Agenda item

The Leader, who has responsibility for Finance, introduced the report which noted current progress with Covid-19 response and recovery and considered proposed revisions to the Council’s capital programme. He explained that over the summer as the infection rate had fallen services had been re-introduced but with infections now rising again the County Council’s response was being stepped up. Tribute was paid to Dr Kathryn Cobain who was working with Partners such as District Councils, schools and the LEP. The Council’s response was looking at the economic effects of Covid along with the health effects. An economic task force was looking to see where the support offered by the Government needed to be augmented.

The Leader also paid tribute to schools who had worked hard to enable students to be able to return and were having to manage the on-going situation. Important work had been done with the LEP to signpost people to advice, and social care had worked to support and protect the most vulnerable. Covid was having a financial impact but the Council were taking the view that they would take whatever measures were necessary.

Cabinet Members made the following comments:

·  The Cabinet Member for Adult Services noted that the Council was well prepared, with stocks of PPE being delivered direct to Care Homes and the restriction on visits to care homes had been reviewed and visits were now being allowed

·  Tributes were paid to the Director of Public Health and her team and all partners in the health economy who had stepped up to respond to the situation. Also the IT professionals who enabled so many people to work remotely and 18 new digital services had been set up

·  School staff were praised for enabling education to continue as we learn to live with Covid. Various schools had bubbles which had collapsed but Head Teachers were being supported by the Local Outbreak Response Team

·  Library Staff were praised for stepping in and helping out with Here to Help and also providing a digital offer from libraries and Registration?

·  A Member from outside the Cabinet echoed the congratulations to staff but was worried about all the people who had been furloughed and the high number of unemployed young people. She commented that it was good that carers would now only be working in one care home but recognised that that could cause additional staffing problems for the care homes

·  In response to questions, the Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being said he was not sure GPs would wish to be more involved in the test and trace system and assured the meeting that test centres would be set up in each district. It was agreed that misleading information on the internet was not helpful and all messages should come through Public Health

·  The Cabinet Member for Adult Services clarified that care workers would be tested weekly and tests would be delivered to their homes and Government Funding had been provided to ensure care workers only worked in one place

·  As a concern had been raised over the absence of the usual finance and resources report the Leader promised that an economic briefing would be provided to all Members.

Cabinet:

(a)  Noted the current status position of the Local Resilience Forums;

(b)  Noted the current status of the Economic and Community Recovery;

(c)  Noted the current status of the Local Outbreak Control Planning and Response activities;

(d)  Noted the individual directorate status updates;

(e)  Noted the financial summary and recommended that Council agree to a £15 million addition to the updated Capital Programme at Appendix 2; and

(f)   Agreed that any future draw down from this additional fund be brought back to Cabinet for decision and any approval, having considered all facts and due diligence.