Agenda item
Emergency Planning Response to Covid-19
To receive a report from the Chief Executive informing Members of the work that has been undertaken since Emergency planning and GOLD arrangements were established across the Council as a result of the pandemic flu virus Covid-19.
Decision:
AGREED to note the actions taken since the emergency planning and GOLD arrangements were established across the Council as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and level of assurance provided in relation to the associated governance and decision making arrangements.
Minutes:
Councillor Muhammed Butt (Leader of the Council) introduced the report from the Assistant Chief Executive outlining the work that had been undertaken since emergency planning and GOLD arrangements were established across the Council as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In introducing the report, Councillor Muhammed Butt highlighted the work undertaken to ensure members had been kept updated on the various actions and work being undertaken, with many of these actions still ongoing.
The Mayor then opened the debate, inviting other members to speak on the report.
Councillor McLennan opened the debate by praising and thanking all council staff and the wider community for the response provided and in coming together to co-ordinate efforts. It was noted that the Council had shut the Civic Centre on 23 March and enacted its emergency planning arrangements in order to support local communities across the borough in responding to the pandemic.
Councillor Shahzad then spoke to highlight (as referenced within the report) that Brent had suffered with one of the highest Covid-19 death rates of all local authorities with some of the worst affected areas being Alperton, Church End and Barnhill. Public Health England had cited poverty and lack of opportunities as significant factors and he expressed concern at the impact which the proposed closure of medical facilities within the borough, including at Central Middlesex Hospital would have in this respect and at a time when they were most needed. In congratulating the Leader and Chief Executive for the Council’s response, he welcomed the update provided and expressed thanks to local communities and all staff across the Council who had worked so hard in delivering the support required.
Councillor Southwood, whilst recognising the extent of the national and global tragedy created by the pandemic felt it was also important to highlight the unique opportunity that it had given the Council to make a concerted effort to safeguard rough sleepers. In Brent, this had led to 250 rough sleepers or those classified as homeless being accommodated with thanks expressed to everyone involved in that response. Concern was, however, expressed that while central government had initially encouraged local authorities to do whatever it took to respond to the pandemic and provide safe and secure accommodation to protect residents, they were now (as the lockdown was eased) also being expected to share the financial burden for this. Highlighting the challenges this created for the Council going forward, members were assured that officers were working hard to continue assisting those provided with temporary accommodation and those who had no recourse to public funds.
Councillor Kabir also took the opportunity to thank all officers for their outstanding work in responding to the pandemic and as a result expressed her pride at being a councillor in Brent. The Council was already working to engage with residents and seek their views on the response to and impact of the pandemic, which she was supporting in her ward and beyond. In looking forward, the suggestion was made that an analysis regarding the impact of the pandemic on individual departments might be useful in assisting members to feed in their experience and assist in planning ahead as part of the post-pandemic recovery process within Brent.
Councillor Sangani also thanked the officers, as well as those in the community, who had worked so hard to protect Brent residents during the pandemic. Having witnessed the response provided, she again expressed her pride at being a councillor in Brent and commended all those who had stepped forward to support their local community response.
Councillor Azfal in supporting the sentiments expressed regarding the support provided for local communities, also took the opportunity to highlight, as specific examples the role played by the Council in the provision of PPE and support being provided to care homes and local businesses across the borough. It was noted that some of the poorest areas, including many BAME communities had been hardest hit by the pandemic. Given the longer-term nature of the issues identified, Councillor Afzal remained keen to ensure that work continued to address these issues whilst also recognising the efforts made to respond to the crisis.
Councillor Dar then spoke to thank the Chief Executive and all council staff for their efforts in caring for so many vulnerable members of the community during the lockdown. He also took the opportunity to highlight the efforts of all the mutual aid volunteers who had worked so hard to support the response in their local areas and was keen to ensure their contributions were formally recognised.
Councillor Choudhary in supporting the comments made also took the opportunity to thank all staff for their efforts and for the dignity and humanity displayed in caring for some of the most vulnerable in society during the pandemic, often at risk to themselves.
Councillor Tatler also expressed her appreciation to the officers who had often gone above and beyond their normal responsibilities and roles to deliver the emergency response and support those affected by the pandemic. Particular thanks were expressed to the Emergency Planning team for ensuring the response was provide so quickly and efficiently.
Councillor Kennelly also took the opportunity to thank all staff and key workers for their contributions (often at high risk) in delivering the response and caring for the most vulnerable and again expressed his pride at being a councillor in Brent.
Councillor Denselow then spoke to commend how quickly the Council had responded to the pandemic especially in relation to the provision of PPE. He also highlighted the need to ensure that the issues identified in relation to the reasons contributing to the high Covid-19 death rate within the borough were fully considered and addressed, especially in relation to poverty.
On a separate note, Councillor Long then spoke to highlight the importance of communication methods, especially for those that were digitally excluded. She commended the Council for being one of the first boroughs to deliver Covid-19 information leaflets to residents, which she felt had been important for those not able to access digital content. She remained keen to ensure that the Council continued to encourage the use of leaflets and magazines as a means of informing the public whilst also targeting efforts to ensure as many residents as possible signed up to the relevant Council email alerts.
Councillor Krupa Sheth then spoke to also thank staff, especially those involved in the provision of the temporary mortuary at Marsh Road, Alperton and who had been involved in organising food deliveries and establishing and delivering safe practices in order to enable refuse collections to continue during the lockdown.
Councillor Ahmed also took the opportunity, on behalf of residents in his ward, to highlight his support for the comments and tributes paid to staff and also to the mutual aid volunteers for what he felt had been their significant role in the response.
Councillor Kansagra, speaking on behalf of the Conservative Group, also extended his thanks to the Chief Executive and council staff, as well as all volunteers and those working in care homes for their efforts in responding to the pandemic whilst also maintaining service levels. As with previous comments, he was also concerned at the high death rates experienced across BAME communities in Brent related to Covid-19 and supported the need for further research into the reasons for this in order to ensure the issues were addressed moving forward.
Councillor Agha also took the opportunity to pay tribute to council staff, especially those who had worked so tirelessly to keep schools open for the children of key workers and to establish appropriate risk management and infection control measures.
Councillor Dixon also extended her thanks to all staff involved in delivery of the emergency response and also highlighted how useful the member briefings and leaflets produced had been. Looking forward, she hoped the Council would be able to build on the experience and spirit of co-operation gained from local communities to continue providing the necessary support to residents across the borough as the lockdown measures were eased.
As a final contribution to the debate, Councillor Hirani also took the opportunity to thank the Chief Executive and council staff, especially those within the Public Health team for the support provided, especially in relation to schools and care homes. He also reminded members that as the lockdown measures were eased there would still be a need to maintain vigilance and the necessary social distancing measures in order to avoid any second wave of the virus and the extension of any emergency decision making powers. Whilst there would be a gradual return to more normal ways of working this would, he highlighted, still require a significant period of transition and adjustment to a new ways of working.
As no other members indicated they wished to speak Councillor Muhammed Butt, in exercising his right of reply thanked all members for their contributions and commended both all councillors and officers for their dedication and work undertaken to support their local residents and communities so well during the pandemic. Highlighting the need to learn from the experience as the Council moved forward towards its recovery phase, he outlined the focus on the following themes in terms of how the Council would need to consider which elements of the services provided they would wish to retain, restore, reinvent or remove. The development of these themes would be subject to ongoing discussions, with the next agenda item due to focus on the costs and risks involved in funding the response and recovery process as it moved forward. He ended by assuring members and staff that as the Council moved towards reopening the Civic Centre and other Council facilities, significant work had been undertaken to ensure these were operated in a Covid safe environment and thanked staff within Property for their efforts in ensuring the necessary measures had been put in place.
Having thanked Councillor Butt for his closing remarks, the Mayor then put the recommendations to the vote and they were declared CARRIED.
It was therefore unanimously RESOLVED that the Council note the actions taken since the emergency planning and GOLD arrangements were established across the Council as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and level of assurance provided in relation to the associated governance and decision making arrangements.
Supporting documents:
- 15. Emergency Planning Response to COVID-19, item 16. PDF 192 KB
- 15a. Appendix 1 - Schedule of service changes, item 16. PDF 86 KB
- 15b. Appendix 2- Schedule of Service Changes and decisions (June 2020), item 16. PDF 56 KB
- 15c. Appendix 3- List of Decision taken under the Chief Executives delegated emergency decision making powers, item 16. PDF 57 KB