Agenda item

Purpose: To provide the framework for the Council’s overarching recovery in respect of Covid-19 and its impact on the district. The Recovery Strategy intends to highlight the key areas of focus for the Council and highlights where action has been taken to date and areas that will be explored further once considered with partners and the community.

Resolved that the West Berkshire Recovery Strategy be approved.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 24 July 2020, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered the report (Agenda Item 9) which provided the framework for the Council’s overarching recovery in respect of Covid-19 and its impact on the district. The Recovery Strategy highlighted the key areas of focus for the Council, and set out actions that had already been taken and areas that would be explored further once considered with partners and the community.

Councillor Lynne Doherty introduced the report. It was recognised that the vast majority of West Berkshire residents had been either directly or indirectly impacted by Covid-19.

The impacts that had been and continued to felt had been regularly discussed and included health, impacts on businesses and employment opportunities, inequality impacts on particular groups, and on children and young people.

The Recovery Strategy outlined areas of focus and actions to be taken to support residents.

By way of context, Councillor Doherty explained that there was a focus on recovery at both national and regional levels. The West Berkshire Recovery Strategy therefore had a clear local focus on actions to be taken in West Berkshire to meet the District’s needs.

The response to Covid-19 continued alongside recovery and therefore the impacts were not fully known. Evidence continued to be gathered from the response to help inform the recovery and identify where support was needed. Despite this, the Council wanted to get the Recovery Strategy in place as soon as possible.

It was however acknowledged that the Strategy’s Action Plan was not completed. It would need to be developed via further partner engagement and with the involvement of communities. It was important to have this external engagement. Next steps were also listed in paragraph 7.2 of the Recovery Strategy.

Three core areas were identified for initial focus: health, education and the economy. All of which were fundamental in making West Berkshire a great place in which to live.

Core principles had been agreed as part of these areas to help guide recovery work. The principles included recognition of the fact that pre-Covid, there were a range of good outcomes already being achieved in West Berkshire and it was the intention to return to that position. It was also the case that the positive changes made during the response to Covid would be kept and built upon.

Councillor Graham Bridgman took the opportunity to congratulate all those involved in the response to Covid-19 and recovery work. In particular, he praised the work of the Community Support Hub which he felt to be a fantastic success. The involvement of volunteers had been a strong element of work to date and the help of volunteers would continue to be needed for the ongoing recovery work. He congratulated and thanked voluntary organisations for their work. Finally, Councillor Bridgman thanked West Berkshire Council staff for their significant efforts towards the response and recovery work, and their efforts to continue conducting business as usual.

Councillor Adrian Abbs referred to the requirement to wear masks in shops and offices. He queried whether the Council would make masks/other equipment available to residents where there was a need to help with the recovery process.

Councillor Doherty stated that the Council had followed Government and Public Health England guidance throughout this process and would continue to do so. The requirement to wear masks in shops from 24 July 2020 was being promoted by the Council and residents would be encouraged to adhere to that.

Turning to the provision of and access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the Council had worked very closely with Greenham Trust on PPE. The Trust in turn had been working with charities across the area to ensure equipment and support was available when needed.

Councillor Lee Dillon agreed with the three strategic objectives that had been highlighted. The Strategy gave a detailed narrative of events to date, but he felt it needed to be expanded to become a Strategy on which to move forward. Key would be the detail provided in delivery plans and these would need to be shared for comment.

It was important to consider what the Council could do to support businesses/the economy, including ways to build up confidence among residents to help the hospitality sector.

Councillor Doherty made clear the Council’s aim to be proactive and explained that many actions had already been taken. An example within education was to help disadvantaged young people gain access to laptops.

She reiterated that delivery plans were not completed and would need to be progressed with partner input. It was important to ensure, in liaison with residents and partners, that any initiatives to be introduced would be welcomed by communities, sustainable and in line with local need.

Councillor Doherty specifically highlighted a very positive economic development session held with the Economic Development Company. Approximately 110 businesses participated in this which gave them the opportunity to outline the issues they faced and the support they needed.

Councillor Carolyne Culver added her congratulations to community volunteers, Council officers and those involved with the Hub.

Councillor Culver referred to the recent community survey and raised the need to ensure that all those relevant could respond. She acknowledged the complexities in achieving this but advised that some local co-ordinators had been missed. Councillor Culver would forward their contact details to the Hub.

She had already fed back to officers the concern that the Covid information leaflet had not reached all West Berkshire residents, with some streets missing from the circulation. She felt this was an area where Ward Members could assist by involving volunteers in future deliveries. Councillor Doherty was aware from feedback received that improvements were needed in this area. Therefore it was the intention for Royal Mail to make future deliveries with information to be circulated in relation to local outbreak plans.

Councillor Culver then queried whether 8 Bells Community Strength would be involved in recovery work. The group did much good work with isolated individuals and could usefully link with the Hub. Councillor Doherty was aware that 8 Bells was represented on the Health and Wellbeing Board through the voluntary sector and so they would be engaged with the Hub.

Councillor Culver’s final question was whether the full pedestrianisation of Northbrook Street would continue. Councillor Doherty advised that this point was discussed at the Economic Development Board held earlier that day and was an area to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. An analysis would be conducted at an appropriate stage before a decision was made.

Councillor Alan Macro highlighted the reference made in the Strategy to a potential regional testing centre in either West Berkshire or Reading. It was confirmed that a regional centre had been established at Newbury Showground. However, Councillor Macro highlighted the concern that this location could not be accessed by public transport and queried if an additional location could be found as it was important to ensure that residents with symptoms could be tested and tested quickly.

Councillor Doherty explained that the Showground operated on a drive through basis only. However, there were also mobile testing units, largely located in urban areas, as well as a testing facility at the Community Hospital. Residents would be kept informed on access to testing sites.

Councillor Richard Somner made the point that people with symptoms of Covid should not be utilising public transport. Councillor Doherty added that home testing kits were available for residents unable to access a testing facility.

RESOLVED that the Recovery Strategy be approved.

Reason for the decision: To set out a response to the recent Covid pandemic

Other options considered:

The Council could have waited to produce a recovery strategy. This would have the advantage of having much cleaner and clearer data on which to base decisions; however, this has been discounted as the Council has a fundamental role in the place of West Berkshire to ensure an effective recovery for the quality of life of our residents.

Different themes and emphasis could be placed on the key areas within the strategy. These will be open to debate, but the eight areas provided have been considered through internal consultation across the Council as well as key themes from the LRF.