Agenda item

Report from the Chief Executive to follow.

The Leader presented the report which provided an update on Wiltshire Council’s plans and activities to promote recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, building on previous reports to Cabinet between May to August 2020.

The Leader referred to the level of outbreaks in Wiltshire, the reopening of libraries and leisure centres and other venues, how the Council continues to work with neighbours, reopening of schools and recovery of the economy.

Terence Herbert, Chief Executive, advised that the Council was working in a systems approach to recovery, sharing learning with partners and other authorities to deliver this work successfully in a rapidly changing environment. Other key updates included details about the work of the Recovery Coordinating Group and a reminder of the main themes, support for business and allocation of grants to over 8,000 businesses, schools returning from the first week in September and the guidance provided by the Council, the ongoing support provided to care homes, and employees returning to the workplace.

Cllr Alan Hill, Vice-Chair of the Wiltshire COVID-19 Response Task Group indicated that the Task Group had not met since the last Cabinet meeting, and it was anticipated that Select Committees would return to their activities during November 2020, with a limited amount of support provided by Scrutiny Officers, who were currently supporting the recovery process.

Comments arising from the discussions included:

·       The closure of businesses during the last 5 months, the impact on unemployment figures and the support provided by the Council via hubs, who would be offering guidance and advice to those experiencing unemployment, maybe for the first time.

·       The criteria for the Emergency Active Travel fund, would include the use of existing bus routes to encourage people to walk or cycle in preference to the use of public transport during the Covid-19 period.

·       The positive response of parents in relation to the preparations undertaken for schools returning from 1 September 2020.

·       The adoption by the Council of Government guidance on home to school transport for children to wear face masks was only a recommendation and not enforceable.

·       The number of businesses unable to access Government grants during the Covid-19 situation was difficult to determine, and the Council was working with a number of organisations to establish this. The Council would be re-opening access to the discretionary growth grant for small businesses who were previously outside the scope of the business grant fund scheme.  

·       The Council’s support for residents who have received an eviction notice from their home in order to avoid homelessness.

·       The DfE’s new programme to establish the gap for access to technology for those children working at home due to infections at their school. 

·       The close working arrangements between Directors of Public Health in the south west during Covid-19 and daily information on infection rates for Wiltshire compared to other Councils in the south west.

·       The assessment of risk and impact on parents of staggered pick up times for children from primary schools where parents had more than one child attending the school to make the pick up time as efficient as possible for all.

·       The support systems in place to aid children ‘catch-up’ on school work missed due to the Covid-19 situation.

·       The use of cycleway separators for new cycle lanes implemented across a number of locations in the county to increase the safety of cyclists as part of the Emergency Active Travel fund.

·       The work of the third sector and charities and the impact on them of Covid-19.   

·       That family visits to Care Homes were key for the mental health of all parties.

·       That the Kick Start Programme is a scheme that the Council were looking to be involved with especially as it would positively impact many young people in search of employment in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Resolved: To note

1. the current impact of COVID-19 in Wiltshire

2. changes in national policy

3. the work underway within the four Recovery Coordinating Group themes and on Organisation Recovery

Reason for Decision:

Implementation of the multi-agency Recovery Coordinating Group’s Recovery

Plan is successfully underway. Wiltshire Council continues to work closely with partners to deliver this in a rapidly changing environment.