Today's COVID-19 update from Cardiff Council covers, the redeployment of staff, an appeal for food parcel items, help for the self-employed, planning applications and a waste collections Q&A. 

Council staff volunteer to redeploy to essential services in response to the COVID-19 emergency

As a result of the unfolding Coronavirus crisis, a shift to prioritising key workers and essential front line services being delivered to Cardiff residents is underway.

Thousands of Cardiff Council staff have volunteered to change their current job roles, to work in crucial council services and protect the vulnerable and those at risk in our city. 

Over 5,000 responded to a skills survey last week and we are in the process of matching those skills to our most vital roles. 

For many it means a huge change to the areas they work in and the daily roles they undertake. It could be an office worker, now delivering Meals on Wheels, supporting the homeless or collecting waste. 

There is also a drive to increase the amount of care workers to support vulnerable people in their homes. The Into Work Advice Service is managing applications and training for people to become carers and help deliver the service during this crisis.

Identifying, matching and utilizing these skills in such a short time frame illustrates the diversity, adaptability and commitment of our workforce. Staff who can are working at home where possible, but we have frontline roles delivering services and this redeployment will be hugely important in keeping important services going. 

Cllr Chris Weaver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation & Performance said, "The response from members of staff who are willing to voluntarily be redeployed has been fantastic and the job roles they will now perform are vital to the city and its residents moving forward through these unprecedented times." 

Support from businesses

The Council is very keen to hear from any businesses who would like support the efforts to help the most vulnerable in the city, by donating food or essential items, particularly staples like bread, rice, pasta and cereal. 

Anyone who can help should call 07970 241 918or emailemployerliaison@cardiff.gov.uk 

Announcement on UK Government financial help for the self-employed

The UK Government has announced a new scheme to assist the self-employed during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

For all those who are eligible - you do not need to do anything at this stage - as the HMRC will contact you individually when the scheme begins and they will invite you to apply online. 

As well as self-employed individuals, if you are member of a partnership you can also apply for this financial assistance. 

The scheme gives a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits and is capped at a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next three months. 

The eligibility for this taxable grant are:

• You have submitted an Income Tax Self-Assessment for the tax year 2018-19
• You have traded in the tax year 2018-19
• You are trading at the time that you apply, or would except for COVID-19
• You intend to continue to trade in the next tax year - 2020-21
• You have lost trading/partnership profits due to COVID-19.

The scheme is designed to give financial relief to those who most need it. Given this the UK Government has set a financial threshold for the scheme and to be eligible, all self-employed trading profits must be less that £50,000. Also the final condition is that half your income must come from self-employment alone. 

Update on planning

The Planning Department will not be registering or issuing decisions on any current applications until further notice. 

If an exceptional or emergency issue does arise, the department still has the resources to process an application, if necessary authority is given to do so. 

Officers will continue to progress the 500 current applications which are in the system, as best as possible. 

Important background work continues on the Replacement LDP, but the process has not yet begun. In due course, stakeholders will be informed of the process moving forwards. 

Mae gwaith cefndir pwysig yn parhau ar y CDLl newydd, ond nid yw'r broses ei hun wedi dechrau eto. Caiff rhanddeiliaid wybod maes o law am gynnydd y broses.

Waste Collections Q&A

Cardiff is moving to a new, weekly, kerbside-collection which will see all household waste (except garden waste) picked up at the same time. 

Click here to read the Waste Collections Q&A on Cardiff Newsroom -
https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/23501.html  covering:

Why are you changing collections?

What do I do with my tissues?

As I'm home working I have excess waste - what can I do with it?

Now we are home, everyone is having a ‘spring clean'- how are we meant to get rid of the waste?

Now we are home, everyone is having a ‘spring clean'- how are we meant to get rid of the waste?

Where will you be providing updates?

Will I get a reduction in my Council Tax?

Can I buy additional green bins, garden waste sacks to store my garden waste in?

I've had a pink sticker/letters about wrong items in recycling- is this process still valid?

Can I put my rubbish into a litter bin, now you have cancelled collections?

Why have you shut the Household Waste Recycling Centres?

I am self-isolating- can I have a temporary recorded collection (assisted lift) for my bins?

Why aren't you continuing to collect food separately in bin areas?

Why are you collecting food waste separately in bag areas?

I live in a bin area- can I still separate my food inside the house?

I don't have any a kerbside caddy/kitchen caddy/caddy liners

I've run out of red striped bags

Can I put out garden waste for collection?

Will you collect extra bags/bulky items of waste?

I've had a missed collection- what shall I do?

Why should we continue to separate our recycling?

What can I do with my garden waste?