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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

County council update - Tuesday


The Council is responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement that we should only be making essential journeys and, where possible, will be encouraging people to use alternative methods for accessing services, such as using our website or telephones.

Below is a round-up of how services are affected:


Main council offices at County Hall (Ruthin), Caledfryn (Denbigh) and Russell House (Rhyl) :  All are closed to the public.  People are encouraged to visit the Council’s website for any information (www.denbighshire.gov.uk)   If you have any concerns about the welfare of a resident, please contact the Single Point of Access (SPOA) on 0300 456 1000.  For Out of Hours emergencies, please call 0345 053 3116 for Social Services, or 0300 123 3068 for all other services.  

Parks and playgrounds:   
The Council has started to close all parks and playgrounds across the county. The work of closing and securing all parks will be completed by Wednesday afternoon.

Loggerheads and Moel Famau Country Parks have been closed to the public, as well as Brickfields Pond in Rhyl, Marsh Tracks in Rhyl and Coed y Morfa in Prestatyn.    The Council has taken this decision in line with Welsh Government advice to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus and is in line with other Local Authorities and National Parks move to close public parks and beauty spots following concerns for public health with large numbers of people visiting .  Please help by following government guidance to stay at home, avoid unnecessary travel and practice social distancing.    

Car parks:  The car parks at Rhyl Sky Tower, Rhyl Pavilion, Nova (Prestatyn) the Central underground car park in Rhyl and the multi-storey car park in Denbigh are all closed.

Household Waste Recycling Centre Closures:
In order to help enforce the UK government’s instruction for residents to stay at home, all three of Denbighshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres have closed until further notice. Travelling to these sites to dispose of waste is NOT a valid reason to leave your homes.   Employees at these sites will be re-trained ready for  redeployment to support our key waste collection kerbside services for food waste and residual (black bin) waste.
Please retain your bulky waste, DIY waste, electrical items and garden waste within the curtilage of your own properties.  Please do not put out this waste for collection on your usual kerbside bin day as we will not be able to collect it.  If you discover hazardous waste at your property during a DIY project, such as asbestos, please contact the Council immediately for advice and to arrange it’s removal.

Registration Service: As of  23rd March 2020, Denbighshire Registration Service has taken the decision to cease conducting marriage, civil partnership or other discretionary ceremonies (e.g. renewal of vows; baby naming etc.) at the Register Office and at any licensed venue in Denbighshire until further notice.   Anyone who has already made a booking may contact Denbighshire Registration Service by emailing: ceremonies@denbighshire.gov.uk  The registration of Births and Deaths is now Strictly by Appointment Only.  Please make an appointment by calling 01824 708100.   Copy certificates may be ordered over the telephone by calling 01824 708100.  Please note that it may take longer than normal to process your application, as priority will be given to the registration of Births and Deaths. 

Payments to the Council:  Numerous residents have been in touch, asking how they should make any payments to the Council.   Residents can pay for council tax, business rates, housing rent, housing benefit overpayment, parking fines and general invoices via the Council’s website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/pay or  by the automated phone line: 0300 456 2499.  Where customers have a housing rent or council tax payment card, or a bill with a barcode payments can be made (via card, cash or cheque) at a Post Office, Paypoint or direct at the Natwest Bank.  Customers are asked to have the correct reference numbers for their payment when using these payment options.


Important information regarding Denbighshire licensed taxis/private hire:  The Licensing Team have had to implement interim steps for licensed taxis and private hire vehicles during the coronavirus situation.   As of today, you may see expired “taxi” plates on some vehicles.  Pleased do not be alarmed by this, as behind the scenes we have ensured that all the necessary licensing checks have been done!  You could now see, for the foreseeable future, a vehicle displaying an out of date vehicle plate on the rear, with either a paper printed version of the updated plate displayed in the vehicle or have available, on inspection, a smartphone version.  If you can’t see either of these please always ask the driver for proof of licence before you start your journey, they will be happy to show you.  You can also check by looking at the updated register of drivers / vehicles on our website  www.denbighshire.gov.uk/taxi-licences Any concerns please contact the Licensing team at licensing@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 706342.


Fleet’s Service Centre, Bodelwyddan:  The Council’s fleet service centre in Bodelwyddan is now closed to non-Council vehicles and customers.

Information previously released:
Libraries: From Monday March 23, our Library and One Stop Shop buildings will not be open to the public.  We will inform people of any developments. People are reminded that they can access a wealth of information and resources on the library section of the Council’s website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries
Child care for vital workers:  All schools in Denbighshire (apart from Ysgol Pendref, St Asaph VP, Ysgol Llanbedr and Ysgol Trefnant) have opened their doors today  to  provide child care for children of vital workers. School transport has been arranged. 
Free school meals:  Those children attending the vital workers child care in schools will continue to receive free school meals if they’re eligible. Any children not attending these sessions but are entitled to free school meals can call at these schools for a packed lunch
Reception at Russell House, Rhyl: This reception has been closed until further notice. If you have any concerns about the welfare of a resident, please contact the Single Point of Access (SPOA) on 0300 456 1000.  For Out of Hours emergencies, please call 0345 053 3116 for Social Services, or 0300 123 3068 for all other services.  
Single Point of Access:  This phone system is being changed to help signpost people to the right source of information, advice and assistance.   Callers will use the existing number 0300 456 1000 but following the option to select Welsh or English but will have different options to usual.
The following information was reported last week:
Update  from Denbighshire Leisure Ltd:  Denbighshire Leisure Ltd has decided to close all of its sites until further notice.  Closures include SC2 & Ninja TAG, Rhyl Pavilion and 1891 Restaurant and Bar, NOVA Prestatyn,  all leisure centres, North Wales Bowls Centre, Ruthin Craft Centre and Café R, Rhyl Town Hall and Llangollen Pavilion.   
Denbighshire Leisure will be freezing all Direct Debit payments for fitness memberships and swimming lessons, effective immediately. They will not be making any more collections on your direct debits until further notice. Customers don't need to do anything – the service will do this on their behalf and let people know in advance when they will be restarting, once the Covid-19 situation becomes clearer.
Food Safety:  If you are a new or existing food premises offering food delivery or take away/delivery service for the first time, due to the current covid-19 situation, the Council would like to hear from you.   It is essential that you assess the risk associated with this type of food service, to ensure you keep your customers safe in relation to allergens, food safety and social distancing.  We can advise you on these matters.  Please contact the Food Team on 01824 706405 food.safety@denbighshire.gov.uk
Community Support Services:
·        Cefndy Enterprises has stopped      taking new orders and will close today (Friday). Some staff will be in      work next week to dispatch any current orders.  
·        Day & Work Opportunities      closing today (Friday) enabling staff to be redeployed as required. 
·        Dolwen Day Care closing today      (Friday) enabling staff to be redeployed as required. 
·        Additional drivers being      drafted in for the Integrated Community Equipment Services to support      hospital discharge
Housing maintenance:  As a precaution, only emergency and/or urgent repairs will be attended as a result from the 23 March 2020. Please could you only contact us during office hours on 01824 706000 or on 0300 123 30 68 out of hours if it is an emergency. To report a general repair, visit https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/housing/council-housing/request-a-council-housing-repair.aspx and we will respond to your enquiry as soon as we can.
Bulky waste collection: The Council has taken the decision to suspend all new bookings for the Bulky Waste Collection Service from Monday, 23 March, to ensure front line workers and fleet are reserved for the collection of other waste streams.  If it is possible to retain your items at home until the service resumes, please do so. Whilst our Household Waste Recycling Centres  remain open at this time, we are advising people to only use this service if it is unavoidable, due to the social distancing measures we have put in place.  The employees at the 3 Household Waste Cs are not able to assist visitors to remove their waste from their cars.
Garden Waste: The Council has taken the decision to suspend all kerbside garden waste Collection Services until further notice, to ensure front line workers and fleet are reserved for the collection of other waste streams, such as food waste and black bin/pink sack service).  The Council will extend all household subscriptions for the same number of weeks the service will be suspended.  We will be unable to process refunds for any households who have had a collection of garden waste within their collection years.   If it is possible to retain your garden waste at home outside in  your garden until the service resumes, please do so. Further guidance on “how to compost at home” will be provided on the Council website in the next few days (www.denbighshire.gov.uk)
Public Conveniences:  All public conveniences in Denbighshire will close from 5pm today until further notice.
Countryside and Heritage:   Given the current situation and advice on public gatherings, Denbighshire Countryside and Heritage Service will be implementing the following:
·        The Old Gaol and      Nantclwyd y Dre Heritage attractions in Ruthin will not be opening this      weekend and will remain closed to the public until further notice.
·        Plas Newydd and the      onsite café in Llangollen will not be opening until further notice, but      the grounds will be open.
·        Loggerheads Country      Park will remain open but the visitor centre will be closed. The café      remains open at this time.
·        Moel Famau Country Park      will also remain open.
Advice to businesses:  The Council’s website: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business has the latest information and advice to businesses regarding coronavirus, as well as links to Business Wales and Welsh Government websites.
Archives:  The public searchroom at Denbighshire Archives in Ruthin will close from Thursday, 19th March.  Staff will be working away from the building but will answer e-mails whenever possible.  However, access to information and documents will be limited.
Exercise Referral Scheme:  This programme is being suspended until further notice. If you have any concerns or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact your local NERS Co-ordinator on 01824 712324.
Face to face service at Rhyl Job Centre:  This is being replaced by staff working from other buildings.

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