​Council prioritises services for the most vulnerable

Bury Council is working closely with its partners in the NHS to ensure that the borough’s most vulnerable residents are given top priority in the fight against coronavirus.

It is also determined to ensure that vital services, ranging from bin collections to social care, will continue as normal.

Councillor David Jones, leader of the council, said: “We are taking action in response to the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday, when new evidence was presented about the potential for many more deaths from the coronavirus unless more urgent action is taken by us all.

“The advice was unequivocal – everyone has been advised to reduce non-essential social contact as much as possible, therefore we are putting our business continuity plans in place.

“The council is still open for business. We will prioritise the most essential services that Bury people rely on. These services include:

Adult social care – supporting residential care and home care services

Working with primary care and Fairfield Hospital including five neighbourhood teams

Children’s safeguarding services – child protection, support to foster carers

Waste collection and recycling, and street cleansing

Bereavement services

“To keep social contact to a minimum, we have now asked all staff who can work from home to do so. We are also reviewing the operation of some services where there is social contact, such as leisure centres, libraries, the art gallery and civic halls, but no decisions have yet been made. Staff from these services will be asked to support the priority services should the need arise.”

A number of upcoming council meetings will be postponed or cancelled, although others such as licensing and planning will go ahead.

Updates on council services will be posted on the council’s website: https://www.bury.gov.uk/

Cllr Jones added: “We are working with Bury Voluntary Community Faith Alliance (VCFA) and a range of community action groups to get help to those who need it most at this difficult time, particularly where people are self-isolating and need support because they are on their own. The council will help by identifying where is most needed, where the gaps are and how we work together.

“We are also supporting our schools and helping them to remain open in line with Government guidance, while appreciating the worries that parents may have.”

Cllr Jones added: “These are unprecedented times, and we all need to support each other and do all we can to look after our neighbours and our communities. I know that the community of Bury is up to the task.”

Advice about coronavirus and how to keep safe is on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 March 2020.