Published: Thursday, 8th Oct 2020

Update on Bolton Council’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Bolton COVID do right thing

Local restriction FAQs

Our website has FAQs and support information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which are regularly updated.

Job Retention: updated guidance

HMRC has published guidance about the Job Retention Bonus and what needs to be done to claim it. 

HMRC has also published updated guidance about wages claims through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. 

Meeting with others safely (social distancing)

The government has updated the guidance about meeting with others safely, to include information about seeing friends and family you do not live with you

Guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships

The government has updated the guidance for wedding and civil partnership receptions and celebrations, to include changes to the rules on face coverings, distance between tables, singing in groups of more than six, dancing, music volume and enforcement.

Get laptops and tablets for children who cannot attend school or college due to coronavirus

The government has updated the guidance about device allocation, when and when not to order devices and help on ordering laptops and tablets for children who cannot attend school or college due to coronavirus.

The Department for Education is providing laptops and tablets to schools and colleges to help children and families access remote education during the coronavirus outbreak.

Schools and colleges will receive an allocation of devices to be used to support disadvantaged children who are otherwise unable to access remote education. The number of devices available to order through the get help with technology service reflects the number of laptops and tablets we estimate are needed by each school or college.

Get help with technology service.

Consultation for Greater Manchester clean air plans and taxi standards starts today

Residents are being urged to have their say as Greater Manchester as two major public consultations about plans to clean up air quality and introduce a new set of standards for the taxi trade start.

Help shape the final Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan now

Have your say on plans to reduce harmful air pollution on our local roads as part of an eight-week consultation on Clean Air Plan proposals for Greater Manchester.

The government has instructed Greater Manchester to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone across all ten local authority areas, including Bolton.

Some vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards will have to pay a daily charge to drive in and around the zone. That includes buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles, taxis, private hire, vans, and minibuses. Private cars and motorbikes are not affected.

To help local people, businesses and organisations prepare, Greater Manchester is asking for more than £150 million of government funding to support upgrades to cleaner, compliant vehicles. Those who upgrade before the Clean Air Zone is introduced in 2022 would not have to pay a daily charge.

Find out more now and fill out the questionnaire at cleanairgm.com before 23:59 on Thursday 3 December 2020.

Alternatively you can:

  • Email your feedback to cleanairgm@aecom.com
  • Give your feedback via telephone on 0161 244 1100 (you will be forwarded through to independent research organisation AECOM).
  • Write/send a completed questionnaire to Freepost RUBS-XRAT-GLBK, AECOM, 1 New York Street, MANCHESTER, M1 4HD.

Let’s talk taxis

Do you drive a taxi or private hire vehicle – or use these services to get around?

Whether you use them on a night out or to get around locally, we want you to have peace of mind on every journey.

That’s why a set of minimum standards is being proposed for every service licensed in Bolton, as part of Greater Manchester’s plans to make sure every journey is safer and more reliable.

Taxis and private hire are a crucial part of our transport network, and the proposed minimum licensing standards could help put local operators ahead of out-of-town services as they will help give customers the confidence they are using a high-quality, safer and more reliable service, with high environmental and accessibility standards.

An eight-week public consultation on the proposals started on Thursday 8 October 2020 and will run until midnight on Thursday 3 December 2020. This consultation will be the first of its kind and the council and Transport for Greater Manchester is asking passengers, taxi and private hire drivers and operators to give their views.

To find out more and have your say online.

Bolton’s doing its bit for World Mental Health Day 

World Mental Health Day, Saturday, 10 October, aims to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental health and Bolton Council are urging their staff and that of partner organisations and the local community in general to train to become mental health aware.

From October onwards, Bolton Council is offering free training courses to their staff to ‘Become Mental Health Aware’ or ‘Become A Mental Health First Aid Champion’ which helps staff know how to spot the signs for early help and support. 

UK Transition: business seminars

The UK has left the EU and is leaving the EU single market and customs union. The end of the transition period means businesses should take action now to prepare for guaranteed changes and new rules from January 2021.

To support business preparations the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is hosting free webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take.

Join a free webinar in October to understand the actions that your business needs to take before the end of the year.

Sign-up online.

For the latest updates

Bolton Council

Business Bolton

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

Bolton at Home

Bolton CVS

Greater Manchester Fire Service

Transport for Greater Manchester (Link no longer live)