Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To summarise the current state of the pandemic in Cherwell and Oxfordshire, describe the management and operational response arrangements in place, give an update on the status of Council services and the resource impact of COVID-19, and set out the approach for further recovery and renewal planning. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1         Note the latest public health situation with regard to COVID-19, the management arrangements in place and the resource impact of the pandemic as set out in this report.

1.2         Note the joint Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council programme of activity underway that continues to respond and adapt to the pandemic as set out in Appendix 1.

1.3         Note the summary of COVID-19 service impact set out in Appendix 2.

1.4         Note the plans set out from paragraph 3.26 for recovery planning and for further understanding the lessons learnt for the organisation from the pandemic and agree that a programme of engagement with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, all council members and key partners should be developed in consultation with the Leader and Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved

(1)          That the latest public health situation with regard to COVID-19, the management arrangements in place and the resource impact of the pandemic as set out in the report be noted.

(2)          That the joint Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council programme of activity underway that continues to respond and adapt to the pandemic be noted.

(3)          That the summary of COVID-19 service impact be noted.

(4)          That the plans for recovery planning and for further understanding the lessons learnt for the organisation from the pandemic be noted and it be  agreed that a programme of engagement with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, all council members and key partners should be developed in consultation with the Leader and Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to summarise the current state of the pandemic in Cherwell and Oxfordshire, describe the management and operational response arrangements in place, give an update on the status of Council services and the resource impact of COVID-19, and set out the approach for further recovery and renewal planning. 

Resolved

(1)          That the latest public health situation with regard to COVID-19, the management arrangements in place and the resource impact of the pandemic as set out in the report be noted.

(2)          That the joint Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council programme of activity underway that continues to respond and adapt to the pandemic be noted.

(3)          That the summary of COVID-19 service impact be noted.

(4)          That the plans for recovery planning and for further understanding the lessons learnt for the organisation from the pandemic be noted and it be  agreed that a programme of engagement with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, all council members and key partners should be developed in consultation with the Leader and Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Reasons

As we reach the end of the originally planned Roadmap period, this report describes the current local COVID-19 situation. It summarises the response to COVID-19 over the past six months, describes ongoing activity and includes a description of the recovery status of Council services. It goes on to set out the requirement to maintain and adapt COVID-19 capacity and management structures as the context in which we work continues to evolve rapidly. Finally, it recommends that the local and organisational lessons learnt from the pandemic should be used to help direct long-term recovery planning and inform future corporate direction.

Developing our approach to recovery with consideration of lessons learnt will put us in the best position to mitigate long term impacts of COVID and support residents, businesses and partners.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to develop further recovery and renewal plans. Rejected as given the scale and impact of COVID, learning from the pandemic and developing recovery plans are essential to supporting residents and delivering corporate priorities.