In order to respond to the current COVID-19 emergency, and prepare for the challenges ahead, Cardiff Council services have rapidly adopted new ways of working to ensure the continued provision of critical services, to protect our most vulnerable citizens and to limit the spread of the virus.
Here’s a rundown of 10 major service changes that everyone needs to know about:
1. Changes to weekly rubbish collection
Cardiff moved to a new, weekly, kerbside collection which will see all household waste (except garden waste) picked up at the same time.
Collection days for your area will remain the same, but the way waste is handled is changing to help manage the impact of COVID-19 and ensure the wellbeing of both residents and the workforce.
2. Childcare arrangements for key workers
Childcare provision for Cardiff’s key workers doing essential work during the COVID-19 outbreak has changed to a hub-based system.
To reduce the chances of COVID-19 spreading through the school community, and enable the council to concentrate on its cleaning, safe practice and social distancing protocols, 12 schools are being kept open as childcare hubs, the rest are closed.
School provision is only to be used once all other forms of child support have been exhausted. If it is at all possible for children to be safely cared for at home, then they should be.
3. Provisions for the homeless
Extra provision for the homeless has been secured at the OYO Hotel on Clare Street in Riverside, for rough sleepers and those living in emergency accommodation, where individuals sleep in shared spaces and self-isolation is not possible.
This new accommodation will enable any individuals with underlying health conditions, or who are showing symptoms of Coronavirus COVID-19, to be able to self-isolate.
The OYO Hotel also provides three meals a day for residents, and has support staff available around the clock to ensure the provision is safe and appropriate advice and help is always available.
4. Key city hubs to remain open
To help slow and halt transmission of the virus, only four core Hubs – St Mellons, Ely, The Powerhouse (Llanedeyrn), and Central Library Hub – remain open.
Central Library Hub
Monday – Wednesday, 9am – 6pm
Thursday, 10am – 7pm
Friday, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, 9am – 5.30pm
St Mellons Hub
Monday – Tuesday, 9am – 6pm
Wednesday, 10am – 7pm
Thursday – Friday, 9am – 6pm
Ely and Caerau Hub
Monday – Wednesday, 9am – 6pm
Thursday, 10am – 7pm
Friday, 9am – 6pm
The Powerhouse Hub
Monday – Wednesday, 9am – 6pm
Thursday, 10am – 7pm
Friday, 9am – 6pm
Access to these Hubs is now by appointment only, unless you are collecting Foodbank parcels or picking up green recycling bags.
5. Availability of food and recycling bags
Food and recycling bags are still available, however, there are now only four core Hubs open, and a number of our local stockists have also been asked to close. We have identified a number of local food outlets that remain open and our keeping these stocked up.
You can find your nearest stockist online, by entering your house number and postcode here or via the Cardiff Gov App.
If you cannot get hold of any, put a call out in your community to see if anyone has any spare. Maintain social distancing if they do – perhaps collect from outside their property.
Local councillors may also have a supply. Again, please make sure you maintain social distancing if collecting bags.
6. Emergency repairs for council tenants
To ensure a service to council tenants with the greatest need, only emergency repairs will be carried out and tenants should only contact us about a repair if it is an emergency.
Existing appointments for non-urgent repairs are suspended until after 15 June.
Tenants experiencing problems with rent payments at this difficult time should get in touch to discuss.
7. Help with council tax payments
Cardiff residents are being urged to contact the council via the website – www.cardiff.gov.uk – if they are struggling to pay their council tax because the Coronavirus outbreak has affected their work arrangements.
8. Helpline for those who can’t reach essential items
A volunteer helpline has been set up for people experiencing difficulties with food and other essential provisions as part of the city’s response to the pandemic.
A range of help is available from shopping for food for those who cannot leave home themselves, to the provision of emergency parcels of food and other essentials for people struggling financially.
If you need assistance and have no-one else who can help, please call 029 2087 1071.
9. Funeral arrangements
Limits have been introduced on the number of people attending funerals and wedding services have been cancelled.
A maximum of ten immediate family members are able to attend burials and cremations.
All wedding ceremonies are now cancelled and due to a spring backlog caused by COVID-19, new bookings for weddings will not be taken for dates before September. No new notices of marriage are currently being taken.
10. Support packages for businesses
The Welsh Government has recently announced a £1.4 billion support package for businesses in Wales to help combat the economic impact of Coronavirus.
All retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £500,000 or less will receive 100% non-domestic rates relief for 2020-21. This will be administered automatically through the Council’s Rate Scheme and will apply automatically.
In addition to the business rate relief scheme, the Welsh Government has announced that an additional £850m will be made available through a new grant scheme for businesses.
This will mean that all businesses, which are currently eligible for Small Business Rates relief, that is those with a rateable value up to £12,000, will receive a grant of £10,000.
If you believe you are an eligible business click here for the application form and follow the processes outlined.
Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value between £12,001 and £50,000 will receive a grant of £25,000.
If you believe you are an eligible business click here for the application form and follow the processes outlined.
