Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

Wirral Council has praised the co-ordinated effort of schools in the borough, who are jointly producing and donating PPE equipment for NHS and care home staff.

Wirral CouncilCopyright: Wirral Council

Schools in the borough have produced nearly 3,000 visors and are donating spare goggles and other PPE equipment.

Pupils from various design and technology departments, along with teaching staff, are also helping to produce the equipment.

Paul Boyce, corporate director for children's services at the council, said:

Quote Message: The fact that schools have gone above and beyond to do this to help our key workers is absolutely outstanding.

The fact that schools have gone above and beyond to do this to help our key workers is absolutely outstanding.

Quote Message: I am unbelievably proud of all the staff and pupils involved in this effort and I know it will make a real difference as we battle this public health emergency.

I am unbelievably proud of all the staff and pupils involved in this effort and I know it will make a real difference as we battle this public health emergency.

A mobile Covid-19 testing site is being opened in Bidston, Wirral, which will operate from today until Saturday.

MOD/PA MediaCopyright: MOD/PA Media

Tests will be appointment only, and only for key workers, their families and residents over the age of 65 who show symptoms.

The centre will offer up to 250 self-swab tests per day.

Julie Webster, director of Wirral Public Health, said:

Quote Message: This mobile testing offer is great news for Wirral as up to 750 key workers will be able to access testing for COVID-19.

This mobile testing offer is great news for Wirral as up to 750 key workers will be able to access testing for COVID-19.

Quote Message: Please, if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and you meet the criteria, book an appointment and get tested.

Please, if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and you meet the criteria, book an appointment and get tested.

Wirral Council has redeployed 188 staff to roles that support residents and key workers in the area.

Stephen Richards/GeographCopyright: Stephen Richards/Geograph

Roles include sorting and delivering food parcels for vulnerable residents, approving financial aid to businesses and distributing PPE to NHS and care home staff.

About 700 volunteers have also been helping deliver food parcels at Wirral's emergency food hub.

A spokesman for the authority said that nearly 2,000 council workers were working from home during lockdown.

Bin workers in Wirral have overwhelmingly voted to go on strike, but will delay any walkout until the coronavirus crisis has passed.

BBCCopyright: BBC

About 180 workers delivered a 96% vote in favour of industrial action over pay on an 80% turnout.

Their union Unite said the dispute is a result of Biffa, the firm contracted by the council to run Wirral’s bin collections, refusing to meet their pay claim.

Last week, a spokesman for Biffa, said it was continuing to talk to "employees and their representatives and have offered a generous pay increase which is in excess of the current wage inflation indices".

Wirral Council said at the time that "in the event of any disruption to services, we will endeavour to enact our business continuity plans and advise our residents and other stakeholders well in advance".

The mandate for strike action would normally last for six months, however it can be extended with the agreement of the employer. Unite has requested this is done given the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus crisis.

Wirral Council is putting aside £100,000 to support self-employed people struggling to make ends meet amid the coronavirus crisis.

LDRSCopyright: LDRS

Money will be given where there is no other way for someone to pay for something fundamental to their health or wellbeing.

The £100,000 sum is a top-up on the council’s existing Local Welfare Assistance Scheme, taking its total spend to £250,000.

A key use of the additional money will be helping those worst affected by the coronavirus crisis while they wait for benefits such as Universal Credit.

Wirral Council’s cabinet member for finance, Janette Williamson, said:

Quote Message: It is important that we act quickly to help those, including those who are self-employed and facing very real financial difficulties.

It is important that we act quickly to help those, including those who are self-employed and facing very real financial difficulties.

Quote Message: This scheme provides a safety net when there is no alternative, and while we await further information from the government on help for [the] self-employed. We will be making the funding available immediately once applications have been approved.

This scheme provides a safety net when there is no alternative, and while we await further information from the government on help for [the] self-employed. We will be making the funding available immediately once applications have been approved.

Details of how to apply for the scheme are available on the council's website.