Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive on the Council’s work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cabinet noted the content of the report, the impacts of the pandemic on the Council’s operations and the work that continues to be undertaken by Officers and Members.

Report of the Chief Executive on an update on the activities undertaken in response to the Covid-19 pandemic since the detailed report made to Full Council on 6 May 2020.

The Chief Executive, The Leader and Cabinet Members again thanked NHS staff, Key workers and all Council staff for the continued fantastic work they are all doing at this current time.

(1)       The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

Cabinet noted the content of the report, the impacts of the pandemic on the Council’s operations and the work that continues to be undertaken by Officers and Members. 

(2)       Reasons for the Decision

As Leader, Councillor T.Kingsbury has continued to play a key role with fellow leaders in how the Council respond to this pandemic within the Community Resilience Cell.

In addition, the Cabinet have continued to meet regularly for updates and input to key decisions and issues and the Chief Executive is chairing the countywide recovery group as we move out of the response phase.

Officers are working with the County Council and BID to ensure the high streets are safe and ready for reopening, as well as ensuring our own buildings are COVID secure.

The Council are working closely with the County Council and Director of Public Health on ‘track and trace’ and local outbreak plans.

Members and Officers are working up plans to enable the reopening of Campus West as and when allowed.

The Council have provided continued support to NHS and key workers with free car parking, while reintroducing charging and restrictions appropriately.

The Council are working intensively with homeless households and will meet the government’s requirements in terms of producing an action plan for later this month, setting out how we will support homeless households whom we helped during the pandemic to find settled accommodation.

The Council have paid out £14M in business rate grants (as of 1 June), which is 86% of eligible businesses.

Launched the Discretionary Business Grant scheme on 29 May, targeting small and micro businesses that were not eligible for the small business grant scheme. Applications were open until 19 June.