Plymouth City Council has been doing everything it can to support and protect Plymouth through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Its priorities have been to protect the people of Plymouth, keep key services running as long as possible and support the local economy.
The majority of employees have been working from home but some have continued to deliver key services that cannot be delivered from home. Refuse collectors have continued to empty 30,000 bins each day, cleansing teams have been working hard to keep Plymouth safe and clean, while highways maintenance crews are carrying out essential repairs to keep roads and footways safe.
The council has helped implement one of the largest humanitarian efforts in peacetime Plymouth, coordinating support for those residents who have been identified as being the most vulnerable.
Caring for Plymouth, an alliance between the Council, Livewell Southwest and a large number of voluntary and community sector organisations, is ensuring they receive food, medicines and emotional support.
The council also launched the Plymouth Good Neighbours Scheme to recruit and coordinate volunteers who can support those who need help during COVID-19.
It has also sent out teams with the aim of getting all rough sleepers off the streets and accommodation was offered to 39 individuals.
Families can be under immense pressure at this time and children’s services teams have been supporting vulnerable children and young people in need of protection.
Most schools have been opening to take vulnerable children and children with special needs, as well as the children of key workers where no alternatives are available.
Social care teams are supporting Derriford Hospital in ensuring people can leave hospital by securing beds in the community.
The council has also been arranging Council Tax Support for more than 12,000 households.
It made car parks free for emergency services, the NHS, care workers and lifted the restrictions on times for using concessionary bus passes to help older people to take advantage of the dedicated shopping hours.
It has also been providing extensive support to businesses and have paid £38 million in grants.
Plans are now be developed for how services that have had to close can be resumed safety when the Government advises that it is safe to do so.
