Some updates on the impact this lockdown is having on Aberdeenshire Council services:

EDUCATION

At the start of the week just over 3,000 school places had been requested by the parents of category 1 and 2 keyworker parents. In reality, so far around 2,000 attended school.

Work is under way to ensure appropriate provision is in place for young people who require school transport.

Young people attending school are asked not to leave at lunchtimes to purchase their lunch in town. The education service may look, where possible, to amalgamate provision into fewer settings, on a reactive basis taking into account the attendances. Home learning will begin from Monday and schools have begun communicating plans with parents. Some schools have already issued timetables to families.

More than 4,000 IT devices have been distributed to schools across Aberdeenshire as part of the Connecting Scotland Fund and also due to donations from the Aberdeenshire Educational Trust.

CHILD PROTECTION

Child protection is everyone’s responsibility particularly during a time when children and young people are unseen. If you are concerned or worried that a child or young person is at risk or being abused, call:
• 01467 537111 (Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm)
• 03456 081206 (weekday evenings, weekends and public holidays)
• In an emergency, call 999 for police assistance.

ROADS, WASTE AND LANDSCAPE SERVICES

Staff are focused on providing essential work activities i.e. burials, supporting waste collection, emergency road repairs (including road safety inspections), winter maintenance and other emergencies.

As weather conditions dictate, winter maintenance activities (e.g. gritting) will feature heavily for the coming weeks.

As well as the five critical activities, we have also identified a number of activities that are high priority to maintain, such as:
Recycling centres provision
Play park safety inspections
Lifebuoy safety inspections
Memorial inspections
Watercourse inspections.

LIVE LIFE ABERDEENSHIRE

Facilities remain closed and most services will continue to be suspended until at least 31 January.

Outdoor ski centres at Huntly and Alford, which had continued to operate over the festive period during Level 4 restrictions closed on 7 January.

Lets of community facilities and sports halls are suspended, other than where permitted by government guidance.

Click and Collect and home delivery library services will not be able to operate.

Active Schools programmes are also suspended.

HOUSING

The Housing Improvement Programme is suspended although limited external works not requiring access to homes may recommence.

Options and homelessness services continue although there may be some delays with some allocations and applications.

Only essential housing repairs and work in empty properties are taking place. The development of new build housing continues.

CUSTOMER SERVICES

All service points remain closed. All enquiries should be online or over the phone until further notice.

REGISTRARS

New restrictions on marriage ceremonies are being introduced – maximum number of people permitted to attend a ceremony is five (couple, witnesses, registrar, six if they have an interpreter).

Registration of Birth is deemed essential with the majority of the birth registration done by phone, and the last bit (the signature) captured in a short, distanced appointment.

Registration of Death continues by phone.