COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) UPDATE (1)

Important Message COVID-19

COVID-19 Customer Update  24/04/20

The James Gibb Team hopes that all our customers are managing to keep safe and healthy during these difficult and challenging times.

We are now in our fifth week of lockdown and current Government information indicates that several more weeks are to be expected at the very least. It’s important for all our clients to know that, despite the restrictions of lockdown, we are still able to continue our business and provide most of the usual services to clients. By using the benefits of modern technology, all our staff are working remotely, and this is working well. We are also utilising meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom for external and internal meetings and this has allowed us to continue as many of our normal functions as possible. We are also working as normal with regard to the substantial preparations required in respect to the forthcoming insurance renewal, and the issue of our next quarterly invoices at the end of May 2020.

We will, of course, continue to monitor developments and Government announcements particularly in relation to the safe delivery of services to our clients. To this end, we are continuously monitoring the operational capacity of all our contractors and any interruption or suspension of services will be notified via your client portal. It’s also important to us that, for those contractors who are still able to operate, that we are satisfied that they are able to do so safely and in accordance with all Government guidelines. Accordingly, we have ensured that all contractors who are still able to carry out services, are able to provide a full health and safety risk assessment to us. This ensures the safety of our clients and contractors alike. This will include solo driving to site, ensuring social distancing at all times and wearing Personal Protective Equipment as required. Where services are reduced, perhaps due to lack of staff, we are asking contractors to ensure that their focus is on those areas that relate to health, safety and welfare e.g. bin stores.

One of the biggest challenges we have faced over recent weeks is ensuring that we continue to provide the routine maintenance services you normally enjoy; gardening, window cleaning, stair cleaning etc.

We are pleased to report that, in the vast majority of cases, routine services have not been significantly disrupted.

Our Development Managers are working closely with all contractors, on a daily basis, to ensure they know what services are being delivered and that we (and therefore you) are only charged for the works done.

We are also working closely with our Statutory Testing Providers – emergency lighting, smoke alarms, lifts, sumps, pumps etc.  In most cases, these are continuing to be carried out where safe and within government guidelines.

As we have said before, though, our current restrictions don’t allow us to carry out mass print runs so we are unable to directly contact those who haven’t signed up for e-comms or who have no access to the internet.

We would, once again, encourage those, who have not already done so, to sign up for electronic communications by emailing enquiries@jamesgibb.co.uk and to sign on to your James Gibb + Portal using your account number and JG+ ref (available on direct communications and invoices). The Portal gives detailed information about what’s going on in your development. (Most importantly, what services are ongoing at your development during COVID -19). Thank you to the many who have recently done so. If you do know of any friends, family or neighbours, who are James Gibb customers, please let them know how to receive our communications.

We have received some communications from clients regarding communal play parks. Whilst the Government has placed an order on local authorities to close any adopted play parks, the majority of the play parks that we maintain will be private. As these are common to all, we have no authority to close these without the consent of owners and there can be practical difficulties in doing so. We would therefore remind all clients who have a play park facility that the advice from Government is to refrain from using these facilities for the duration of the current restrictions.

Finally, for the moment, we recognise that this current climate may be financially challenging to many, but could we ask that those who have still to settle your latest invoice that you do so. Our remit is to ensure funds are available within your development to continue the supply of services. Our on-going services rely not just on the availability of our contractors but also on the availability of development funds to pay them.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, at the moment, please contact our Income Recovery Team at enquiries@jamesgibb.co.uk or by telephoning 0333 240 8325 where we’ll be happy to discuss payment arrangements with you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we would take this opportunity to record our thanks to all of our staff who are working collectively to deliver all services remotely and we hope all our clients, their family and friends stay safe and well during this difficult period.

The James Gibb Team.