Minutes:
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Panel gave an update to Cabinet regarding the work undertaken at the latest meeting of the Panel.
Leader of the Council
The Leader took the opportunity to speak to the Cabinet in relation to the third national lockdown and its impact on Ashfield and the wider area. The data for positive Covid-19 tests was still showing a rise, particularly in the city of Nottingham and for Ashfield, 7,321 positive tests had been registered since the start of the third lockdown which remained the highest for all Nottinghamshire areas.
In relation to the vaccination programme, all letters had now been sent out to the over 80s and cohort 2 was commencing for people between the ages of 75 to 80. Ashfield Independent Members were currently undertaking a series of health and wellbeing calls to residents and had been assisting many to enable them to attend their first vaccine appointments.
Cabinet were advised that due to fierce lobbying by local Hucknall Members, the Clinical Commissioning Group were now addressing the lack of a vaccination centre in Hucknall with options being considered next week as to possible locations for the centre.
Finally, the Council’s Revenues and Benefits Team were acknowledged and commended for their continuous delivery of grants to businesses in a fast and efficient manner.
Covid-19 Response and Recovery Scrutiny Panel Meeting –
10 December 2020
The Vice Chairman gave an overview of the discussions from the last meeting including the question and answer session with Police Inspector Mark Dickson. Police operational priorities had changed frequently over the course of the pandemic dealing with increases in incidences of domestic violence and anti-social behaviour (ASB) as well as the education and enforcement of social distancing guidelines as required.
However due to concentrated areas of ASB including Papplewick Green at Hucknall and areas in Sutton, Kirkby, Jacksdale and Underwood, Inspector Dickson had initiated additional Police patrols to address the problems beings experienced. Inspector Dickson was now also meeting with Ward Members over the 4 Ashfield areas to consider issues as and when they arose.
The Panel had also spoken about and acknowledged the effective working of the Integrated Partnership Hub at the Council offices and thanked Inspector Dickson for his contribution and commitment towards this effective working partnership.
Panel Members has also had the opportunity to meet the Council’s Business Support Officer and acknowledge the excellent work he and his team of Covid Information Officers were undertaking to meet and support local traders and businesses through the pandemic.
Covid-19 Response and Recovery Scrutiny Panel Chairman
The Chairman reminded Members of the County Council’s contact number (0300 500 8080) for all Covid enquiries.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman had endeavoured to keep all Members in the picture regarding the latest Covid information and statistics and had circulated regular update emails accordingly. Katherine Green and her Communications Team had also circulated an excellent Covid question and answer briefing paper to Members to keep them abreast of the ever changing and often confusing, situation.
Browsing the Gov.uk website had revealed a method of collating information in the form of ‘super output areas’ and interesting and useful data could be gleaned from these area statistics. Asymptomatic Covid-19 testing in Mansfield was due to be launched at 2 sites imminently and it was hoped that a similar programme could be launched in Sutton in the near future.
To conclude, the Chairman gave special thanks to the Communications Team, Scrutiny and Democratic Services and the Housing and Homelessness Team for continuing to provide an efficient and effective service despite the ongoing difficulties arising from the pandemic and ongoing lockdowns.