Cabinet Members provided an update on Covid 19 related issues as follows:

Councillor Pete Smith, Deputy Leader, highlighted the following:

·         Plans were underway to start reopening the outdoor pools at Tinside and Mount Wise, this would take a lot of preparation to get them ready for the public to use and would involve having to put in a number of additional safety measures, so the 48 hours’ notice from the Government was simply an inadequate time to prepare. Further to this we would be asking the government to give adequate funding to open our Public Leisure Facilities. Due to the pandemic and the requirements of social distancing our provider was facing a massive loss of income and increased costs.

Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety highlighted the following:

·         Despite the lower levels of Covid 19 across the country there was still a risk of infection. There was an increase to the number of people attending funerals at crematorium. It was highlighted that funeral services can be followed online as webcast.

Councillor Kate Taylor, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care highlighted the following:

·         Details regarding the Infection Control Fund provided by the Government to increase infection control measures including alternative transport for staff to avoid public transport, specialist cleaning equipment, laptops to enable staff to socially distance;

·         The high number of vacancies currently in the social care industry;

Councillor Jon Taylor, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Transformation highlighted the following:

·         Thank people working in the schools and early years sectors. Many people working in education will have forgotten what a school holiday is like. Still a lot of preparation to be done to prepare for the return to school. Thanks to our staff that have been in amongst it. We are moving into the recovery phase. Overall attendance, 26% of primary aged children back at school. Secondary attendance is 4,5% mark. Year12, 13 %;

·         The Council was supporting schools for risk assessments and making sure children can get back safely in September. Physical space to accommodate children for social distancing. Establishing the social bubbles we have heard so much about. Whole year groups being a social bubble.

·         Moving on to transformation – important part of emergency response. Virtualising the contact centre. Supporting set up of Caring Plymouth. Delivered the MS Teams software programme;

Councillor Jemima Laing, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, highlighted the following:

·         Thanked Children’s Services and foster carers for their hard work during these difficult times; 

·         PCC had now delivered almost all of the 845 laptops we received from the DFE. 

Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene highlighted the following:

·         We are still playing catch up, would be a couple of months until we can catch up with  grass cutting;

·         Had opened our parks in the last month and are working hard to get playing pitches ready;

·         Thanked everyone for being patient during these difficult times.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development highlighted the following:

·         Thanked the teams under his portfolio for their hard work during this difficult time;

·         With regards to homelessness – there were currently over 560 bed spaces and units. Only had two confirmed Covid cases which showed how well the Council and partners have worked.

·         Alliance good at bidding, £181,000, and £25,000 for a rent in advance pot. MHCLG – £46,000 to single females who are homeless as a result of domestic abuse;

·         Recruited five more complex needs workers.

·         An eviction ban was in place so the council had more time to support residents.

·         1722 social housing applications been processed. 26% increase on last year. The Council wanted to support as many people as possible in their housing needs.