Issue - meetings

The Chair indicated at the outset of the item that the Committee would receive an update on the response to COVID-19 at its next meeting.

The Senior Specialist Public Health gave a presentation on the current COVID-19 situation and the Council’s response, beginning with an update on local cases.  She advised that the COVID-19 infection rate in Surrey was falling rapidly but remained high and higher than the rates for England and for the South East.  The meeting was informed that for the week ending 25 February the rate for Surrey was 521.7 per 100,000, the national rate was 374.5 per 100,000, and the South East rate was 491.5 per 100,000.  The Senior Specialist Public Health stated that Guildford’s rate was currently 453.6 per 100,000, while England’s rate was 303.7 per 100,000.  The presentation provided to the meeting indicated that as at 25 February there were 293 registered COVID-related deaths in Guildford. 

The Senior Specialist Public Health advised that vaccination rates in Guildford were in line with the average across Surrey and higher than the average rate for England.  The meeting was informed of efforts to increase vaccinations locally and changes to the distribution of lateral flow tests, including the door-to-door supply of test kits in Ash and in Stoke.

The meeting was advised of the four key principles of the government’s Living with COVID plan: removing any domestic restrictions; protecting the most vulnerable through targeted vaccination and testing; maintaining resilience, through ongoing surveillance and contingency planning; and securing innovations and opportunities from the COVID-19 response.  The meeting was advised of a return to the office for Council staff in line with the Council’s agile working policy and the return of services such as intergenerational activities in Community Services. 

In response to a question, the Senior Specialist Public Health advised that the ability to scale back up the response to COVID-19 would be maintained.  The Regulatory Services Manager indicated that councils would manage outbreaks under the Living with COVID plan.

In reply to questions from Committee members, the Senior Specialist Public Health confirmed that the vaccination rates for Guildford were the average for Surrey.  She advised the meeting of possible popup vaccination sites, including a nightclub in Guildford town centre, and undertook to continue providing information updates to Councillors.

The Chair thanked the officers for attending.

The Leader of the Council introduced the item before the Director of Service Delivery gave a presentation on the current COVID-19 situation and the Council’s response, beginning with an update on local cases.

The Director of Service Delivery advised the meeting that the COVID-19 infection rate in Surrey for the week ending 14 January was 858.9 per 100,000, lower than the national rate of 972.9 per 100,000.  The meeting was informed that the South East rate was 865.7 per 100,000, while Guildford’s rate was 741.6 per 100,000.  The Director of Service Delivery added that Guildford’s rate had recently decreased to 738.9 per 100,000.  The Director of Service Delivery advised that in the previous week there had been 10,306 new cases in Surrey, of which 1,115 were in Guildford. The meeting was informed that as at 16 January there were 3,150 registered COVID-related deaths in Surrey, with 274 in Guildford. 

The Director of Service Delivery updated the Committee on two key COVID-19 issues: vaccination and testing; and track and trace.  The meeting was advised that although the infection rate in Guildford was falling, the most recent rate in Guildford of 741.6 per 100,000 compared with 315.9 per 100,000 when the Committee last met in November 2021.  The Director of Service Delivery confirmed that cases were associated mainly with schools and leisure and health facilities.

The Director of Service Delivery indicated that vaccination rates for Guildford were higher than for England and in line with the rates for Surrey and the South East. The Committee was advised that third vaccination levels for Guildford were 62 per cent, compared with a rate for England of 55 per cent.  The Director of Service Delivery indicated that the Council continued to support testing in the Borough through regular mobile testing units at Sutherland Memorial Park and lateral flow testing being arranged for upcoming Thursdays on the Rotunda.

In response to a question from a Committee member about the impact of Covid on Council staff, the Director for Service Delivery stated that since November 2021 there had been 45 cases of Covid among staff.  He indicated that many staff isolating due to Covid had continued to work from home. 

The Chair thanked the Director for Service Delivery and the Senior Specialist Public Health for attending.

RESOLVED: That the Committee continue to receive updates on the response to COVID-19.

The Leader of the Council introduced the item.  She indicated the importance of remaining attentive and the continuing communication of key messages during the current phase of the pandemic.  The Leader of the Council advised that the Council was not involved in the COVID-19 local test sites.  In addition, she indicated that a rethink of the Council’s priorities would be required in light of the impact of COVID-19 on the organisation’s finances and the Borough’s residents. 

The Managing Director gave a presentation updating the meeting on the Council’s response to COVID-19.  The Committee was advised of activities between April and July 2020, including food parcel deliveries, community helpline calls to vulnerable residents, meals on wheels, and prescription deliveries. 

The Managing Director advised the meeting of the new rules on public gatherings and undertook to circulate details to Committee members.

The Managing Director stated that in Surrey the COVID-19 infection rate had increased to 16.1 per 100,000 and in Guildford the rate had increased to 10.7 per 100,000.  He indicated that there had been 1,339 COVID-19 related deaths registered in Surrey as at 10 September 2020, of which 96 were in Guildford.  He advised the meeting of the new rules on public gatherings, the local COVID-19 testing arrangements, and the Surrey Local Outbreak Control Plan.  In addition, the Managing Director indicated that the HIVE project had been re-opened to assist those in need of clothing and household goods. 

The Managing Director indicated that service demand at the Council’s offices was low and he suggested that the reception area would likely not re-open until the coronavirus alert level moved to 2.  He stated that the current alert level was 3, showing the virus was in general circulation. 

The Committee was informed that COVID-19 would affect Council income beyond the current financial year.  The Managing Director confirmed that the Council would be submitting a claim under the local government income compensation scheme for lost sales, fees and charges.

The Chairman thanked the Managing Director for his presentation and invited questions from Committee members.

In reply to a question, the Director of Resources advised the Committee of the timescale for submission and payment of claims made through the local government income compensation scheme for lost sales, fees and charges.

In response to a question, the Managing Director undertook to provide Councillors with written details of the Council’s administration of Surrey Count Council grants for the voluntary sector for people in need of food during the winter or second wave of COVID-19.

In answer to a question, the Corporate Public Health Co-ordinator advised that there were plans to improve the COVID-19 testing capability and that local availability should increase within two weeks.  In relation to a question about the robustness of the infection rate given the difficulties of obtaining tests, the Corporate Public Health Co-ordinator indicated her confidence that people in Surrey with symptoms were able to get tested.

In reply to a Committee member’s question, the Managing Director assured the Committee that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17