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West Bridgford
Friday, December 6, 2024

Council establishes Local Emergency Response Committee to coordinate local response to Coronavirus

Today the Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive of the council established a Local Emergency Response Committee to coordinate the council’s preparedness and response to Coronavirus, including ensuring residents continue to receive key public services from the council.

Business continuity measures and support for residents, businesses and staff are in place, to ensure that the services which are most important to our residents and business continue throughout the coming weeks and months.

The council also continues to work closely with neighbouring councils and partner organisations across the city and county, as part of the Local Resilience Forum.

Today the councils Leader and Chief Executive joined a telephone conference with senior Government Minsters to discuss how councils will work closely with central government in responding to Coronavirus.

Below are just a few of the practical steps the council is taking in response to rapidly changing circumstances in relation to the virus.

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The Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive of the council will be writing to the UK’s major supermarkets, offering for the council to purchase a stock of essential items that will then be distributed to vulnerable and elderly residents as and when necessary.

A “Giving for Gedling” network of community volunteers is to be set up to help coordinate and facilitate the numerous and welcomed offers of help from local residents and community groups – this will help support the most vulnerable in the community such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Council staff will be advised to work from home where possible and efforts will be made to ensure this does not cause immediate disruption to essential services, and other staff may be retrained and redeployed to other service areas if required to create flexibility in the workforce.

Local businesses will be supported through the recently announced Government measures in relation to business rates relief and grant funding. More information on this to follow in the coming days.

The council is working with the Government to ensure that the recently announced Hardship Fund will be used to support the most vulnerable people who will need help the most. More information on this to follow in the coming days.

A dedicated webpage has been set up at gedling.gov.uk/coronavirusto share the latest Public Health England information and Government advice. In addition to this, the council is also working to set up a dedicated Coronavirus phone line, which would be used to signpost residents who are unable to access online information to necessary advice and support in line with the guidance from Government and Public Health England. Further information about this will be released as soon as possible.

Given the rapidly changing Government and Public Health England advice, the council also urges residents to sign up to its Keep Me Posted service in order to receive regular updates and information about Coronavirus and the council’s response. You can sign up to the Keep Me Posted briefings at www.gedling.gov.uk/keepmeposted

Council organised events planned for the future are now under review and there will be announcements in the very near future as to whether any will be postponed and rescheduled.

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said;

‘We’re aware that the rapidly evolving situation and advice in relation to Coronavirus is concerning but we want to reassure our local residents and businesses that we will do all we can to provide support, assistance and advice, particularly to our elderly and most vulnerable residents. By working together and looking out for each other our local community will work through the challenges we face.

‘We are committed to continuing to provide our essential front line services to residents, while at the same time protecting our workforce during these difficult times. We have an incredible community spirit in Gedling and at times like this it is vital that we all work together. We have already had a lot of enquires from residents and community groups wanting to know what they can do to help and that’s why we are setting up the “Giving for Gedling” volunteer network and Local Emergency Response Committee to help coordinate local efforts. I want to reassure residents that we are, and will continue to do everything we can to support our communities and minimise any disruptions.’

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