Coronavirus Updates - Dundee City Council

Published

29th June 2020

As of Friday June 26:
• Children and Families Convener sends end of term message to pupils, parents and carers ahead of the start of the school holidays.
• Lord Provost Celebrates Armed Forces Day.
• Play areas and communal equipment will re-open to the public from Monday (29th June).

Dundee City Council children and families service convener Stewart Hunter is using the start of the summer holidays to call on everyone to keep playing their part to suppress coronavirus so that schools can resume in August.

He said: “The last three months have been among the most difficult in living memory and the pandemic has had a huge impact on education. Families have done so much to support their children’s learning during this time. I would like to thank them for all their efforts, which cannot be underestimated.

“Teachers and school staff created learning imaginative learning packages, along with innovative digital delivery platforms, which went a long way to help children and young people.

“Life will be transforming for everyone over the course of July and I am hopeful that the reopening of schools by August will show us all the progress we have made against coronavirus.”

Information about the return of schools will be published on Dundee City Council’s website where an FAQ page has been developed. The council will be also be distributing the latest information through its Twitter and Facebook pages.

Dundee Lord Provost pays tribute to the armed forces community ahead of Armed Forces Day (June 27).

Armed Forces Day is an annual event celebrating the work the armed forces do. It recognises the men and women who make up the Armed Forces Community: from serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.

The Armed Forces Day flag will be flying from the City Chambers as the city marks the occasion.

In line with current government guidance, planned Armed Forces Day Celebrations in the city and across the country have been altered.

Lord Provost Ian Borthwick said: “Our armed forces, their families, cadets and veterans play a key role in supporting us and keeping us all safe.

“By raising the armed forces day flag we are able to show our appreciation and celebrate our forces community.

“Throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic they have played a key role in supporting the public and our NHS. Recognition of their contribution to the fight against coronavirus is more important than ever.

“As we continue to make progress against coronavirus, I would urge you all to stay safe, protect others and save lives.”

In the meantime, in line with the national guidance, play areas and communal equipment will re-open to the public from Monday (29th June).

Visitors to the playparks are reminded to follow Government advice at all times. Please continue to respect the physical distancing measures and remember to clean hands after use of the play equipment.

As of Thursday June 25:

• £988,877 of electric vehicles and infrastructure for member bodies of the Dundee Partnership has been approved;
• information for anyone re-opening a food business has been posted on the council’s website;
• businesses have until July 10 to submit applications for financial support from the Scottish Government Coronavirus Business Support Fund; and
• almost a million meals have been provided so far to support some of the most vulnerable people in Dundee during the pandemic.

As a result of coronavirus restrictions the council and its committees are not able to meet. Essential business has therefore been delegated to the executive director of corporate services in consultation with the convener of the policy and resources committee, representatives of each opposition group, the independent member and the Lord Provost.

Dundee City Council is the lead partner in a fully externally funded project alongside active members of the Dundee Partnership, NHS Tayside, University of Dundee and Dundee & Angus College who will benefit from the addition of electric vehicles to their fleets and EV charging at their premises. More information is available here.

Covering areas including what needs to be done before opening/starting up, the condition of premises/equipment, services, cleaning, stock check and other advice for food businesses planning to re-open has been posted here.

More than £23.2 million has been awarded to 2025 Dundee businesses through the business support grants scheme since the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak hit.

The scheme is being administered locally by the city council and consists of the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.

Aimed at helping to keep small and medium-sized companies in business and retaining productive capacity so that they can recover, the grants were introduced to protect jobs, prevent business closure and promote economic recovery.

Councillor Willie Sawers, Dundee City Council’s finance spokesperson urged eligible businesses to have completed applications submitted by July 10.

Further information on eligibility criteria and how to apply is available via the council’s dedicated business support web page by clicking here.
The combined efforts of the council, third sector partners and the Scottish Government have resulted in 941,831 meals for vulnerable people in the city as last Friday (June 19).

Cllr Lynne Short, equalities, fairness and older people spokesperson for Dundee City Council has thanked volunteers and local authority staff for their ongoing work feeding those most in need.

She said: “It is fantastic that the city has mobilised so quickly and provided such an impressive amount of meals to some of the most vulnerable people.

“A health emergency like the coronavirus pandemic has presented real challenges for maintaining equalities and fairness across the city but the hard work of volunteers and staff has made a massive contribution to providing shielding individuals, children and the vulnerable with access to food and medicine throughout.”

A full list of council services affected by Coronavirus can be found on the Dundee City Council website.

 

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