• The Council will be launching ‘One Stockport’, a new borough wide campaign that builds on the resilience and support communities have demonstrated, and aims to create positivity across the whole borough. ‘One Stockport’ message will be around from Monday – in the press, on posters, on lampposts, on social media – to ask people to continue supporting each other to stay safe.
• Alongside the campaign the council will be working to ensure sufficient space is available for both pedestrian movement and to allow residents to queue outside premises in a comfortable and safe manner, working with local businesses over the coming weeks, to help us all adapt to living with covid.
• As a consequence of needing social distancing in the re-opening of shops in particular, the council are likely to introduce a 20mph speed limit in district centres such as Marple – on the basis this helps and encourages pedestrians and cyclists.
• If you have to travel by public transport from Monday 15 June, you must wear a face covering. It will be your responsibility to provide this and can be a simple scarf or bandana. There are exemptions for children under the age of 11 and students travelling on dedicated school bus services, people who have trouble breathing, carers and anyone whose condition means they are unable to wear a face covering.
• To enable more social distancing on Metrolink the frequency of trams is being increased to every 10 minutes from Monday 22 June.
• Metrolink are also installing hand sanitiser dispensers at bus stations and interchanges and at busy Metrolink stops
• Whilst the North West region has one of the highest infection rate (cases per 100,000 people) within the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, Stockport and Salford have the lowest rate. Tameside and Bury have the highest.
• The economic impact of covid has been and will be significant:
o 71% of Stockport businesses responding to a GM survey say they have decreased sales.
o 29% report cash flow issues.
o 56% have furloughed staff with 60% of those furloughing more than half of their workforce. HMRC data shows that 33,700 people in Stockport are currently furloughed.
o 19% report having enough cash to survive for 3 months.
o Out of work benefit claimants increased by 68% since February
Meanwhile the Council have:
• Paid out c£58 million business grants to 5,033 qualifying businesses, 92% of those identified as eligible.
• Got under way the discretionary grant scheme around 400 extra businesses with a further £3.2 million.
• Set up the Stockport Business Recovery website which has nearly 2,000 visits per week,
• Set up Stockport Jobs Match – 5,200 visits, 205 vacancies, 50+ businesses using it.
• Prior to the pandemic the council customarily had 200 staff working from home on any particular day. During the pandemic it became 2000.