Minutes:
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 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 Council staff had correct PPE.