03 April 2020

Media round-up for Friday, April 3, 2020

This round-up is intended to keep the media briefed on the COVID-19 impact on Council services across Aberdeenshire. The public can keep up to date with changes online at https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/featured-items/coronavirus-covid-19/
 
National position
 
The Scottish Government sent out an update yesterday (Thursday, April 1):

• As of 2pm today there were 18,128 Scottish tests: 15,526 negative and 2,602 positive.
• 126 people who had tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died (following a change in how deaths are reported, today’s increased figures reflect the difference between the previous and new reporting systems).
• Across the UK, DHSC report a total of 163,194 tests concluded: 33,718 confirmed positive. 2,921 people who had tested positive have sadly died.


Grampian Assistance Hub update

In the four days since the launch of the Grampian Assistance Hub, the team has already been able to match more than 600 people who have asked for help with people or groups in their community, who have offered their time and help.
Things that people have requested help with range from picking up and delivering shopping and medicines through walking pets to having someone to chat to, to help with feelings of isolation.
With the Red Cross and local authorities working together to ensure the safety of both the people asking for, and offering help, this is the best way we have of providing much-needed support and help to everyone.
So far more than 1,200 individuals, 475 community groups and 30 businesses have all offered help and support to people across Grampian.
Anyone can ask for help and support, even if it is on behalf of someone else, and with so many offers of assistance we would urge people to get in touch either on the phone or through the website  www.GCAH.org.uk or call freephone 0808 196 3384 (8am-8pm 7 days a week).

Update on Childcare hub arrangements

The 17 childcare hubs we have set up in primary schools across Aberdeenshire will be open over the Easter Break to ensure key workers have the childcare arrangements they need.
In addition, the hubs are extending their opening hours, depending on demand. If you already have a place in a hub, please speak to your hub staff if you wish to increase your childcare hours.
Hub opening hours from April 6 and throughout the Easter Break:
• 7.30am to 6.45pm Monday to Friday (5 days per week)
Hub opening hours from April 20:
• 7.30am to 6.45pm Monday to Sunday (7 days per week)

1140 hours update

Before the extent of the Covid-19 pandemic became clear a couple of weeks ago, Audit Scotland confirmed that the Scottish Government was on track to deliver 1140 hours of early learning and childcare from August 2020.
Local authorities have already built or refurbished hundreds of buildings and recruited thousands of additional staff and in excess of 50,000 children were already receiving more than the current entitlement of 600 hours.
However, in these exceptional circumstances the Scottish Government has said it is not realistic or reasonable to expect that local authorities can deliver their original expansion plans to secure high quality experience for all children in time for August this year.  As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it impossible to continue with the planned recruitment and infrastructure projects required to support expansion.
In terms of what that means for children and families in Aberdeenshire, the answer that we are not able to provide is when our schools and settings will reopen.
Until we know that - and the long-term implications of the pandemic - we will not be able to say precisely when children will be able to access their 1140 hours.
Aberdeenshire Council has already been delivering 1140 hours in 178 settings, including day care, childminders, playgroups and schools and when these settings reopen, they will continue to offer 1140 hours.
Settings which were due to start delivering 1140 hours by August may still be able to do so and the early years team will be working with staff from these settings over the coming weeks and months to plan their next steps.
We would ask that our communities bear with us as this 1140 planning work is being done in parallel to our current focus of ensuring that we have emergency childcare in place to support our key workers. This has to be the highest priority in fighting coronavirus and keeping us all safe and well.

Care fees

Revised fees for the delivery of care and support by the Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership that were due to come into force this month have been postponed.
The decision was made at yesterday’s meeting of Aberdeenshire Council's Communities Committee.


Waste and recycling

Don’t set fire to garden waste and compost

Following the closure of our Household Recycling Centres as part of our COVID-19 response, Aberdeenshire Council has seen an increase in the number of complaints regarding householders burning garden waste and compost.
We would ask residents to refrain from burning such materials and store them safely until our HRCs can re-open.
Garden bonfires, although not prohibited, are detrimental to local air quality, may impact on your health and that of your neighbours, along with adversely affecting neighbours with smoke and odour.
Persistent burning which affects neighbouring properties may be investigated and notice served to prohibit them under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
We appreciate that now that Spring has sprung, more of us are starting to mow our lawns - which leaves us with a bit of a dilemma as to how to dispose of the grass appropriately.

While our household recycling centres and seasonal garden waste outlets are closed owing to coronavirus and we really don’t really want grass cuttings going in your landfill bins.

So how about making your own composter with this easy guide from the RSPB? It’s a particularly good stay-at-home activity for the children to enjoy in the fresh air.
More here: Build your own compost heap
Meanwhile, Zero Waste Scotland has produced a very handy online leaflet answering your questions on home composting:
https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/sites/default/files/Composting_at_Home_-_leaflet.pdf


Communities Funding

Call for funding applications to the Marr Area Large Grant Scheme

Applications are now open for the Marr Area Large Grant Scheme, which will provide funding for up to £5,000 for projects which aim to help improve local communities in the Marr Area.
The first round of applications should be submitted by May 15.
Applications are invited from constituted groups and the aim is to deliver projects within the Marr area in line with the following local priorities as contained in the Marr Local Community Plan:
•    Empowered and confident communities
•    Economically vibrant communities
•    Healthy, safe and thriving communities
•    Connected communities
•    Natural Heritage and Environment
Projects awarded funding must be completed by the end of February 2021 and applicants will be expected to identify match funding, normally at least 50% of total project costs.
For projects seeking smaller amounts of funding (up to £2,000) applicants should refer to the Marr Area Committee Small Grants Scheme, which is also open for applications for 2020/21.
For an application form or further details contact marr@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or call 01975 520400.

Transportation

Key workers help shape bus timetables in Aberdeen city and shire

Stagecoach Bluebird has provided an update on further changes being made to its timetables in response to government advice on avoiding non-essential travel.
Minor adjustments will be made to some key services on Monday, April 6 and are now available to download at stagecoachbus.com 
These adjustments have been made following feedback received from key workers who rely on bus services to get to and home from work. 
Services 7B, 37, 59 and 727 will be revised from Monday, April 6. Services 37, 59 and 727 have been adjusted to improve times in relation to shift change overs for key workers. Service 7B will be adjusted to provide more peak connections to Badentoy Park. 
A twice-weekly shuttle service will also be introduced connecting Countesswells with Tesco to allow essential shopping trips to be made. The service will operate from Monday, April 6 on Mondays to Tesco in Westhill and Wednesdays to Tesco on the Lang Stracht, both services will depart Countesswells at 10am. 
Peter Knight, managing director for Stagecoach Bluebird, said: “We have been analysing feedback received from customers since initially reducing our timetables on 23 March and whilst the changes we are introducing from Monday are relatively minor, we know they will make a big difference to those who are reliant on the bus for their commute to work. 
“We have worked hard with our temporary timetables to ensure that we are continuing to serve critical routes. If our customers feel we haven’t got things quite right, then we’d really like to receive any comments through our dedicated online feedback form."
In addition to enhanced cleaning regimes, Stagecoach has taken extensive action to protect the safety of its customers and staff with a number of additional measures in place. Contactless payments are being encouraged wherever possible and social distancing guidelines are being displayed on buses, with larger capacity buses being used on busier journeys. 
Customers can stay up to date with all the latest news from Stagecoach on Twitter @StagecoachBBird or by signing up to their email mailing list. Full details are available at stagecoachbus.com