Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive providing an update on the actions of the Leeds Health and Social Care system and Leeds City Council, working with broader partners, in response to and facilitating the recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

(Report to follow)

Further to Minute No. 40, 24th September 2020, the Chief Executive submitted a report which provided an update on the continued Coronavirus (COVID-19) work being undertaken across the city including the recovery approach, outbreak management, and current issues and risks. The report also noted that the city’s multi-agency command and control arrangements continued to be used alongside the Response and Recovery plan with the aim of mitigating the effects of the outbreak on those in the city, especially the most vulnerable, and to help prepare for the longer term stages of recovery planning.

With the agreement of the Chair, the submitted report had been circulated to

Board Members as a late item of business prior to the meeting for the reasons as set out in section 9 of the submitted report, and as detailed in Minute No. 50.

Members were provided with an update on the latest developments from both a local and national perspective. This included the current position regarding discussions with Government in respect to Leeds and the discussions taking place with other Local Authorities; Leeds’ Tier 2 (High Risk Alert) status; the latest infection and positivity rates in the city; the liaison taking place with partner organisations and the range of sectors across Leeds; with it being noted that Members and relevant parties would continue to be kept informed of any related developments.

Members then discussed a range of issues including:

·  the extent to which localised Government restrictions were helping to reduce infection rates in communities;

·  the representations which were being made to Government regarding the relevant knowledge and expertise within communities and the need for a more localised approach towards initiatives such as test and trace;

·  the need for a unified approach when making representations to Government, and the importance of continuing to work with partners across all sectors;

·  the initiatives that the Council could potentially consider to help support the business sector, with a suggestion being made regarding city centre car parking charges;

·  the need for further clarity to be sought around the thresholds which triggered localised restrictions in a locality or region, the overall need for clear messaging and the support which needed to be provided to members of the community in order to keep them informed and help them abide by any restrictions;

·  clarification was provided regarding the process by which formal discussions on such matters took place between the Local Authority and Government, and Members received further detail on the latest position regarding such discussions with Government and also with other Local Authorities.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the updated context, progress and issues, as detailed within the submitted report, as we move into a period of increased national Government restrictions to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is anticipated to last for at least six months, combined with the outcome of discussions about the new Covid-19 Alert system which could bring further government restrictions, be noted;

(b)  That the emerging issues for consideration during the next phase of response and recovery, as detailed in the submitted report, including winter pressures on the health and care system, flood risk and extreme weather, local government finance and capacity concerns and EU Exit, be noted; 

(c)  That the need for a city-wide approach towards controlling transmission, given high rates of prevalence across all the city’s Wards, be recognised, alongside the need for enhanced actions and engagement in those areas with the highest rates;

(d)  That the new responsibilities of Local Authorities to implement self-isolation support payments and new powers of the Police to enforce Covid-19 regulations, be noted;

(e)  That in respect of the financial implications for the Council arising from the Coronavirus pandemic, the contents of the submitted report be used as context when the Board considers the more detailed financial health monitoring report, as detailed at Minute No. 67, and the Leeds Economic Recovery Framework report, as detailed at Minute No. 65.