Agenda item

To consider the Scrutiny evidence compiled to date in relation to the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 201 to 234, which provided an update on the Overview and Scrutiny Committees’ review of the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report stated that, at its meeting on 24 June 2020, the Committee had considered a report on the Council’s initial response to the pandemic. The Committee asked each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees to look at key themes relating to the Council’s response and to report back on their findings. The key themes were:

·           Care homes;

·           Effectiveness of health partnerships;

·           Schools and Children’s Services;

·           Impact on mental health;

·           Finance and business;

·           Community response;

·           Community safety/localities;

·           Communication and engagement;

·           Recovery;

·           Test and Trace;

·           Poverty – impact on the poorest, the unemployed and the homeless;

·           Maintaining democracy.

Appended to the report were copies of minutes and briefings from the Overview and Scrutiny Committees which provided evidence of the issues considered and the findings to date.

In the ensuing discussion Members raised the following points:

In relation to the transmission of the virus between young people (18 to 35) and the over-60s, what could the Council do to increase awareness and support appropriate behaviours? Meradin Peachy commented that work was ongoing to understand the perspective of young people and any factors which prevented adherence to the guidelines. This was especially important for young people in the care system. A lot of work had been done in relation to vulnerable children in local schools. Another issue was the risks relating to university students, especially those who worked in or visited care homes. This should be factored in to the risk assessments carried out by care homes.

The Chairman confirmed that the intention was to bring the findings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees together in a report to the Executive. A draft of the report would be submitted to the meeting of the Committee on 25 November 2020 for consideration.

RESOLVED That:

1)     the progress reported by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in scrutinising the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic be noted;

2)     the Committee consider a draft report on the Scrutiny review of the Council’s response to the pandemic at its meeting on 25 November 2020;

3)     the Committee recommend to the Executive that local care homes be advised to review risk assessments and ensure appropriate social distancing for young people who work in or visit their homes;

4)     the Committee’s report to the Executive highlight the importance of supporting all aspects of WBC staff welfare as the Council enters into the next phase of the pandemic;

5)     the Committee’s report to the Executive highlight the relative sparsity of data on domestic violence and abuse and emphasise the need for explicit recognition and action;

6)     the Chairman write to the Chief Executive to request that Council staff be thanked for their outstanding efforts in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside the outstanding work of community volunteers;

7)     Members receive an updated Council organogram setting out the roles of Officers (down to 3^rd tier), including any changes relating to the pandemic.