Coronavirus: Councils pooling resources as GM emergency committee gets to work
Date published: 18 March 2020
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham pictured (centre) at today's Greater Manchester Combined Authority press conference
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has revealed that all 10 local councils will be ‘pooling resources’ as the Coronavirus crisis continues to bite.
With the number of virus cases showing no signs of slowing down and well-being and business in particular being savagely hit already, Mr Burnham and colleagues have set up the Greater Manchester COVID-19 Emergency committee.
The first meeting took place this morning (Wednesday), with the aim of starting up many more vital support networks for the city-region community.
Mr Burnham said: “These really are unprecedented times, and while we all appreciate the response so far from all the public services, there needs to be even more support out there for people who need food, medicine and care at this time.
“We’ve set up a new community website to form a huge part of the new support system we’re building, so our message today is please try not to worry.
“The cavalry is there, and we’re pooling resources in a bid to help us through these difficult times.
“It’s now about building a British response to this crisis, and we all have to be as strong as possible as we continue to fight this.
“If you are concerned about someone in particular, contact your local authority or the GM hotline as soon as possible.
“That is another thing that we’ll be adding more capacity to.”
Mr Burnham is acutely aware that already cash-strapped local councils - like Oldham’s – and businesses are facing further severe funding problems thanks to Coronavirus, so he’s called on Boris Johnson’s Government to provide more and more support.
While grateful for the £350bn support pledge already offered by the Government, Mr Burnham added: “Councils and local businesses’ cashflows need more attention as a matter of urgency.
“Local councils in particular are facing huge strain at present, so our message to the Government is that they need to focus more attention on that.
“More resources are needed to provide extra support.
“Decisions are going to have to be made about school closures too, and that provides more considerations of course.
“Can schools close and be run by essential skeleton staff? Can children go and stay with grandparents who are needing to self-isolate?
“These are all questions that we will be tackling over the coming days.”
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