In line with the Government’s Coronavirus delay strategy, Liverpool City Council has taken action to prevent it spreading.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has today decided to suspend all public facing council meetings until further notice – as a wide range of other operational measures come into force.
They are:
- Contact Centre: Opening times have been reduced to 8am to 6pm for the foreseeable future.
- City Halls: St George’s Hall, Town Hall and Croxteth Hall have all closed with immediate effect.
- One Stop Shops: Will all close over lunchtime (between 12.30-1.30pm) every day. The council is looking to offer priority services in key locations, this will be confirmed as soon as possible.
- Libraries: Speke Library (co-located with OSS) closed due to staff self-isolating. Garston Library will be closed on Saturday until further notice.
- Lifestyles: Walton Soccer Centre will close tomorrow (Thursday).
Councillors have also been instructed to suspend their ward surgeries and not attend any public meetings. The council has made arrangements via its contact centre to forward messages from residents who want to speak to their local councillor.
The only meeting to be held this week will be tomorrow’s Health and Wellbeing Board in Liverpool Town Hall.
The council is now awaiting further guidance on regulatory functions – like Planning and Licensing – which is expected tomorrow, when the Government publishes new legislation through its emergency Coronavirus Bill.
Notices of Executive (Key) Decisions will continue to be posted online on a fortnightly basis, following normal due process, including electronic and telephone consultation and approval by the Mayor and Cabinet.
Liverpool City Council has already postponed or cancelled many public events, such as the Mersey River Festival, and is currently reviewing its operations at leisure centres, libraries and the city’s bin collections.
Staff aged over 70 – and those in high risk categories – have already been instructed to stand down from their roles and the council is seeking replacements to services affected such as school crossing patrols.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, said: “Our number one priority is the health of everyone we serve in our communities, as well as our staff and councillors.
“We have taken the decision to do all we can to support the government’s advice to delay the virus by taking a huge range of measures that reduces face-to-face interactions.
“These closures and cancellations may seem dramatic – and they will have an economic impact on the council and the city – but these steps are vital to ensuring this pandemic is contained and limited.
“It’s also important that the wheels of democracy continue to turn as we have many important decisions to make, and we await government guidance on how we achieve this.
“We are also continuing to review our operations on front line services to ensure we have the necessary capacity to continue to support our residents, businesses and local communities at this critical time.
“The Covid-19 crisis presents a fast moving challenge to all big public sector organisations but I’m delighted with how the council’s management and staff are responding.
“Their commitment is a great example of the public sector’s desire to serve the people, especially our most vulnerable.”
“Their commitment is a great example of the public sector’s desire to serve the people, especially our most vulnerable.”
Liverpool City Council is also looking to establish a volunteer service and help hotline for residents in need of additional support. More details will follow shortly on these initiatives.
For the latest information and advice, please visit – www.liverpool.gov.uk/coronavirus and our dedicated feeds at www.facebook.com/covidliverpool and www.twitter.com/covidliverpool
