Decisions

To approve:
- additional services and posts in which staff will be furloughed and that evidence shows this meets the criteria for the scheme
- approach to the furlough of staff in multiple contracts
- confirmation that the working group identify potential posts to furlough in partially income funded services

To approve the proposed objectives, criteria and process for identifying, assessing, designing and reviewing Covid-19 related highway network management measures as set out in this report. These objectives, criteria and processes will be kept under review as necessary to ensure that the process remains fit for purpose.

To approve a discretionary grant policy for businesses not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

To approve the introduction of a pre-entry booking system for all of Wiltshire’s household recycling centres operated on behalf of Wiltshire Council by FCC in accordance with the Lot 2 contract and Hills Waste Solutions in accordance with the Lot 1 contract.

To approve:
The creation of a full-time regional test centre for COVID-19 at the Beehive Park and Ride site in Salisbury from 29th May 2020 until further notice.

To approve the provision of provision of 47 Hospital Support Discharge Unit Beds to allow customers who have tested positive for Covid 19 to be discharged from hospital in timely manner to continue their journey.

Two providers have been selected and the total value for initial period is anticipated to be £1,080.00. Please see appendix 1 for details of the contracts to be awarded.

The contracts shall have staggered commencement dates with the initial contract on the 09th April with the initial term expiring on the 31st July 2020.

Discussions in relation to exit provisions are on going and may require a separate Record of Officer Decision Report to be produced.

To allow either the Strategic Procurement Hub or Legal services to enter in to the resulting contracts in line with the Council’s Constitution and Schemes of Delegation.

• To approve the provision of provision of block homecare hours to as part of the planning and organisation of health & social care services across Wiltshire during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This will support customers who have tested positive for Covid 19 to return to their homes and support those in the community who develop symptoms.

• Eight providers have been selected. The total value for initial period is anticipated to be £768,417.26. This is funded by the B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group using monies provided by central government to enable the health & care sector to respond to the COVID-19 situation. Please see appendix 1 for details of the contracts to be awarded.

• The contracts shall commence on 9th April with the initial term expiring on 2nd of August 2020. There is an extension period available of up to 16 weeks. To exercise this extension period a further Record of Officer Decision Report will need to be produced and authorised.

• To allow either the Strategic Procurement Hub or Legal Services to enter into the resulting contracts in line with the Council’s Constitution and Schemes of Delegation.

To apply a new policy to allow a one-month rent deferral (June 2020) for tenants affected by the Corona Virus, as of March 25 2020, to be recovered over the financial year 2020. This is a transitionary measure, following a two-month rent holiday enacted for April & May 2020.

To approve the reopening of nine of the ten household recycling centres operated on behalf of Wiltshire Council by FCC in accordance with the Lot 2 contract and Hills Waste Solutions in accordance with the Lot 1 contract, following review of government guidance.

Wiltshire Council has reviewed the statement from the DfE relating to child employment during COVID-19; businesses can now apply for dispensation to allow children to continue working provided they meet clear criteria to ensure the child’s well-being is safeguarded and the child is able to work in safe conditions.

To approve the proposal to reduce payments made for early years entitlement for 2, 3- & 4-year olds to settings and childminders closed during the coronavirus pandemic in order to create a pool of funds to incentivise settings to remain open to children of key workers, to children with a social worker or, education health & care plan (EHCP.)

The council undertakes promotion of the work of food banks to encourage the community to donate food.

Further exploration of use of Charitable Funds to support local food banks.

The Council provides grant funding of an average of £2.5k per food bank ( total of £ 47.5k) upon request to match fund grant provided by Wiltshire Community Foundation. This to be funded from the local welfare assistance budget reducing this budget to £100k.

Council offers food banks the opportunity to take grant funding in the form of food direct from suppliers from the Council’s wholesale suppliers.

1.To provide an emergency food parcel service to provide food for at least three days for vulnerable households unable to source food themselves.

2.To establish a gross budget for this service of £30,000 subject to ongoing review of demand. This sum will be reduced by the contributions by those able to pay and the local welfare provision payments.

3.To agree that the charges of the food parcels will be £20 for standard food parcel for one person, £ 30 for two people and up to £25 for a food parcel that caters for special dietary requirements for one person.

4.To agree that charging for emergency food parcels will be implemented in week commencing 6th April 2020

Wiltshire Council to advise that all child employment arrangements must be temporarily suspended

To approve the Strategic Procurement Hub to order PPE using their judgement on its availability in the market during the COVID situation. Working with FM and based upon an initial assessment of stock levels, SPH will seek to maintain those levels and where necessary use their judgement to order more, or less PPE based on demand and what is available in the market to procure at the time.

To approve the increase of authorisation limits in the electronic banking system (HSBCnet) to align with the changes to the Treasury Management Counterparty monetary limits approved under emergency arrangements by the CEOs on 31 March 2020.

To approve the increase of authority daily processing monetary limits in the BACS electronic payment system (PayGate).

To approve suspension of all non-urgent repairs and associated visits by the Housing team and associated contractors to council owned housing stock to comply with government guidance on controlling the COVID–19 pandemic.

To approve the increase of the Treasury Management Counterparty Monetary Limits from £15m to £30m

To approve the decision made at the COVID-19 Gold meeting on 24 March 2020 to defer until mid-June the process for renewal of chargeable garden waste kerbside collection contracts.

To approve the temporary closure of council owned chapels at Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge and Westbury Chapels.

To approve the rescheduling of council tax and business rate instalments for those most adversely affected by COVID 19.

To apply a new policy to allow a two-month rent holiday for tenants affected by the Corona Virus, as of March 25 2020.

To approve the temporary Closure of the Salisbury Park & Ride sites whilst Government travel restrictions are in place due to the Covid-19 Pandemic .

To approve:

Suspend on and off-street car parking charges.
All permits to be frozen.
Wiltshire Council will continue to enforce:
- double yellow lines.
- disabled bays.
- loading restrictions.
- obstruction of dropped kerbs and essential buildings.

The removal of charging will be time limited and implemented until the end of governments current restrictions on movements.

To approve:

The Cancellation of all Indoor & Outdoor Markets - In line with the Government’s instruction to stop all unnecessary contact and travel, Wiltshire Council will close all non-food markets and arrangements as part of their efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

To approve:

In line with the Government’s instruction to stop all unnecessary contact and travel, Wiltshire Council will close all play and sports areas as part of their efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to include all communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms.

To approve:
The re-instatement of on and off-street car parking charges.

All permits to be un-frozen.

Current exemptions for parking charges by the Local Government Secretary for critical key workers will remain in place, affording free parking in Council parking bays without time restriction.

Any residents who wouldn’t normally purchase a permit but who, following government guidance, have to remain at home, will receive a free permit.

The re-instatement of car parking charges will come into effect from 1st June 2020.

To approve the ongoing temporary closure of ten household recycling centres operated on behalf of Wiltshire Council by FCC in accordance with the Lot 2 contract and Hills Waste Solutions in accordance with the Lot 1 contract, following review of government guidance

To apply a new policy to allow a three month rent deferment for tenants affected by the Corona Virus, to be recovered back over the next nine month period, as confirmed by the Gold Meeting of 21 March 2020.

To approve the Coronavirus Staffing Policy