There's been a huge team effort by the staff at Hertsmere Borough Council to help support residents and businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

The council says "massive" demands have been placed on some roles and, in some instances, staff have been undertaking different tasks.

The council's finance team has worked tirelessly to make contact with businesses eligible for assistance under the government support measures and has already paid out more than £11.5 million to 814 businesses (72 per cent of businesses eligible).

Meanwhile, the customer services team has dealt with a huge volume of calls over the past four weeks, answering 8,148 calls compared with 5,382 calls during the same period last year and the waste and recycling crews have worked to continue providing a full service, with the exception of blue box recycling collections.

Meanwhile some staff have been deployed to markedly different roles to those they usually undertake.

Ben Cowan normally works in the council's legal services team, but has switched to finance to help allocate grants to companies.

Borehamwood Times:

Ben Cowan

Liz McGill, who has worked for the council for nearly 20 years, is still working her day job in parking services, but is also calling vulnerable residents who may need help during the lockdown period.

She said: "I am happy to help by calling residents that may be vulnerable during this period of uncertainty. I am working through a list of people of have been identified as at risk by the government. It feels good to know that I am helping in some small way."

Borehamwood Times:

Liz McGill

Museums Officer Ruth Stratton is still providing what support she can to the borough's museums and assisting them with their online content.

She said: "My day job involves working with the borough’s four volunteer-run museums. Many of the volunteers are elderly and live alone and need support during these difficult times.

"For me, helping the vulnerable residents by offering to deliver their shopping and keeping in touch to make sure they are doing OK, is a small way to give something back to our residents."

Borehamwood Times:

Ruth Stratton

A number of council staff have been supporting Communities 1st by helping with the recruitment of volunteers. Over the past four weeks, more than 270 hours of work has been invested by Hertsmere employees.

Loran Kingston is the council’s community safety intervention officer, but has been setting aside time to help support Communities 1st.

She said: "This is unlike my day job but it’s been really interesting and rewarding to be involved with a team which is making such a difference to vulnerable people."

Council leader Morris Bright MBE said: "Staff working in areas that are no longer operating in the same capacity have effectively changed jobs to ensure vital council services can continue to operate and meet demand during the pandemic.

"They’ve been absolutely first rate supporting businesses and the public, organising volunteers, getting food out to people, looking out for vulnerable families, I couldn’t praise them highly enough."

Sajida Bijle, managing director of Hertsmere Borough Council, added: "I want to personally thank all our staff who are dealing with their own pressures and family commitments, as well as providing a great public service to the people of Hertsmere.

"These are tough times – but, whether they are doing their usual role or temporarily taken on different tasks, our staff are rising to the challenge and I applaud them all."