Agenda item

(a)  That the Council’s response to Coronavirus to minimise the impact on our communities be noted;

(b)  That the risk register be noted; and

(c)  That the next steps be agreed as set out in the report and noting the separate report on recovery and renewal.

The Director of Transformation introduced a report that detailed the Council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.  The strategy and risk register were appended to the report and were reviewed by Cabinet.  It was noted that the Council’s focus had been to ensure the needs of the community were met and that the most vulnerable people had been supported.

The Council had moved swiftly to manage the crisis and implement business continuity arrangements to maintain critical services.  Key universal services such as weekly waste collection and grounds maintenance had continued uninterrupted and other staff had been enabled to work from home wherever possible, in line with government guidance.  A Gold and Silver command structure, supported by a range of task groups, had been established and a report summarising the decisions taken was detailed in a separate report.

The Cabinet acknowledged the significant amount of work that had gone in to the initial response to an unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation.  It was recognised that the Council was still in the early stages of its response and a separate report set out the approach to recovery and renewal, and the financial implications.  Lead Members discussed some of the key issues in the next phase of the response, including the role of local authorities in the ‘track and trace’ system.  Members emphasised the importance of strong partnership working with NHS including the timely sharing of data and information to inform decision making.

The impacts on Council staff were raised and it was noted that front line staff had been praised for their response.  85% had been able to work from home and plans were being made for a phased re-entry back into the workplace in line with social distancing guidelines.  Staff absence and wellbeing was being managed.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton raised a number of points including adherence to social distancing guidelines for Council staff at Landmark Place and whether the Council’s Brexit planning had helped it prepare, for example in readiness to redeploy staff.  It was noted that Councillor Strutton had submitted a request for further information on the Council’s early response as the coronavirus threat escalated in January and February.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Cabinet noted the Council’s coronavirus response to date and the risk register.  The next steps would be agreed in a separate report on recovery and renewal.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Council’s response to Coronavirus to minimise the impact on our communities be noted;

(b)  That the risk register be noted; and

(c)  That the next steps be agreed as set out in the report and noting the separate report on recovery and renewal.