Council leader welcomes government action after direct lobbying
Telford & Wrekin Council leader, Shaun Davies, has welcomed the announcement at the weekend of additional funding for local government to help cover some of the costs of supporting local communities during the coronavirus crisis.
The announcement comes after Cllr Shaun Davies wrote to the Prime Minister on Friday to ensure that more funds were made available to local authorities, as had been promised.
Since the start of the crisis, Telford & Wrekin Council has:
- Called every resident on the ‘shielded’ list including weekly keep in touch calls as an ongoing commitment for many.
- Secured an army of 1,000 volunteers that are helping the Council to support local residents and businesses in a variety of ways.
- Set up a community support helpline so residents can request support and assistance which has included, shopping, delivering food parcels, collecting pensions and prescriptions to name just a few of the requests for assistance.
- Spoken directly to over 4,000 vulnerable residents in the borough, which is well over 10% of all households to date to see if people are ok and to check if they need anything and what support can be provided.
- Written to every household and business to offer support and also guidance and direction as to where to access many areas of support.
- Supported thousands of people in relation to crisis and welfare support, particularly those in need of urgent financial support to cover costs for heating, food and essential supplies.
- Almost £23m business grants have now been allocated to local businesses in the borough. As confirmed by BEIS on Wednesday, only 50 councils across the country have delivered over 50% of their grant – Telford & Wrekin is one of those councils.
- Delivered over 55,000 free school meals directly to the homes of local children.
- Provided over £80,000 in new and additional grants to voluntary sector providers including food banks and community groups.
- Offered a council tax holiday to residents and 10,500 households have taken up this offer.
- The majority of local schools remain open, with many remaining open over the bank holidays as well to support key workers in the national effort.
- Arranged accommodation for all homeless people.
- Provided mutual aid to the NHS.
- Supported care providers, GPs and the NHS with emergency PPE supplies.
- Supported the care sector, recruiting nearly 100 extra care staff to support the sector when required.
- Continued to carry out waste collection services and recycling with no changes – this is in the face of an increase in green waste of over 200%.
Cllr Shaun Davies said: “I am pleased that the Communities Secretary has acknowledged the vital role that local government across the country is playing in the fight to defeat coronavirus and in doing so to protect lives, livelihoods and living standards.
“This is an unprecedented situation that we all find ourselves in and we have done and will continue to do everything we can to support our local residents and businesses.
“However while the additional funding is welcomed, it’s a drop in the ocean and we will be working to ensure government understand the ongoing impact on both our income.”
