Dorset

As Dorset Council’s waste services begin to feel the pressure from coronavirus (COVID-19) employee absence and the need to introduce new safety measures to protect our workforce, we are asking residents to help us by changing the way they deal with their bins, litter and recycling.

Lower priority services such as bin deliveries and garden waste collections have now either been suspended or are on the verge of being halted. Therefore, due to these reduced staffing levels, we are now implementing the next stage of our plan to keep essential collections going.

• We will no longer return to empty any missed bins until your next regular collection day. If your bins are missed, please bring them back in. Store your waste safely and put it out on your next appropriate collection day
• We will pick up extra black bin rubbish only if your previous rubbish collection was missed. We will continue to pick up food waste weekly. You can also put out extra recycling provided it is separated correctly
• Do not try to report missed collections to us. Visit our service disruption pages online to check if you are in an affected area
• Remember to crush and flatten items (not glass) before throwing away, as this will help create space in your bins and our collection vehicles
• Please continue to observe public health guidance on handling your waste. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, please double bag your waste and store for 72 hours before placing in your bin or blue sack. You should also wash your hands both before putting your bins out and after taking them back in
• We recommend rinsing dirty rubbish and recycling items before placing in bins to reduce unpleasant odours.

As we have had to redeploy employees to higher-priority services, our street-cleansing, household recycling centres and recycling banks in car parks have also been suspended. Therefore: –

• If you go out to exercise, take your litter home with you, especially dog waste. Street and dog bins are not being emptied on a regular basis. NEVER place household waste in a street litter bin
• Do not travel to a household recycling centre (HRC, or ‘the tip’) or any recycling bank in a car park as these are all now closed and are no longer being serviced. Any items left at these sites will not be cleared away and will be considered as fly-tipping.

Cllr Tony Alford, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services, said:

“We appreciate that these new measures will cause inconvenience and frustration for some people, but these are unprecedented times and the changes are vital. We need everyone to show patience and understanding and work together so we can keep collections going for as long as possible.

Thank you to everyone supporting our front-line employees by following our guidance. We will monitor how things are going and take further action if we need to. In the meantime, please stay at home and keep an eye on our webpages, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and local media for further updates.”

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Dorset Council has taken the decision to suspend parking charges in its car parks across the county during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Following calls from the general public and Dorset’s elected members, the Council will no longer require payment for the use of any of its car parks that remain open at this time while public health measures are in place.

However, on-street parking charges and restrictions will remain in place in order to keep roads clear and traffic moving.

The decision to suspend off-street car park charges will help residents to park for free while residential roads are full of vehicles during the current “lockdown”. The aim is to get people not parking in the side roads whilst they are staying indoors, so they can move their cars from the road to the car parks.

By encouraging the movement of the cars from the street to these car parks we can provide better access for NHS workers, social carers and volunteers supporting the vulnerable in their communities. It will improve access for emergency and bin collection vehicles and provide options for residents who need to travel to buy essential food and groceries.

Beach car parks will remain closed for this weekend (28 and 29 March) but will re-open as free on Monday. However, Dorset Council will continue to ask people not to drive to tourist spots and/or congregate in groups in order to comply with public health guidance and not spread the virus.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:

“We have listened and taken action. This is a positive use of Council assets and by suspending charges in our car-parks we can support Dorset residents during these unprecedented times.

We can ensure those who are on the front-line delivering vital services have parking options, and we can help keep traffic moving while residential roads are full of parked cars.

However, it is still important that people heed central government advice to stay at home and only travel when it is essential. Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home). If outside, ensure you stay 2 metres away from others.”

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Dorset Council residents continue to support those most vulnerable in their local community during the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).

Work continues with several key voluntary organisations to support our local communities’ efforts in response to the outbreak.

Volunteering guidance in Lockdown
On Monday 23 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a lock down in all non-essential travel. Following official guidance from Government, Volunteer Centre Dorset have issued the following advice after consulting with their national body NVCO “volunteers responding to the COVID-19 crisis would be regarded as essential support services, and could continue to do what they have been.”

Safeguarding  when delivering food

Dorset Council are working with colleagues at Public Health Dorset and have produced some simple but important tips for volunteers when delivering food to vulnerable residents.

This can also be downloaded from our Community Response webpage.

Funding to support our communities’ efforts
71 grant funds have been made available to support local community groups.

In addition to this our local Dorset Community Foundation have launched their own Community Fund for those who would like to make a donation or want to apply for funding. Dorset Community Foundation will also be administering the National Emergencies Trust – Coronavirus – Funding for Dorset. They will be working with officers at Dorset Council to ensure the funding is shared fairly across the Dorset Council (and BCP) areas. More information on this will be shared once funding becomes available.

What’s going on in our communities?
The Dorset Council Community Response webpage includes a link to Help and Kindness who are recording all of the community actions to identify any gaps and share good practice.

Pharmacy delivery of prescriptions procedure and advice from Public Health Dorset
Public Health Dorset has been working with Volunteer Centre Dorset and community pharmacies (through Dorset’s Local Pharmacy Committee) to put in place a system of matching willing volunteers with community pharmacies who have a need to deliver medications to people who are self-isolating.  The system went live across Dorset and BCP council areas on 25 March and volunteers have already started to be placed with local pharmacies.  If there is a need for pharmacies to adjust the number of volunteers they have in their team, then they are able to request further volunteers over time. There is an expected initial flurry of activity over the coming days as pharmacies make their requests and volunteers are matched.

Further to this, Dorset Council are issuing good-practice guidance, both for the volunteers who are delivering medication, and for the pharmacies working with those volunteers.

Services funded by Dorset Council that support people with issues with alcohol or other drugs have been trying to alter prescriptions and get people their medication directly so that they can practise social distancing and not have to go to the pharmacy so often, when these services are already under huge pressure.  Dorset Council staff and vehicles have been redeployed to support this effort, meaning that nurses and other treatment staff can concentrate on directly supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community.  One nurse described the drivers as a ‘Godsend’, saying the service ‘couldn’t do this without them’.
People can volunteer to help in their local communities here

Volunteer update
At the time of writing, over 620 volunteers have registered their availability with Volunteer Centre Dorset (VCD) and also 105 organisations have registered specifically for the community response for COVID-19. The VCD team are busy matching volunteers to vacancies and working with the pharmacies to deliver prescriptions.
Register with Volunteer Centre Dorset.

Age UK North, South and West Dorset update
Age UK North, South and West Dorset are fully up and running (now working remotely) taking 200 calls per day from isolated people and are directly supporting in signposting to the right agencies and are linking in with our Adult Social Care teams for those that identify with care requirements.
Contact information can be found on the Dorset Council Community Response webpage.

Official isolation posters
Two self-isolation posters have been made available stating the household is self-isolating or has an immune disorder. They do not identify if the person is alone or vulnerable. Residents are encouraged, where possible, to use these and not use any unofficial ones which may identify people living alone or sensitive data.

Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Health said: “ The response within the community has been outstanding. I would like to encourage those who are well and willing, to register with Volunteer Centre Dorset to further support the efforts in their local community.

“There are a number of resources available on our Community Response webpage which includes information on safeguarding, how to access support for yourself or for loved ones, contact information for queries on foodbanks as well as information on access to funding available for community groups”.

You can find more information on how to access support, registering your interest to volunteer and also guidance for those who are currently volunteering on the Dorset Council Co-ordinated Community Response web page.

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Dorset Police and Dorset Council are asking people not to drive to a beach, park or local beauty spot this weekend to stop people congregating and not observing social distancing.

Last weekend saw record numbers at beaches and parks around the country and the agencies are keen for there not to be a repeat this weekend.

Cllr Gary Suttle, Dorset Council Portfolio holder for Economic Growth and Skills, said:

“Following our recent video on facebook and twitter I want to stress to all our residents and potential visitors I ask you to please, please, do not come to Dorset this weekend, please don’t go out to our numerous beauty spots.

“Even if you feel well now you could be carrying the virus.  We all want to enjoy Dorset in our futures please do not take that opportunity away from yourselves and your loved ones”.

Beach and harbour car parks will be closed to everyone but existing permit or season ticket holders.and the Police will intervene with all gatherings of more than two people in public.

The advice is to stay home and exercise from there.

List of closed car parks

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Find out what’s happening in Dorset to protect people who are at most risk from coronavirus (COVID-19).

Vulnerable people in Dorset will have recently received a letter from the NHS, telling them they are at high risk of catching coronavirus and advising them to stay at home and strictly self-isolate for 12 weeks.

We know that living under such restrictions will cause concern for people who do not have any nearby support, and we want to give reassurance to any Dorset residents who this may be affecting.

We are rapidly putting plans in place with our partners from across public, voluntary and community and charity sectors to give you the help you need.

A Dorset COVID-19 Response Hub has been set to help people:

• have enough food, basic household items and access any necessary medication
• continue to receive support from our help and support services in a safe way
• feel supported and know how to access help 

I am staying at home because of coronavirus. How do I get help?

If you have been identified as someone at high risk, you should follow the advice given in the letter you received from the NHS. You should talk to family, friends or your support network to see if they can help you get food and medicine.

Central Government is sharing information with us about people who have registered as extremely vulnerable because they do not have anyone close by who can help them. We will be making direct contact with these people very soon.  

Dorset Council’s COVID–19 Response Hub

If you don’t have family, friends or a support network that can help you get the things you need, the response hub has a dedicated helpline that can provide additional help and information.

From Monday 30 March, you can call 01305 221022, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

Alternatively, you can email communityresponse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

Dorset Council portfolio holder for Health and Adult Social Care, Cllr Laura Miller said:

“We are doing our very best to make sure that those people who are identified as extremely vulnerable because of the coronavirus will be fully supported.

“If you, or someone you know, is vulnerable because they are self-isolating and cannot get access to food or medicine, they have care needs or are at risk of loneliness and isolation call the helpline and trained staff can help you get the things you need.”

If you do not receive a letter from the NHS but still need help and support to get essential supplies, you can find more information on volunteer organisations on our website www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/coronavirus or by contacting Age UK on enquiries@ageuknswd.org.uk or 01305 269444. You can also register to volunteer on the website.

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If you’re feeling a bit lost in this new digital-only world, help is on hand from the Dorset Digital Hotline.  

You may have a computer but are struggling to use the myriad of technology available. 

From Monday 30 March the new helpline will be available from 10am to midday each weekday – with no question too small. 

Do you need help to use eConsult to reach your doctor’s surgery, or wonder whether video conferencing, like Skype, could keep you in touch with your grandchildren?  Are you working out how to work from home, or how to use online computer resources to help your children learn? 

Dorset Council’s digital champions – a group of volunteers mostly made up of retired IT professionals – are ready to take your call and help, from advice on video conference calls to setting up a new computer application, and more! They’re being supported by some of Dorset Council’s staff too. 

Councillor Gary Suttle, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Skills said: “We recognise it’s more important than ever for everyone to be able to connect to family and digital services through technology, but for some Dorset residents this may seem like a daunting task. 

“There are a multitude of forums online and it’s confusing knowing where to start, and we know it’s often easier to speak to a real live person! 

“Our digital champions would normally be holding sessions in libraries and community centres so it seems natural to continue providing this IT support service, but over the phone.” 

Anyone can call the Dorset Digital Hotline with an IT question on 01305 221048. A team member will take outline details of the help you need and then direct your call to the best advisor available.   

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From the end of Friday 27 March, Dorset Council waste services (previously known as the Dorset Waste Partnership) will be suspending all Garden Waste kerbside collections.

We have had to suspend this service until further notice to prioritise rubbish, food waste and recycling collections during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

As this is a subscription service that we are currently unable to deliver, we don’t expect our customers to lose out financially. We will work out how subscribers are compensated for collections they did not receive during this disruption period and contact them directly when services eventually return to normal.

The Garden Waste team have also suspended new subscriptions to the service.

With household recycling centres currently closed, Dorset residents are being asked to: –

• Reduce or stop producing garden waste for as long as possible, including cutting grass and trimming hedges
• Store your garden waste safely until services resume
• Not place garden waste in your other household waste bins
• Please consider home composting – Dorset Council works with getcomposting.com to provide composting bins from as little as £19 (+P&P) and there are many other retailers online still delivering compost bins.

Residents are also being politely asked not to burn their waste. Those lighting bonfires are respectfully requested to consider their neighbours, who may be suffering from the virus, recovering, or have underlying medical conditions as smoke may exacerbate their problems and cause complications in their recovery.

Cllr Tony Alford, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services, said:

“The suspension of our Garden Waste service is regrettable, but anticipated and planned for. It is necessary to protect the other kinds of collections we need to provide, especially at this time when we expect household waste levels to rise as everybody stays at home.

Please help us help you. Keep hold of your garden waste or home compost until the coronavirus public health guidance is relaxed. Do not burn it. Do not dump it elsewhere as this is fly-tipping and is illegal.

We all need to play our part in coping with the current restrictions to our usual routines and dealing with your waste responsibly is a major part of that. Thank you for your co-operation.”

More information on home composting can be found at on our webpage.

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Tell us if your financial circumstances have changed

If your financial circumstances have changed over recent weeks which means you may have difficulty paying your council tax, please contact us:

• For West and South areas, call 01305 211970 or email   revenueservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
• If you live in the East or North area please email svpp@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or call 0345 034 4569.

Our Council Tax team will discuss your particular circumstances with you and find the best solution for you. There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ answer – our advisers will suggest the best solution for each individual or household, depending on the circumstances.

The volume of calls to our teams has increased at this time. We will answer your call as quickly as we can. Please email your enquiry if you are unable to hold.

Council Tax Hardship Fund

Help has been made available for the most vulnerable residents struggling to pay their Council tax as part of the Government’s £500m Covid-19 Hardship Fund. £2.6m has been allocated to Dorset Council.

We will be able to provide further Council Tax relief via this scheme. Government has made it clear that additional funding is to firstly allow working age residents who already receive Council Tax support to receive a further discount of up to £150.

Cllr Tony Ferrari, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Assets at Dorset Council, said:

“Those who will benefit initially don’t need to do anything, we will issue revised bills for them as soon as we can.

“Our revenues and benefits team are working with partners to understand who will benefit and how much they will receive. Then we will consider how to make relief available to others in hardship with what is left of our allocation.”

What if there are remaining funds?

Any remaining funds will be allocated to the most in need throughout the financial year. We are working on amendments to existing policy to enable us to correctly administer these funds to support our most vulnerable customers.

If you think you may qualify for council tax support  or call us to discuss your circumstances.

Why can’t you cancel Council Tax payments during the outbreak? 

 Your Council Tax pays for our essential services that are – now more than ever – vitally important to Dorset’s most vulnerable people and a whole range of different services that still need to be paid for. You are helping to support the Police and Fire Service as well as Dorset Council and town and parish councils. Without the income from council tax we cannot pay for vital services. Many, if not all, services would grind to a halt. Bin collections, social care and support to vulnerable children would all be severely impacted

But we appreciate that people may be struggling so do make sure you get in contact with us and that you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to. We want to support you as much as we can during this challenging time.

Universal Credit

Council Tax Support 

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