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. 144, 17th March 2021, the Chief Executive submitted a report which provided an update on the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Plan, as well as the Local Outbreak Management Plan, which in the last month had included: the safe reopening of businesses; continued work and proactive communications with communities and services in line with the national recovery roadmap; the vaccination rollout and the tackling of health  inequalities in this area; outbreak management work, including testing, tracing and support to self-isolate; and further action in the areas of compliance and enforcement.

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 11.12 of the submitted report, and as detailed in Minute No. 150.

By way of introduction to the report, it was highlighted that 1,608 people had died in the city as a result of Coronavirus to date. On behalf of the Council, the Leader extended his sympathies to the families and loved ones of all those who had lost their lives. 

The Leader also noted that over the past week, the infection rate in Leeds had reduced by 32%, which was below the Yorkshire and Humber average.

Responding to a Member’s enquiries, the Director of City Development undertook to provide further detail to relevant Executive Members regarding the grant which had been received from Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund, in terms of what the funding was intended to be used for and on which sites.

Also, further detail was provided regarding the ongoing citywide ‘conversation’ on the future use of city and local centres and how they will be used in the longer term as we continue to move through the pandemic, with the Director offering to provide the Member in question with a briefing on this matter, if required.

Regarding a Member’s enquiry on the current position relating to the backlogs for treatment in hospital settings, the Director of Public Health undertook to make enquiries on such matters and provide further detail to the Member in question.

Also, regarding the provision of grants for businesses which were administered by the Council, responding to an enquiry, the Board received an update on the current position regarding the allocation and distribution of grants, together with details on the actions being taken to deliver such funding as efficiently as possible, and working to the Government’s deadline of end of June 2021, with the Member in question being offered a separate briefing on such matters.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Response and Recovery Plan, as appended at Annex A to the submitted report, together with the full range of activity taking place to prepare for the safe reopening of services and the economy in the coming months, be noted, with the focus on planning for the year ahead also being noted;

(b)  That the current position with regard to the four measures in the Roadmap, be noted, and that the continued need for everyone to play their part while restrictions remain in place, be recognised and emphasised;

(c)  That the refreshed Local Outbreak Management Plan, as detailed at Annex C to the submitted report, be agreed, and that the continued proactive approach being taken towards all aspects of the plan, including vaccinations, testing, tracing, support to self-isolate, support to businesses, communications, compliance and enforcement, be noted;

(d)  That in respect of the financial implications for the Council arising from the Coronavirus pandemic, the content of the submitted report be used as context when the Board considers the more detailed finance based report as referenced at Minute No. 158;

(e)  That in respect of the issue of addressing health inequalities in relation to the uptake of the Covid-19 vaccination across all communities in Leeds, the content of the submitted report be used as context when the Board considers the more detailed report on such matters as referenced at Minute No. 153.