Decision details

This report updates Cabinet on the Council’s response to the pandemic situation and possible proposals for economic recovery.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dr Walsh, introduced this item confirming that this was another of the Chief Executive’s regular updates to Cabinet and had been based on the weekly updates sent to all Councillors and partners. 

The Chairman stated that unfortunately, only a few weeks ago, it had been thought that we were coming out of this dreadful pandemic, but things had since changed dramatically.  Whilst the prevalence of the virus remained low across West Sussex, there were some peaks around and outside of the District that the Council needed to watch carefully. 

The Chief Executive then guided Cabinet through some of the essential detail in the update report.  He confirmed that the Council’s Environmental Health team continued to support local businesses and workplaces regarding the new restrictions in place and that Central Government had allocated £75k in additional resources to assist this work.  Also, funding had been provided to meet the £500 payment for those having to self-isolate. The Council was already administering this money to these in need, with this latest payment scheme being up and running quickly from 12 October 2020.  Overall, in relation to Covid-19, the points made earlier about savings and income generating ideas, Officers would continue to work with Cabinet Members to reduce additional costs and raise additional income. Every effort was being made to try to keep Covid-19 costs to a minimum.

Before inviting Cabinet Members to discuss the report, the Chairman confirmed that he wished to have placed on record his tribute to staff who were keeping everything going in additional to managing the extra work as a result of Covid-19.

Cabinet echoed these comments and congratulations were extended also to the Council’s Revenues and Benefits team who were actively now administering the £500 paid for those having to self-Isolate. Staff had managed to set up the payment scheme through the Northgate system very quickly and were very thoroughly scrutinising application received as the first two received had been fraudulent and picked up and dealt with by Officers.

Other question asked by Non-Cabinet Members were around Test and Trace as it was understood that this would become a Local Authority responsibility.  Could any update be provided on this in terms of costings as it had been suggested that the company responsible to date had been charging for the service. The Chief Executive confirmed that WSCC would be administering this and that he was awaiting a response back in terms of costings.  It was agreed that once this response had been received, it would be included in the weekly briefings that he and the Leader of the Council provided to Councillors. The Chief executive was asked how much support Arun might need to give and it was agreed that the response to this would be provided in the weekly briefing.

            A further question was asked in relation to Test and Trace and the support to be given to local communities. The question related to local secondary schools where cases had been reported that there were several year groups precluded from going to school.  The concern was that some of these students were out and about in the community when they should be at home isolating.  Did the Council have a plan to support local schools and how was it undertaking tracing these young people and preventing them from being out. The Chairman responded stating that this was a WSCC function as the Local Education Authority. The Chief Executive added to this stating that he had been in discussion with WSCC, from an enforcement perspective.  The £75k grant paid to the Council was to be used to assist with enforcement and the 75k would be used for environmental health teams to be going out and working in the community.  In terms of the issues raised about young people, part of the enforcement work would cover this type of enforcement.

            Following some discussion, the Cabinet

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)          The actions taken to date be noted; and

(2)          It be noted that following the discussion at Cabinet on 21 September 2020 in relation to the recommendations from the Covid-19 Recovery Working Party held on 8 September 2020, the Chief Executive will present a report to Cabinet on 16 November 2020 which will prioritise the recommendations and identify any costs.

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/024/191020, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.