Agenda item

The Leader’s opening remarks set out the ongoing priorities of reducing infection and supporting the most vulnerable members of the community whilst moving forward to restart services that would be tuned to people’s needs.

Each Cabinet Member highlighted action taken and plans for their service areas as set out in the report and the main points raised were:

·         The continuation of services for adults during lockdown meant that there had been no easement of the Care Act

·         The work being undertaken to embed best practice from the response to Covid-19, including embracing a ‘7-day working’ pattern, with thanks being expressed to staff who had worked in this way with colleagues in the NHS during the height of the pandemic

·         The Cabinet member for Highways gave details of the schemes planned for the phase 1 allocation of the Active Travel Fund, which included cycle lanes between Redditch and Bromsgrove, Stourport and Kidderminster and at Evesham

·         The latest data showed that traffic was currently at 80% of pre-lockdown levels

·         The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing stressed that the virus was still active and people needed to be mindful, as the economy was opened, to remain vigilant and keep social distancing where possible

·         Libraries and museums were due to reopen in a phased approach with clear protocols and social distancing in place. An announcement on the relaunching of wedding and notices of marriages was expected in the near future

·         the majority of schools had continued to operate throughout the pandemic for vulnerable children and those of key workers.  Pupils were returning as per the Government guidelines despite the challenges arising from Worcestershire’s 2 tier and 3 tier system.

The following details were provided in response to questions from Members outside the Cabinet:

·         whether the number of tests for Covid-19 could be increased – the Cabinet Member reported that people were still being encouraged to test at centres and at home.  He agreed to provide details on exact numbers of tests

·         Details were requested about arrangements for the Local Outbreak Plan and the Cabinet Member advised the Covid 19 Local Out-Break Engagement Board would be ‘the workhorse’ which would assist in any outbreaks of Covid-19 with senior elected Members from all Districts being representatives. Details of the plans would be put onto the County Council website soon once documents were finalised

·         Whether the Cabinet Member was in favour of some of the money that was being bid for to go towards helping cycling proficiency – the Cabinet Member responded that he would investigate whether some of the funds could be applied in this way

·         When the remaining Household Recycling Centres would reopen – the Leader responded that work was continuing to reopen these as soon as practicable

·         Whether there was any further information to that provided by the Leader at OSPB on the support available for children who did not have access to computers at home. The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills confirmed a further application had been made to the Department for Education for devices for disadvantaged children and young people.  It had been confirmed that Worcestershire County Council would receive 11057 devices and 379 4G wireless routers for children with a social worker and care leavers, plus 111 devices and 72 4G wireless routers for children specifically in year 10 in local authority maintained schools

·         Further to a query about whether Traveller Services had been provided during the crisis, the Cabinet Member for Communities responded that the Council had a Gypsy Traveller county wide policy.  Visits had been made to check up on travellers that had set up in Worcester.  There had been a ‘light touch’ approach during the virus and lockdown.

·         In response to a query about the level of reporting of domestic and sexual violence during and after the lockdown, the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing responded that the issue of domestic and sexual abuse had been raised at a previous Safeguarding Board. The figures had shown that incidents had actually decreased during lockdown but were now starting to increase as people had the opportunity to report incidents.  The Cabinet Member for Children and Families added that analysis had been carried out for children which showed an increase but the level/threshold of what was being reported had reduced, which meant less need for intervention, but this was currently being looked at

·         A member from outside the Cabinet welcomed  the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills visiting schools during lockdown and expressed the hope that in the future the local Member could be advised of these visits with the opportunity of joining the CMR, as the link between the local Member and schools was important.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(a)          Noted and endorsed the action taken by the Council in relation to Covid-19 restart planning to date;

(b)          Noted the revenue expenditure incurred by the Council to date, receipt of further Government grant and that further updates will be presented to Cabinet in due course;

(c)          Approved the setting up of a One Worcestershire central PPE store hub for care providers and charges to care providers at cost only, and any other costs claimed from Government;

(d)          Used the information in this report as the background for reporting to Council about the urgent decisions taken at the meeting of Cabinet on 26 March 2020.