Agendas, Meetings and Minutes - Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online only

Contact: Nichola Garner  Committee and Appellate Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

1977.

Apologies and Declarations of Interest (Agenda Item 1)

Minutes:

None.

1978.

Public Participation (Agenda Item 2)

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case Wednesday 3 June).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed below.

Minutes:

None.

1979.

Confirmation of the Minutes of the previous meeting (Agenda Item 3) pdf icon PDF 306 KB

The Minutes of the meeting of 26 March 2020 (enclosed)

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as a correct record.

1980.

Covid-19 Response pdf icon PDF 1013 KB

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council opened the meeting by stating this report captured the actions and decisions taken during the response phase to the Covid-19 public health emergency and supported the Council’s mission to preserve life and prevent the spread of the infection while maintaining critical services.

 

The report set out how the Council had taken a succession of urgent actions that had been needed to respond to the World Health Organisation’s assessment of Covid-19 as a pandemic and to do whatever was necessary while realising that the financial impact would need to be dealt afterwards.

 

The Leader and Cabinet members thanked people of all levels and parts of the organisation and partners, who enabled this response to happen in such a positive and pro-active way to the array of challenges that had to be faced.  The Leader believed it demonstrated that Worcestershire could and did come together when it really mattered; with staff, partners and organisations adapting and innovating to the challenges to keep services going, to minimise the loss of life and to support those most vulnerable people in society.

 

It was noted that this pandemic was not yet over and all needed to continue to be vigilant.  Members extended sincere condolences to all those members of the community who have lost loved ones at this time.

 

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Education and Skills confirmed the wider opening of schools from this week.  Of the 94 maintained schools 70 opened on the 1June, a further 8 by Friday 5 June, 13 opening throughout the week commencing 8 June and a further 2 opening by 15 June, leaving just one further school, which the Council was working with, to determine a wider opening date. He emphasised that schools had remained open for vulnerable children and those whose parents were key workers and thanked teachers in enabling children to be educated both virtually and in schools. 

 

Cabinet Members summarised examples of the successes from the response, including:

        Support for care homes through fee uplifts, Government grants and providing PPE

        Here2Help on-line access centre and phone line set up in partnership with Public Health, Adult Social Care and District partners enabling 2,500 volunteers to come forward offering help to residents across the county and supporting those who were shielded by issuing over 1,500 boxes to the community 

        The seamless transition of Babcock being contracted back into the Council

        Of the 1,422 of children in need 1,155 had been visited or contacted in the last 4 weeks.

        500 personal visits had taken place using PPE where necessary

        Highways reactive and safety critical works undertaken throughout lockdown

        Surface dressing to start in urban areas 22 June

        100% of Bus contracts supported ensuring social distancing and safe travel in place

        Opening of Parkway Railway Station

         Kidderminster Railway Station re-opened Sunday 7 June 2020, following a refurbishment

        Churchfields/Pinvin/Bromsgrove A38 work continued as normal

        Envirocover, Envirosort and landfill sites had remained operational  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1980.