Shadow Local Government and Communities Minister, Mark Isherwood AM, has spoken of the “army of incredible people out there” who are offering to help through the Coronavirus crisis and has called on the Welsh Government to ensure that their services can be utilised.
Responding to the Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19)’ in the Welsh Parliament yesterday, Mr Isherwood raised concerns regarding a number of matters ranging from bin collections to issues in ports such as Holyhead, but also spoke of the influx of offers from people wanting to help.
He said:
"Like many people, I've been approached by incredible people volunteering to help. I've got one here from a lady aged 63 in Holywell. She'd like to offer her support in any way required. If the over-70s are going to be isolated, she wants to do whatever she can to help on the front line—cleaning floors in hospitals, or whatever. She offers her services, and we know, all of us, that there is an army of incredible people out there offering similar help.
“I know the Wales Office yesterday stated that they're getting more information on volunteering centralised by today so that they can direct aspiring volunteers to where they're needed. Are you working with the UK Government on that and, whether you are or not, how developed is the position now with local authorities and their partners in enabling local volunteers to contribute through properly verified and bona fide schemes?".
Questioning the Minister on bin collections, he said:
“Following your press conference with the Leader of the WLGA this morning, it was reported that he had stated that bin collections and other Council Services may be reduced during the crisis and you were quoted as saying that reductions were not happening immediately but were being considered for the weeks and months ahead. I wonder if you could expand a little bit on that and give us some indicative timeline, notwithstanding the fact that none of us has a crystal ball to know what's coming down the road, and how you will factor in, potentially, for example, any health risks that might apply to uncollected rubbish that might come from a household that has infected members living within it?”
Mr Isherwood also raised concerns over the resilience within Environmental Health teams to manage 24/7 expectations and asked if the Welsh Government is considering taking the same powers as Ministers in England to restrict individual movement, instead of relying on Part 2A Orders which are only relevant for England.
Further, he questioned the Minister over increased pressure on Registrars' services, and asked the Minister about issues or cases in ports such as Holyhead and Pembroke, raised by the local authorities.
With regards to Mr Isherwood’s question about volunteers, the Minister told Mr Isherwood that the Welsh Government is meeting today with WCVA partners and others - a whole series of third sector organisations and pan-sector organisations—to discuss the whole issue of third sector involvement and co-ordination of volunteers.
She added: “We've also had useful meetings with the WLGA about co-ordination of volunteers for each local authority area, and we've been saying today that people who want to come back into the workforce with relevant qualifications, or, indeed, people who have equivalent qualifications should contact their individual local authorities, who will know where their skills are most needed”.
In terms of waste collections, she said that the scaling back of services was given as an example by a Councillor and that it would be dependent on staff shortages and other issues arising in the weeks and months ahead.
She added: “He was very quick, though, to emphasise that they would be collecting food waste and nappy waste, for example, as usual – weekly - in order to offset the health risks”.
She stressed that guidance on the disposing of tissues and cleaning cloths during the crisis will be on Local Authority websites.
