Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Board would be recorded and that the recording would be available to watch on the Council's website.

Councillors McIntyre, Paterson and Sheridan.

Councillor Campbell declared an interest in item 2 of the agenda as she was an employee of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde but not in the Council's area and intimated that she would remain in the meeting during consideration of the item.

Councillor Hughes declared an interest in item 2 of the agenda as she was Chair of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure Limited.  Councillor Hughes indicated that as she had a general dispensation from the Standards Commission which allowed her to take part in and to vote in relation to such matters it was her intention to remain in the meeting during consideration of the item.

Councillor McCartin declared an interest in item 2 of the agenda as she was a member of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure Limited.  Councillor McCartin indicated that as she had a general dispensation from the Standards Commission which allowed her to take part in and to vote in relation to such matters it was her intention to remain in the meeting during consideration of the item.

Councillor Neill Graham (for Councillor John McIntyre); and Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes (for Councillor Jim Paterson)

S Black, Chief Executive; S Quinn, Director of Children's Services; M Crearie, Director of Communities, Housing & Planning Services;  A Russell, Director of Finance & Resources; L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Commissioning, L Mahon, Head of Communications & Marketing and A Morrison, Head of Regeneration (all Chief Executive's); J Trainer, Head of Childcare & Criminal Justice and Chief Social Work Officer (Children's Services); O Reid, Head of Communities & Public Protection and C Dalrymple, Communities & Regulatory Manager (both Communities, Housing & Planning Services); D Gillies, Head of Facilities Management and G Hutton, Head of Amenity Services (both Environment & Infrastructure);  K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance, L Neary, Head of Transformation & OD, M Conaghan, Legal & Democratic Services Manager and L Belshaw and D Low, Democratic Services Managers and G Brooks  (all Finance & Resources); D Leese, Chief Officer and S Strachan, Acting Head of Health & Social Care (Paisley) (both Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership); V Hollows, Chief Executive (Renfrewshire Leisure); and D Mair, Civil Contingencies Manager (Civil Contingencies Service).

Dr De Caestecker, Director of Public Health, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and Divisional Commander Murray and Chief Inspector Fraser, Area Commander, both Police Scotland, were present for part of agenda item 2.

Councillor McGurk, Convener, presided.

Councillor Andy Doig left the meeting during consideration of the following item.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Board held on 4 September 2020.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Council’s current arrangements and response to the ongoing international Coronavirus, COVID19 pandemic.

The report detailed the current position including the numbers of cases and deaths within Renfrewshire and at a UK and international level, including information released on 16 September 2020 by National Records of Scotland; Test and Protect information relating to the numbers of confirmed cases and numbers asked to self-isolate in Council schools and other services; and provided context to the reports observed in the media relating to delays in test results being experienced by Care Homes. 

The report  provided an update on the current policy and guidance position and included information on the latest unemployment data available to the Council and on the Council's and partner services ongoing response arrangements including: revisions to the powers provided for local authorities to control the transmission of Coronavirus;  amendments to the approach to statutory consultation in relation to the relocation of Paisley Grammar; and ongoing plans for the reopening of RLL facilities.  The Director of Children's Services detailed the alternative consultation arrangements which had been put in place in relation to Paisley Grammar School and both he and the Communities & Regulatory Manager outlined test and protect arrangements in place in Renfrewshire schools when Covid-19 cases were identified. 

The report noted that the number of reports of positive COVID-19 cases from tests in Renfrewshire had increased during August and the beginning of September. This trend in numbers of cases reflected the position in the wider Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board Area.  The report referred to the local restrictions which had been imposed on 1 September 2020 by the Scottish Government and which had been extended on 7 September 2020 to include Renfrewshire.  It was noted that test and protect arrangements across Renfrewshire were robust and were acting as anticipated to identify potential cases in response to the increase in positive test results and to minimise onward transmission.  The report intimated that whilst the number of positive cases identified had increased there was some evidence of success in suppressing the impact of the virus since the peak of the pandemic.  No Covid-19 confirmed or suspected death had been recorded in Renfrewshire since week beginning 29 June 2020.

Dr De Caestecker, Director of Public Health, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board attended the meeting and provided an update on infection levels across the Health board area and in Renfrewshire itself; the evidence supporting current additional restrictions in place in Renfrewshire; and their impact to date.  Divisional Commander Murray and  Chief Inspector Fraser also attended the meeting and provided further information on the level of compliance with restrictions in Renfrewshire; the use of additional powers; and on Police Scotland’s ongoing approach and response to the pandemic over the coming weeks. Dr De Caestecker responded to members' questions in relation to identification of cases at a postcode level; test results for staff in care homes; opening of leisure centres; complex cases, and NHS dental treatment.  Divisional Commander Murray and Chief Inspector Fraser responded to members questions in relation to engagement and the circumstances under which enforcement action was appropriate.   The Convener thanked Dr De Caestecker, Divisional Commander Murray and Chief Inspector Fraser for their attendance at the meeting.

The report referred to new regulations that had been enacted providing additional powers to Council-authorised officers to take steps to prevent and control the spread of infection by Coronavirus through premises, public open spaces or events. The report sought authority to authorise Environmental Health Officers and Trading Standards Officers and their managers as relevant persons, to ensure that they continued to have the required authority to take relevant action under current legislation. 

It was proposed that members be provided with information in relation to the security arrangements in place at the depot at Underwood Road, Paisley.  This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That the current national and local situation with regard to COVID-19 and the impact on communities, businesses, the Council and its partners be noted;

(b) That the response and recovery measures being put in place by the Council and partners as set out in the report be noted;

(c) That it be noted that the Council Scheme of delegated authority was used to authorise Environmental Health Officers and Trading Standards Officers under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Directions by Local Authorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as made under the Coronavirus Act 2020;

(d) That the update to legislation including the introduction of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 which came into force on 14 September 2020 and which replaced the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 be noted;

(e) That it be agreed that with immediate effect the Council’s Environmental Health Officers and Trading Standards Officers and their managers be designated as relevant persons under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Directions by Local Authorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, as made under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and that they be authorised to undertake the powers available to relevant persons on the Council’s behalf; 

(f) That arrangements that were required to be  put in place to support participation in the statutory consultation on the Relocation of Paisley Grammar School to a New Build Community campus at Renfrew Road Paisley as set out in paragraphs 5.7 to 5.15 of the report,  as a result of  the recently enhanced restrictions on public gatherings be noted; and

(g) That members be provided with information in relation to the security arrangements in place at the depot at Underwood Road, Paisley.

It was noted that there were no items for decision by the Board.

The Board resolved to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present, there could be disclosure to them of confidential information.

The Chief Executive provided a confidential update to members.

DECIDED: That the update be noted.