Issue - meetings

The Chief Executive introduced the report and explained that Portfolio Recovery Business Plans had been developed for exiting the first response phase to the pandemic in 2020.

The Recovery Committee had had oversight of the Recovery Business Plans for all five service portfolios during recent meetings.  During each of those meetings the relevant Chief Officers highlighted significant areas of risk.  This report presented progress and updates on those areas of risk for each of the portfolios.

Education and Youth

The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) said it had been a smooth start to the academic year with all schools opening as planned.  Uncertainty around operational changes which may need to be implemented were being managed.  A constructive meeting with Headteachers had been held on the first day of term to enable the local authority to respond to any queries and concerns.

Schools would carefully monitor the health and well-being of their pupils on their return to school, and their academic progress, and support for individuals would be adjusted as needed.  She explained the new guidance on isolation should a child in school test positive for covid, whereby as the national level was 0, children who had been in contact with the child who had tested positive would only need to isolate and get a test if they displayed symptoms; otherwise they could continue to attend school.

Housing and Assets)

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) explained that the rental income continued to be impacted by the pandemic and when furlough and other protections ended, the situation would become worse.  The position would be further compromised when Universal Credit (UC) additional payments were stopped and the implications of the new ‘Breathing Space’ measure were taking into account (60 day hold on all creditor activity).

Homelessness presentations increased as current protections around evictions and furlough ended, and landlords taking measures to commence and follow through on stalled evictions.

Raw material supplies shortages had led to increased costs, programme delays and increased cases of contractual disputes.  The Council continued to identify alternative suppliers or source stock and hold for future use.

Councillor McGuill asked how the Tenant Hardship Grant was promoted amongst private landlords.  The Chief Officer explained it was promoted through the Housing Options Team and through the Private Rented Sector Landlords Forum.  He would look into other ways of promoting the grant.  In response to a comment from Councillor Dunbar on UC, the Chief Officer said the Council was aware of the implications and reports would be submitted to Overview and Scrutiny and Cabinet

Planning, Environment and Economy

The Chief Officer (Planning, Environment and Economy) explained about the resilience of various teams due to unprecedented demand to services during the pandemic.  Business cases were being prepared to recruit into Planning Enforcement, Environmental Health, Drainage and Flood Protection and Town Centre Regeneration.  In Public Protection, resources had been in overwhelming demand.

He provided an update on the Local Development Plan (LDP) Examination in Public (EIP) being temporarily suspended to deal with two  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36