Here is the latest update from Cardiff Council, covering: Cardiff Music Board statement on the impact of Covid-19; bookings are now being taken for businesses looking to use our new socially-distanced activity courts on Blackweir Fields; colourful waste bags indicate the hard work of our litter heroes; and our ChatBot ‘BOBi' has been busy.
Cardiff Music Board statement on the impact of COVID-19
The Sound Diplomacy report into Cardiff's music sector which triggered the creation of the Cardiff Music Board found that live music created 70% of jobs in the music sector in Cardiff and produced 65% (£45.6 million) of the income.
With live music venues currently closed, festivals cancelled and recording studios, music education and many other areas of the music sector all affected by Covid-19, Cardiff Music Board are working to address some of the concerns and challenges that have arisen for the industry. The board are now calling for more clarity on the guidance for the sector, particularly around events, mass gatherings and the expected timelines for gigs and performances to restart.
Council Leader and Chair of the Cardiff Music Board, Cllr Huw Thomas said: "Welsh Government legislation means that live music events can't currently take place either indoors or outdoors, but the members of the Music Board are united in their desire to help bring live music back to the city as quickly as possible, once the rules are relaxed. There are many reasons for that - clearly there's a huge cultural value in having music in our lives, but live music is also an essential part of Cardiff's cultural and night-time economy.
"Prior to Covid-19 our plans were to integrate music into every aspect of the city - now, with the jobs and incomes of people and companies in the music industry at risk, we face a new set of challenges."
"The Music Board's work to deliver on our music city aspirations and implement the recommendations in the Sound Diplomacy Music Strategy report will continue and productive conversations are being had on areas as diverse as busking regulations and mapping opportunities for music education in Cardiff, but the reality is that the challenges faced by the music sector in the wake of Covid-19 mean progress will not be easy.
"Our key focus at this time has to be finding ways to support the recovery of Cardiff's music sector - a sector which has been hit incredibly heavily by the pandemic and the lockdown regulations necessarily put in place to protect public health.
"As we move out of lockdown, the council's plans for a Safer Cardiff include creating ‘spill out zones', new spaces in the city centre for cafés and restaurants to extend their business into - the grounds of Cardiff Castle have also been opened up as a free public square.
"If people can safely enjoy live music in these spaces it gives them another reason to spend time in the city centre and support the city's economy, however without changes or clarifications to the current nationwide rules on live music events then moving forward with these plans is not possible.
"All members of the Music Board, myself included, want live music, whether that's busking or at more managed events, to play the significant role it could in the council's wider plan to protect jobs, create a buzz in the city again and create a safe, welcoming environment that encourages people back into the city centre.
"The board are ready to work through these plans, so that when the time comes and the public health situation allows, we can once again welcome live music back to Cardiff and we would welcome further clarity on how and when that could happen."
Bookings are now being taken for our newly-created event spaces on Blackweir Fields
From Tae Kwon-Do to Zumba, bookings are now being taken from businesses looking to use new socially-distanced activity courts on Blackweir Fields.
The temporary courts will provide a private space for group sizes from 9 to 29.
Social distance markings are painted on the floor, hand sanitising stations are provided and the venue will operate a one-way system.
Discounts are available for charity and not for profit groups.
Discounts are also available for longer duration bookings.
For more information and to make a booking, visit:
http://bute-park.com/outdoorcourts​
Colourful waste bags indicate the hard work of our Litter Heroes
If you see pink council bags or red Keep Wales Tidy bags it means that our wonderful litter champions have been out collecting the litter left behind.
They are helping to keep Cardiff tidy and each pink or red bag demonstrates a lot of hard work for a volunteer who has taken the time to do something good.
Pink bags will be collected as soon as possible by our cleansing crews.
Thank you to all our volunteers.
If you would like to get involved, please contact:
lovewhereyoulive@cardiff.gov.uk
The Council's ChatBot ‘BOBi' has been busy
The Council's online ChatBot ‘BOBi' has been #WorkingForCardiff around the clock to converse with over 11,000 Cardiff residents since the 6thApril, responding to queries with useful information and helping web users to navigate Council services.
BOBi was designed as an innovative way to efficiently find out information about Council services, available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without the need to pick up the phone.
BOBi already understands an extensive range of topics ranging from waste collection dates, fly-tipping, recycling, Council tax, schools and much more. The bot prefers shorter statements and questions.
Since the soft launch in March, the team of ‘human handlers' behind the project have been working hard to develop BOBi's knowledge by learning new information and responding to the coronavirus by ensuring BOBi has answers to relevant topics such as volunteering and benefits support.
Over 70% of Cardiff's residents have rated the experience with BOBi as ‘Good' or ‘Very Good' which is a great start to this exciting project.
A big thank you to everyone involved in the creation of BOBi.