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There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Council’s current arrangements and response to the ongoing international Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic. The report provided an update on the numbers of cases and deaths at both Scottish and UK levels and noted the publication of figures and analysis from the National Records of Scotland which highlighted the number of deaths that were happening within Care Homes – currently around 25% of all COVID-19 related deaths recorded.
The report provided details of confirmed cases of COVID-19 (figures from the report to the Board on 9 April 2020 in brackets). It was noted that when the report had been prepared there were 103,093 (55,242) confirmed cases of COVID – 19 in hospitals; there had been 13,729 (6159) deaths in hospital across the UK. In Scotland there were now 7102 (4565) confirmed hospital cases and 779 (336) deaths. Of these, 1742 (1166) cases were within the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area. The report highlighted the support being provided to communities; the numbers and types of support provided to the most vulnerable “shielded” group of residents; and the establishment of a national helpline to allow other vulnerable residents to access support where they might not have access to families or existing community support. Information was also provided on the arrangements in place to ensure that the procedures and safeguards to protect vulnerable adults and children remained strong and that oversight of these arrangements was maintained throughout the period of the pandemic.
The report also outlined the support being provided to local businesses, including the number of small business grants already distributed and around £220 million of additional support that had been announced recently and which would be available for businesses and the self-employed from the end of April 2020.
The report detailed the key operational changes that had been made by the Council and its key partners to respond to the pandemic and provided an update on the current position in relation to availability of personal protective equipment (PPE); guidance being followed in terms of its use, and the procedures in place to secure supplies at a time when the supply chain for PPE was under significant pressure. The report also referred to the temporary suspension of the Council Change programme and the development of a temporary redeployment process to allow employees to be focused on supporting and delivering priority and critical services. The current position in relation to the impact of shielding procedures and absence on the availability of employees was also outlined.
The report provided an update on service changes in relation to the Health and Social Care Partnership, Children’s Services and Communities Housing and Planning Services.
The Chief Executive provided an update in relation to the further three-week national lock-down that had been announced by the government on 16 April 2020, intimated that there would be no relaxation on movement and referred to the Council's current arrangements in relation to critical and essential services and home working. The Board then heard from the Acting Head of Health & Social Care (Paisley) in relation to the arrangements in place for care homes, both Council and other providers, the measures put in place to support residents and staff; and in relation to the availability of PPE; from the Chief Social Work Officer in relation to arrangements to ensure adult and child protection during the pandemic; from the Head of Policy & Commissioning in relation to support for shielded and vulnerable residents; from the Director of Finance & Resources in relation to the grant supports and reliefs for local businesses; and from the Director of Environment & Infrastructure on the continued closure of amenity sites Scotland-wide in terms of national guidance.
Officers then responded to members' questions.
It was proposed (a) that members be provided with information in relation to the definition of 'front line' workers and (b) that information on the Council's financial position arising from the pandemic, be submitted to the next meeting. This was agreed.
DECIDED:
(a) That the current national and local situation with regards to COVID-19 and the impact on communities, businesses and the Council and its partners be noted;
(b) That the response measures being put in place by the Council and partners as set out in the report be noted;
(c) That members be provided with information in relation to the definition of 'front line' workers; and
(d) That information on the Council's financial position arising from the pandemic be submitted to the next meeting.