the Burial/ Cremation form will be sent direct from the Registrars Service to the Funeral Director appointed to carry out the funeral.

No Death Certificates will be issued at this time. These will be available to purchase at a later date. The Registrars will advise next of kin or the informant during the telephone registration process when this will be.

Customers are therefore being requested to only contact the Registration Service if it relates to a Death Registration, Still Birth Registration or a Registrar General Licence until further notice. 

All other Registration Services have been suspended until further notice. There will be no Birth / Birth Re-registration, Notice of Marriage/Civil Partnership, Civil Marriage Ceremonies, Civil Partnership Registrations, Citizenship Ceremonies, EU Settlement verification appointments available.

Please note that where an appointment has been postponed during this emergency period by the Registration Service customers are advised that they will still be required to make a further appointment e.g.to register a birth. Customers are therefore asked to monitor the Registrars web page which will inform you when you will be able to re- book an appointment. This is because we are unable to re-schedule appointments until we know when the Civic Offices re-opens.

We would also ask you to be aware that it is likely that there will be a backlog of registrations that have built up during the emergency period.

Customers are also advised that they can now make a claim for Child Benefit or Universal Credit prior to the birth being registered, where customers have not been able to do so because of the emergency measures put in place by the UK Government.

No applications for copy certificates will be accepted during this period of emergency unless related to court proceedings/ orders and Social Services matters.

Advise on Government Guidelines  - Vale Council

In line with Government guidance you can leave the house for one form of exercise a day, when exercising outdoors you should:
Stay local
Follow social distancing measures
Minimise time spent outside of the home 
Wash your hands as soon as you get home

We would like to remind users of public footpaths to follow the countryside code, please remember to:
Always keep dogs on the lead when walking them in rural areas where livestock are kept and don’t let dogs loose in gardens adjoining livestock fields.
Do not approach or touch farm animals.
Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths
Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home
Respect the needs of local people and visitors alike – for example, don’t block gateways, driveways or other paths with your vehicle.
When riding a bike or driving a vehicle, slow down or stop for horses, walkers and farm animals and give them plenty of room.

Vale Council - Planning update


Due to the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Planning department has adapted the way they work.

Most staff are working from home and contactable by their normal contact details.

For general enquiries please email:
[email protected]
or phone the duty planning officer:

01446 704681

Please note that it may take longer than normal to respond to enquiries during this time and we thank you for your patience.

The Council will continue to accept new planning applications and requests for pre-application advice, and determine these applications where possible. However, they will not offer face-to-face meetings at this time.

They would also urge our customers to use email or submit information via their planning portal at this time to manage workload efficiently.

They will continue to undertake enforcement work, monitoring compliance with planning conditions and taking action against breaches of planning control.

Like many others, the Council’s Planning Committee will not meet for the foreseeable future. However, most applications can be determined with officer’s delegated powers.

If you have a specific enquiry about a case, please contact the case officer.

COVID 19: COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT

Requests will be assessed on a case by case basis, and those who can pay as normal are still expected to. 

The scheme applies to those who pay their council tax in 10 monthly instalments, with the first payment ordinarily due in April. 

Those who wish to delay will pay their first payment in June, with the final one due in March 2021, as opposed to January. 

To request this change, please email [email protected]. 

If you have further questions, please let me know, and please do stay safe.

NEW - This week the Prime Minister used a historic televised broadcast to announced the difficult decision to introduce more restrictive measures to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

The Prime Minister has introduced more restrictive measures to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Everyone must abide by the Social Distancing orders – which means remaining at least 2 metres (6.5ft) away from others. You may only leave your home to shop for the vital necessities, for one form of exercise a day, for a medical need or to care for a vulnerable person or to travel to and from work only where it is absolutely necessary.

Stay at Home


 
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:

  • Shopping for basic necessities​, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
  • One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with direct members of your household.
  • Any medical need​, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
  • Travelling to and from work​, but only where your work absolutely cannot be done from home – for example if you are a keyworker. – which means remaining at least 2 metres (6.5ft) away from others.

The following premises have been closed:

  • Shops (apart from food stores and chemists)
  • Pubs
  • Cafes
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Leisure centres
  • Theatres
  • Gyms

Please note that this is in place for three weeks and will be under constant review. Premises serving food can continue with take-out services.

Should I still be working?


 
Following current UK Government guidelines, work must only continue where it is safe to do so, according to the Social Distancing order, or if your work is one of the identified vital services.
 
For work places to be considered safe, changes must be made to work practises in order to ensure health and safety whilst working. This means that you must remain at least 2 metres away from customers and colleagues at all times and consideration must be given to preventing contact with surroundings. Protecting yourself but also your customers, is paramount.
 
You can find guidance on Social Distancing on my website: https://www.aluncairns.com/guide-social-distancing
 

Self-Employed Income Support Scheme 

 

The Chancellor this evening confirmed that the Government is acting to protect the self-employed during the Coronavirus pandemic. He has introduced the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme which will cover 95% of self-employed people and gives them the same support offered to other workers.

The Government will pay self-employed people a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits over the last 3 and a half years, up to the value of £2,500 per month.

The grant will be in place for up to three months and self-employed people will be able to claim for this grant whilst continuing to carry out business.

In short, the details of the Scheme are: 

  • The grant will pay up to 80% of average monthly profits over the last three years, up to the value of £2,500 per month.
  • If you have only be trading for one or two years, the Government will look at the figures available. You do not need three years of records.
  • It is open to anyone with trading profits up to £50,000.
  • You must have a tax return for 2019 to apply.
  • The majority of your income must come from self-employment.
  • HMRC will contact those who are eligible.
  • The Scheme will be available no later than the beginning of June.
  • There is a delay to allow those who haven’t filed their tax return for 2018/19 an additional four weeks, from today, to do that.

Updated General Advice


 
The UK Foreign Office advises against all non-essential foreign travel for an initial period of 30 days.
 
The Prime Minister has set out new advice on how to best protect yourself and others, particularly the most vulnerable in society, from the risk of Coronavirus.
 
Everyone MUST STAY HOME and may only leave for the stated reasons. 
 
Anyone with a high temperature or a persistent cough who lives alone is advised to self-isolate for seven days, as previously advised.
 
However, the latest advice dictates that households of more than one person are to stay isolated together for 14 days if one of them displays either of those symptoms. That means that, if possible, you should not go out, even to buy food or essentials, other than for exercise and in that case at a safe distance from others.
 
Members of the public are advised, where possible, to work from home.
 
You can find further details on Guidance from the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

For the latest information, please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Wednesday 25th March 2020

Companies 3 month extension period 

Companies to receive 3-month extension period to file accounts during COVID-19

Businesses will be given an additional 3 months to file accounts with Companies House to help companies avoid penalties as they deal with the impact of COVID-19.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/companies-to-receive-3-month-extensi…

Guide to Social Distancing

"If people go within two metres of others who they don't live with, then they're helping to spread the virus - and the consequences of that costs lives and it means that, for everyone, this will go on for longer." Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health

If you can't stay in your home and you're getting exercise by walking locally, queuing for a supermarket or doing something else that is permitted within the below instructions keep at least 6 feet, (2 metres), away from the next person - which is about the same distance as you holding a broom with a straightened arm. By keeping this distance you reduce your risk of getting infected, and reduce your risk of infecting others. 

The Prime Minister announced the following statement at 8.30pm the 23rd March:

From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home. Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households. That is why people will only be allowed to leave their homes for the following very limited purposes:

  • For basic necessities, as infrequently as possible;
  • One form of exercise a day, for example a run, a walk or a cycle alone or with members of your household;
  • Any form of medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and
  • Travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and can not be done at home.

That’s all. These are the only reasons you should leave your home.

You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, say no.

Every one of us must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.

This government guide provides the latest information about social distancing, with particular advice, including about self-isolation, for those who are at increased risk of severe illness - for example people over 70 years of age, those who are pregnant and those with certain underlying health conditions.

10.00AM - CARPARKS ARE CLOSED 

 

Barry Island car parks, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park car park, Porthkerry Country Park car park, All Council-owned beach car parks, Paget Road and Friars Road to be closed for parking - Access only.

10.00AM - VALE PARKS ARE CLOSED

 

Romilly Park – Barry, Central Park – Barry, Victoria Park – Barry , Bassett Park – Barry, Milburn Park – Rhoose, Alexandra Park – Penarth, Belle Vue Park – Penarth, Penarth Head Park – Penarth, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Porthkerry Country Park, All play areas are closed, All Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) are closed

10.00AM - MOT TESTS

 

From 30 March 2020, car, van & motorcycle owners will have a temporary exemption from #MOT testing to ensure..

Vital services continue

People can carry on with essential travel

People can buy food & medicine

Tuesday 24th March 2020

Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

1.15pm - Footpath Closures

The Welsh Government has introduced emergency regulations, (The Health Protection (Coronavirus: Closure of Leisure Businesses, Footpaths and Access Land) (Wales) Regulations 2020), that require local authorities to close footpaths and other rights of way where use poses a high risk to the spread of coronavirus.

A number of footpaths are being closed around Atlantic College, Cosmeston, Dunraven Bay, Ogmore-by-Sea and Porthkerry:

  • Bridleway 9, St Donats

  • Restricted Byway 10, St Donats

  • Footpath 12, Penarth

  • Restricted Byway 13, 14, Penarth

  • Footpaths 3, 4, Lavernock

  • Footpath 2, Sully

  • Footpaths 16, 18, St Brides Major

  • Foopaths 38, 44, St Brides Major

  • Footpaths 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 73, Barry

  • Footpaths 7, 8, Porthkerry

  • Footpath 17, 20, Penmark

  • Restricted Byway 6, Porthkerry

Click the link to see the location maps - https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/press_and_communicati…

NEW - 10.30AM - Council Buildings 

 

The Civic Offices will close at 1.00pm today. All other Council buildings are now closed to the public.

Recycling Centres - Closed until further notice.

Monday 23 March 2020

Government statement 8.30pm

When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. That is why the government is now (23 March 2020) introducing three new measures.

Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes 

Shopping for essentials

One form of daily exercise

Getting medical needs & helping the vulnerable
Travelling to or from essential work

Closing non-essential shops and community spaces

Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public

Every citizen must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

These measures are effective immediately. The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.

New - 2.30pm - Public spaces

 

To support social distancing the Council is introducing the following measures:

  • Barry Island car parks  - Closed

  • Cosmeston and Porthkerry Country Parks car parks - Closed 

  • Penarth Pier - Closed

  • All Council-owned beach car parks - Closed 

  • All gated parks - Closed 

  • Play areas - Closed

  • Public toilets - Closed

  • Beach Huts - Closed (If you have an annual permit, you will only be charged the pro rata amount)

  • Paget Road and Friars Road to be closed for parking - Access only.

  • Introduction of a one in/one out system at Recycling Centres.

NEW - Only children of key workers go to school

Only children of key workers can send their young ones to school - but they have been warned this should be a last resort

NEW - Letters to those most at risk

Letters are being sent to 70,000 people in Wales classed as the most at risk of catching coronavirus advising them to stay at home for 12 weeks. If that's you, you can read more about what to expect here

NEW -  Commuters to get refund on rail season tickets

Commuters with rail season tickets will receive a refund if they choose to stay at home during the coronavirus outbreak, the UK government has promised.

NEW - NHS staff travel for free

Transport for Wales has said all NHS staff can travel on its rail services for free from today -23.03.2020

All jury trials on hold

NEW - All jury trials in England and Wales are to be put on hold as part of ongoing efforts to halt the spread of Covid-19.

In a statement on Monday, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, said no new trials will start and that ongoing trials will be paused while arrangements are put in place so they can continue safely.

Helping the Workers

NEW - The Chancellor announced an unprecedented response, with one of most comprehensive packages of economic support in the world. This included the Government providing direct support with the payment of wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This is a HMRC grant which can be used to pay the wages of staff who can no longer work due to Coronavirus, preventing their employers from taking the difficult and heart breaking decision to lay them off.

The Chancellor announced:

  • A HMRC Grant which will cover at least 80% of wages up to the value of £2,500
  • An increase in the basic rate of Universal Credit by £1000 – which can be paid to support the self-employed
  • £7 billion of extra support through the welfare system
  • Loans will be made available from Monday and will be interest-free for 12 months

As this package of support has only just been announced, further information will be included soon.

Pubs, Restaurants, Bars & Leisure Centres

NEW - The Prime Minister is now ordered the closure of public premises to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

The following premises that are to close by tomorrow morning include:

  • Pubs
  • Cafes
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Leisure centres
  • Theatres
  • Gyms

Please note that this is under constant review and premises serving food can continue with take-out services.

Support for families receiving free school meals

The Welsh Government is providing up to £7m of additional funding to councils so that they can help families of pupils who rely on free school meals, but are unable to receive them due to school closures.

Councils across Wales are making temporary arrangements which include setting up collection facilities in schools, delivering food, or providing vouchers from local food retailers.

Protection for tenants

Private renters in Wales will be protected from eviction by an emergency law to be introduced by the UK Government.

The Welsh Government has received confirmation that the proposed legislation to give tenants three months of protection from eviction will also apply in Wales.

Frontline NHS Staff in Wales

Frontline NHS staff in the Welsh NHS will be screened for Coronavirus (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51953809)

Vale Council Leader provides a statement in which he outlines

They have today provided guidance to all schools in the Vale of Glamorgan on how to operate from Monday 23 March and in the absence of any information from Welsh Government on how they define key workers we have advised schools to follow the UK Government advice. 

All schools in the Vale are today working hard to put arrangements in place to allow the children of key workers, those that are vulnerable, and those that currently qualify for free school meals to attend on Monday.

Advise from the Council do not send your children to school unless you really need to. Any child eligible for free school meals that is not attending school will be able to collect a free meal during the course of the day, by arrangement with the school. 

Letters have been sent to residential care service users, their families and a host of others for which the Council have a social care responsibility reassuring them that their service needs are being prioritised.

The Council’s Corporate Management team is working around the clock with their staff to take actions which will ensure provision in such crucial areas continues despite other pressures.

Further services that have also been deemed critical and will receive similar prioritisation include: Sheltered Housing, Complex Needs assessments, Child Protection and work to tackle homelessness.

They are in the process of allocating additional resources to high priority services by training and redeploying staff from other areas of the organisation and have been heartened by the offers of help from business and our community.

To continue collecting recycling, food and black bag waste as normal, they are temporarily suspending the collection of green waste. They are encourage residents to continue to recycle as much as possible, but will allow up to four black bags per household each fortnight. 

They are also suspending any action in relation to the non-payment of Council Tax and waving the normal £60 charge for the installation of telecare, a 24-hour alarm and monitoring service for the elderly and vulnerable. 

Work is under way to offer up to date advice and support for businesses.

Council is urging people to access services online wherever possible.

BBC Changes in Wales

BBC Cymru Wales has announced changes to its output “during these unprecedented times”.

It said it would be maintaining news services across radio, television and online.

Are you classed as a key worker?

The UK government has published a list of key workers whose children will be cared for at school to enable their parents to continue with work considered to be essential during the pandemic.

Children with at least one parent working in the listed sectors can continue to attend school but the government is asking parents to keep their children at home wherever possible.

The list, which is expected to be the same for workers in Wales, has been separated into eight categories:

Health and social care

This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment. 

Education and childcare 

This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the Covid-19 response to deliver this approach. 

Key public services

This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting. 

Local and national government

This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the Covid-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies. 

Food and other necessary goods 

This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines). 

Public safety and national security 

This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas. 

Transport

This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the Covid-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass. 

Utilities, communication and financial services 

This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the Covid-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.

Cancer screening suspended

Screening for conditions including bowel and breast cancer have been suspended by the Welsh Government.

The temporarily pause will affect Breast Test Wales, Cervical Screening Wales, Bowel Screening Wales, Diabetic Eye Screening Wales and Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening.

Schools 

The Welsh Government has published advice for parents and pupils on what the role of schools will be from next week.

Travel

Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales will cut the number of trains they operate during the coronavirus pandemic. The train companies said this was due to the Government's advice to avoid non-essential travel. But it said it will continue services which are critical for transporting key workers.

The new Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales timetables start on Monday, March 23 until further notice. It said some changes are also expected to services this weekend.It is expected that GWR services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, and between London Paddington and South Wales, will run hourly.

Services between London Paddington and Plymouth will continue to operate every hour, and customers will be able to connect for services to/from Cornwall.

Services on regional lines and branch lines will operate on a revised timetable.

You can check your journey here - http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

Also from Monday Transport for Wales will be moving to a timetable designed to reflect the reduced number of travellers, whilst also providing transport for those key workers. This action aims to balance the current significantly reduced levels of passenger demand as people follow the guidelines to socially isolate.

This contingency measure will help to ensure there are enough staff to keep services running over the coming weeks and months. 

You can check Transport for Wales journey here - https://tfwrail.wales/homepage

The news follows Cardiff Bus' decision to run Saturday timetables across the majority of its services from Monday.

All services will follow the Saturday service timetables from Monday March 23 with the exception of the 12, 15, 64, 65, 65A, 98 and Cardiff MET M1, M2, M3, M4. A shuttle bus will run between Wood Street and University Hospital of Wales to connect customers on service 95 with the hospital.

Bus operator urges customers to use contactless payments.

You can find the latest time here on Cardiff Bus Website - https://www.cardiffbus.com/coronavirus

Emergency Legislation

New - We would like to begin by specifically pointing out emergency legislation that the Prime Minister is introducing in banning evictions over the next three months, protecting people against losing their homes / current accommodation.

Foreign Travel 
New - the UK Foreign Office advises against all non-essential foreign travel for an initial period of 30 days.
 
In a statement this week, the Prime Minister has set out new advice on how to best protect yourself and others, particularly the most vulnerable in society, from the risk of Coronavirus.

Pubs, clubs and restaurants
The Prime Minister explained that now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact – including avoiding going to pubs, clubs and restaurants – and to stop all non-essential travel.

Self Isolation
Anyone with a high temperature or a persistent cough who lives alone is advised to self-isolate for seven days, as previously advised.
 
However, the latest advice dictates that households of more than one person are to stay isolated together for 14 days if one of them displays either of those symptoms. That means that, if possible, you should not go out, even to buy food or essentials, other than for exercise and in that case at a safe distance from others.
 
Members of the public are advised, where possible, to work from home.

Anti-inflammatory medications - The NHS England Medical Director has released a message to all clinical staff advising "patients who have confirmed Covid-19 or believe they have it, use paracetamol in preference to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen. Those who are currently on NSAIDs, for other medical reasons (eg arthritis) should not stop using them".

This follows concern about the use of NSAIDs in relation to Covid-19 following a statement from the French Health Minister advising against the use of ibuprofen. The statement was based on provisional information reported from French care settings which UK authorities have not seen to date. There is no current literature on the impact of NSAIDs use in Covid-19 and no evidence that their use increases the chance of acquiring Covid-19. However, the evidence is not conclusive overall and it is currently under review.
 
You can find further details on Guidance from the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

For the latest information, please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/