At a virtual meeting of the Cabinet yesterday (Wednesday 27 May), members discussed the response to Covid-19 so far by St Helens Council and all its partners across the borough, following a detailed presentation delivered by the Chief Executive Kath O’Dwyer and Assistant Chief Executive Rob Huntington.
Council Leader David Baines, said:
“Responding to Covid-19 is one of the most difficult challenges we have ever faced as a council and as a borough. From the start of the crisis we have been working to deliver the essential services residents rely on, as well as supporting businesses and charities as best as we can.
“Too many in our borough have sadly lost loved ones to this terrible virus, and our thoughts and condolences go to every family affected. We are beginning to see a large decline in new cases locally. This is due to of the incredible work of our NHS and care workers, and all of us who have sacrificed so much to stay safe at home.
“Our staff – all of them keyworkers – have been instrumental in our response. They have worked tirelessly and flexibly to overcome the many challenges we’ve faced in St Helens and have continued to provide excellent services in new ways. Many of our staff have even taken up vastly different roles through redeployment to support the vital services we provide.
“St Helens Together has been central to our response, and it’s success is a testament to the resilience and kindness in our communities. Through it we’ve seen thousands of calls answered on our helpline, £24.6m in grants paid to local businesses, half a million items of PPE distributed to key workers, over £85,000 in crowd-funding donations, hundreds of food parcels delivered to vulnerable residents and so much more, all backed by hundreds of selfless volunteers.
“We are starting to look now to the future as we begin our reset and recovery process. In this, our priorities will be to promote good health, independence and care across our communities, ensure children and young people have a positive start in life, create safe and strong communities for our residents, support a strong, diverse and well connected local economy, and through it all become a modern, efficient and effective council to deliver real change for our borough.
“St Helens Together is here to stay, and that ethos of collaboration that will be at the heart of everything we do as a Council and as a borough.”
Residents can view the detailed presentation online by going to moderngov.sthelens.gov.uk and clicking into the calendar entry for Cabinet on Wednesday 27 May.
