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Dear colleague,
Please find the latest COVID-19 communications updates, followed by our Chief Executive, Mark Lloyd’s daily bulletin.
Kind regards,
David
David Holdstock
Director of Communications
Local Government Association
@Davidhold |
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Webinar on coronavirus recovery
The hard work of council colleagues has been well recognised throughout the pandemic, particularly as people across the country have found a renewed sense of community during this difficult time. In light of this, thinkingplace and the Institute of Economic Development will be holding a webinar on what is going to matter most in a place’s journey as we move to the recovery stages. Colleagues will hear from the likes of Martin Reeves, Chief Executive, Coventry City Council; Tom Stannard, Corporate Director, Regeneration and Economic Growth, Wakefield Council; and David Fletcher, Assistant Director, Economic Development, Hampshire County Council. The webinar will be taking place on 4 June, and you find out more information and how to sign up on the website.
From the LGA's Chief Executive
Dear colleague,
This evening, the Government announced a new funding package of £300 million for local authorities to support the new COVID-19 test and trace service. The funding will be allocated for councils to develop and implement plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your local areas. This announcement puts councils at the heart of the new service and the ongoing response to COVID-19 and reflects the unparalleled skills, knowledge and experience that exist in our communities when it comes to contact tracing.
In our media response, we welcomed the Government’s acknowledgment that councils’ role in the test, track and trace programme is crucial. As we move into the next phase, it is important that councils have the resources, data, rapid testing and powers to play their full part in this national programme, so they can understand where the outbreaks are happening and act quickly to contain them. You can read more detail on the announcement below.
Many of you will have joined the webinar we hosted today on Local Outbreak Plans ahead of this announcement, where Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council and Senior Responsible Officer for COVID-19 tracing, gave an update on councils' roles in the Government’s COVID-19 test and trace service. 330 Chief Executives and Directors of Public Health joined the session with just over two hours’ notice. I hope you found it as useful as I did to hear directly from Tom on the work he’s been doing to advocate for local involvement and what councils’ roles will look like going forward.
As we look ahead to another bank holiday weekend, many residents will be hoping to take advantage of the sunny weather and the eased restrictions that will allow them to spend more time outside in their local area. I know councils will be doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of people using green spaces, country parks and beaches over the long weekend and summer weeks ahead.
I want to wish Eid Mubarak to all of you who are celebrating the end of Ramadan tomorrow and over the weekend. I know that Eid Al-Fitr may look very different for you, and that the congregational prayers in mosques and parks and parties enjoyed by families and friends will not be possible in the same way this year. However, I hope you have a blessed weekend and manage to celebrate with your loved ones, although perhaps in a different way than before.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has produced a document with key messages and a Q&A to support councils and LRFs with local communications and engagement with Muslim communities. The Muslim Council of Britain has also produced guidance on how to celebrate Eid safely.
Today also marks the third anniversary of the Manchester bombing, when 22 people sadly lost their lives at the Manchester Arena. My thoughts are with our colleagues in Manchester, and all those affected by this terrible tragedy, who have been marking the occasion. Manchester Cathedral held prayers for the victims earlier this morning and again this afternoon. You can join them in prayers by watching their live-stream of the event. I know colleagues at Rochdale Council, and across Greater Manchester, have also today been marking the seventh anniversary of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.
Finally, I wanted to let you know that I'm taking some much needed time-out over my kids' half term break from home learning next week. Our Deputy Chief Executive, Sarah Pickup, will do a great job of keeping you informed through these daily bulletins during my break.
If you have any issues facing your services or wider community, please do continue to email us on coronavirus.enquiries@local.gov.uk. This really does help inform our engagement on your behalf. Please also continue to liaise with your Principal Adviser so we can use the intelligence you give us in our discussions with government and in determining how we best support councils.
Please also keep an eye on @LGAComms and @LGANews where we will be pushing out information and resources as well as our communications activity on your behalf.
This evening’s Number 10 Press Conference
This evening’s Number 10 Press Conference was led by Home Secretary, Priti Patel. She was joined by the Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, and Director-General of Border Force, Paul Lincoln.
With regards to international travel, the Home Secretary announced that from 8 June the majority of passengers arriving into the UK, including British Citizens, must self-isolate for 14 days to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Passengers will be required to provide details of where they are staying and future travel plans so they can be contacted if someone they have been in contact with develops the disease. Anyone refusing to complete the contact locator form or quarantine will face a fine of up to £1,000.
There are a small number of exemptions including road haulage and freight workers to ensure the supply of goods is not impacted, medical professionals who are travelling to help with the fight against COVID-19, anyone moving from within the common travel area (covering Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and seasonal agricultural workers who will self-isolate on the property where they are working.
The Home Secretary was asked what message she had for local authorities who do not have the infrastructure to support large crowds in beauty spots across the country. In response, Ms Patel said people were entitled to enjoy the outdoors over the bank holiday weekend, providing they follow the Government’s social distancing measures. Ms Patel paid tribute to local authorities and said they are playing an enormous role in supporting their communities.
Test, track and trace
The Government has today announced a new funding package of £300 million for local authorities to support their role at the heart of the new COVID-19 test and trace service in England. The funding is for councils to develop and implement their plans to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in their area. The funding is to develop tailored outbreak control plans, working with local NHS and other stakeholders. We are awaiting details on how this funding will be allocated and will of course keep you updated.
We are also expecting further information about what is expected from the plans to be issued very soon. We expect they will include a focus on identifying and containing potential outbreaks in places such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools.
As part of this work, councils will need to ensure testing capacity is deployed effectively to high-risk locations by working closely with the test and trace service, local NHS and other partners.
Data on the virus's spread will be shared with local authorities through the Joint Biosecurity Centre to inform local outbreak planning, so teams understand how the virus is moving, working with national government and other partners to access the testing and tracing capabilities of the new service.
Local communities, organisations and individuals will also be encouraged to follow government guidance and assist those self-isolating in their area who need help. This will include encouraging neighbours to offer support and identifying and working with relevant community groups. I know all of you have already been working closely with these groups since the response began in March.
A new National Local Government Advisory Board will be established to work with the test and trace service. This will include sharing best practice between communities across the country.
Although all areas will be expected to develop local plans during June, work to share learning will be led by the group of 11 local authorities announced today, who have agreed to move very quickly on the local plans - in most cases in association with relevant district or neighbouring councils. Further announcements are expected next week on the national arrangements.
Support for care homes
Yesterday I updated you on the publication of the Care Home Support Implementation Status Template which sits alongside the letter from the Minister for Care and the Care Home Support Package document that were published last week, and can also be found on the same link. Completed templates must be submitted by 29 May.
We welcome national support and resources for the care sector. We are, however, very concerned at the way the requirements on local government have been framed and communicated over the past week. We are communicating our concerns to government, being very clear that the timescales will impact on the ability of councils to produce comprehensive and well-co-ordinated plans.
We have stressed that the deadlines are unrealistic and that this is compounded by piecemeal and incomplete advice on completing the exercise. We secured a week’s extension but have further warned that this is insufficient given the lack of warning, the demands for detailed data collection and the lack of final guidance, such as the grant determination letter.
That said we know councils and partners will be proactive, particularly in developing the local narrative and getting the engagement with care providers and partners. We have also updated our briefing on the process, to support you in undertaking your responsibilities.
Adult social care
In previous updates, we have advertised the LGA’s care technology tool which supports councils seeking to rapidly deploy care technology solutions to covid-19 issues. The first accompanying case study to this tool has now been published, featuring Kent, Essex and Suffolk’s councils virtual care offer.
The Care Act Easements Guidance was updated by DHSC on 20 May; there are no substantive changes, but councils are now asked to let their local MP know of their decision to enact easements and should consider the accessibility of their communications to people who use services, and their carers, about the decision. DHSC may share the information provided to them by councils with CQC, ADASS, the LGA and 'other relevant parties.'
Schools
The Government has today published The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) papers relating to children and young people and plans to re-open schools to more pupils. The papers, which were tabled at meetings that took place on 30 April and 1 May, cover modelling and behavioural science responses to scenarios for relaxing school closures, alongside a full list of re-opening scenarios, a briefing on the role of children in the Covid-19 outbreak presented to the Dutch Parliament, transmission and susceptibility in children and; a further paper on modelling and behavioural science responses to scenarios for relaxing school closures, produced by the Interdisciplinary Task and Finish Group on the role of Children in Transmission.
We are pleased that the Government listened to the LGA's and your calls to publish these papers ahead of the proposed date to reopen primary schools. In our response we called for a clear national message from government about the safe return of children to schools and for the Department for Education (DfE) to produce, as a matter of urgency, a summary that is accessible to teachers, parents, families and children and provides reassurance that it is safe for more children to return to schools and settings.
The Prime Minister hosted a virtual Hidden Harms Summit in Downing Street yesterday to tackle domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation and modern slavery. As part of a series of measures, the Government has announced plans to place social workers in schools, allocating £6.5 million to involve more than 150 schools. Social workers will be placed in these schools to help spot the signs of abuse and neglect more quickly and work with teachers to support children at risk, reflecting the fact that the second largest source of referrals to children's services is schools.
Nearly £10 million will be provided for projects aimed at boosting the educational outcomes of vulnerable children, and to keep them safe from harm. This includes £3.7 million to continue support for 11 local authority-led projects in England through the Trusted Relationship Fund, which supports young people identified as at high risk of sexual or criminal exploitation by providing bespoke help from adult role models such as youth workers, police officers and other professionals. This builds on building on the £13 million provided in 2018.
Access to food
We are expecting the Department for the Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFRA) to start communicating the different ways vulnerable people can access food next week.
The launch date is likely to be Wednesday 27 May, and we will confirm final arrangements as soon as possible. DEFRA’s communications will use existing text on the Gov.uk page, which points people to councils if urgent help is needed and no other means of support is available. This may result in an increase in the number of people contacting council helplines. DEFRA is keen to work with councils to monitor any impacts so the approach can be modified if necessary.
The department will also be sharing a range of press, digital and print resources aimed at vulnerable groups outside the shielded cohort that you may wish to use locally. We will share these with your communications teams.
DEFRA will also be working with four charities - Scope, MIND, Age UK and RNIB. Councils will no doubt agree a planned approach to communication with relevant partners locally. RNIB is keen to work with councils on accessible information for residents with sight loss or visual impairment for example.
As flagged in yesterday’s bulletin, DEFRA is looking to roll out the referral scheme providing supermarket slots to non-shielded vulnerable people, with an online form for councils to register their interest. The commercial food delivery service options will continue to be updated. We will continue to push for a joined-up approach across shielded and non-shielded vulnerable groups, and to promote the remarkable work of councils to support residents.
Homelessness and social housing
The Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) committee has today called for a comprehensive national strategy to prevent rough sleepers and homeless people returning to the streets. In our media response, we referenced the incredible work done by councils in recent weeks to get most rough sleepers and homeless people off the streets. This is an opportunity to change the lives of our most vulnerable residents and we know that councils stand ready to work with government on a national plan to move people into safe housing with access to wider support they might need for substance dependency and help with benefits, skills and getting work.
It was positive to see the Committee back our call for councils to be able to spend 100 per cent of money from Right to Buy sales and combine receipts with other government funding pots. This, alongside extending the deadline to spend the money to at least five years, is critical to allow councils to get on with the job of building the new homes that people in their areas desperately need.
Modern slavery
The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for the effective identification of potential victims of modern slavery who may be especially isolated and hidden from view. The Home Office has produced a flyer that reiterates this information for First Responders during this period. This flyer can be shared with your networks to ensure that all First Responders are aware of how to best identify potential victims of modern slavery while staying safe during COVID-19.
We have previously highlighted that victims may be approaching and accessing different support services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the separate flyer Home Office has created on ‘spotting the signs’ for staff who are not First Responders. At least six potential victims of modern slavery have been identified by frontline workers working in food banks where the flyer was distributed.
Foster carers
As it is currently #FosterCareFortnight we have been joining councils in sending a massive thank you to all foster carers for giving children across the country safe, loving homes and providing much-needed stability during these uncertain times.
Social enterprise, co-operatives, and community businesses
The LGA has received a letter from a coalition of community businesses urging councils to do what they can to ensure that the new discretionary grants are prioritised to local businesses which can demonstrate positive social and environmental value to the communities you serve. This is, of course, a local decision.
Safe workplaces
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has previously issued guidance for employers on making workplaces COVID secure. Employers can now also access a number of free webinars addressing the challenges in different types of workplaces. These have been developed with input from HSE and so may be useful for Local Authorities in both their employer and regulator role.
On the HSE website employers can also find a short guide to working safely, a guide on talking with your workers about preventing coronavirus and further information on managing risks and risk assessment at work.
Construction industry
The construction sector is struggling as new procurements are delayed and existing pipelines of work diminish. In order to provide short term certainty of future work, the Government is proposing to urgently publish a list of planned procurement through the financial year 2020/21.
To ensure they have the most comprehensive view across all parts of government, for the first time the Infrastructure and Projects Authority are asking councils to contribute to the publication by submitting returns. They have now extended the deadline for submitting returns by two days to Friday 29 May. Please contact Shehroze Junejo, Head of Major Infrastructure Tracking at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority at shehroze.junejo@ipa.gov.uk for more information about getting involved.
Traffic orders
The Government has today laid new amendments to the Traffic Orders Procedure Regulations. They are being introduced as an emergency measure in response to the effects of coronavirus. They amend the procedure for making traffic orders and giving notices by providing an alternative means of publicising orders in circumstances where it is not reasonably practicable to follow the current publicity requirements as a result of coronavirus (e.g. local newspapers). They also simplify the procedure for making temporary traffic orders that are made for purposes connected to coronavirus – in effect removing the need to advertise in local newspapers. We will monitor the effectiveness of the new amendments with a view to evidencing the need for a more permanent change that reflects modern ways of communicating with the public.
Workforce
A further HM Treasury Direction has been laid today amending the legal framework of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. We are awaiting the corresponding HMRC guidance update, but the LGA guidance has been updated to reflect the text of the Direction.
We have issued additional guidance today regarding the DfE guidance on re-opening primary schools more widely from 1 June. We continue to talk regularly with the DfE, and the Education Trade Unions to encourage consensus where we can.
The National Employers, National Fire Chiefs Council and Fire Brigades Union have agreed a further tripartite statement adding two more areas of additional work. Firefighters will now also be able, where needed, to support staff in care homes by providing delivery of pre-designed training packages on Infection Prevention and Control, including hand, hygiene, PPE ’donning’ & ‘doffing’ guidance and procedures; and supporting the care home staff testing i.e. to train care home staff to train others (train the trainer) or by providing delivery directly to care home staff. ‘Care Homes’ includes Nursing and Care Homes, Domiciliary Care, Supported Independent Living and Sheltered Accommodation.
Good practice
The range of case studies on our good practice webpage continues to grow. This week, you’ll find new items on communications; the distribution of business grants and emergency food supplies; doorstep book deliveries and befriending services; Birmingham City Council’s work to review the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities and more. As ever, we hope that you find these case studies useful as you plan and develop your own responses to COVID-19 and welcome further contributions. All submissions are welcome, so please email coronavirus.enquiries@local.gov.uk with details of the important work you are doing.
LGA webinar on COVID-19 and ethnicity
Some groups within our communities are being disproportionally affected by COVID-19, in particular Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups (BAME). A Public Health England (PHE) Review on COVID-19 and BAME, led by Professor Kevin Fenton, will provide robust data on the factors impacting cases and the severity of the outcomes for different groups. Professor Fenton is joining us in this webinar on COVID-19 and ethnicity to talk about the review outcomes and discuss the important role of local government in mitigating the disproportionate risks posed by COVID-19 to our BAME communities. The webinar, free to councils and Government departments, takes place on Tuesday 2 June at 9.30 – 11.00am and you can sign up on the LGA website.
As always, if there are any issues you think we should be aware of, either to raise on your behalf or help support you on the ground, please email coronavirus.enquiries@local.gov.uk or get in touch with your Principal Adviser.
Round up of the non-coronavirus activity from the week
ATMs & business rates
On Wednesday the Supreme Court ruled that ATMs are not to be rated for business rates as standalone properties and that they should be included within the assessment of the wider premises (for example a shop or supermarket) of which they are a part. LGA officers will be working with the Valuation Office Agency and MHCLG to understand the financial effects of this judgement on councils, both in terms of any backdated liabilities and future income.
Government Waste Strategy
The Government’s response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s report on its Waste Strategy has been published. You may remember that the Committee published its report on the Waste Strategy and implications for local authorities last September which called for councils to be given extra flexibility and funding to ensure they meet the recycling challenges under the Strategy. It was good to see the Government response recognise that local decision making is key to effectively implementing its waste reforms.
Hidden Harms Summit
The Prime Minister opened a virtual Hidden Harms Summit in Downing Street to drive action to tackle domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation and modern slavery. Attendees at the Summit discussed the proposal for a new codeword scheme for domestic abuse victims, which will allow people in urgent or immediate danger to get help from shop workers by using a specific phrase that staff will be trained to identify. Further details are expected to be announced on this scheme.
The Government also confirmed funding would be made available to support law enforcement to target perpetrators sexually exploiting children and help those affected by abuse rebuild their lives. The National Crime Agency (NCA) is expected to receive approximately £10 million in Government funding to enhance the NCA’s ability to tackle perpetrators operating on the dark web and a further £3.36 million has been allocated to projects to understand the threat posed by the most serious criminals. As well as the opening session chaired by the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, Lord Chancellor and Education Secretary also lead meetings on law enforcement, victim support and safeguarding vulnerable people in the community.
HM Treasury Public Works Loans Board (PWLB), consultation on future lending terms
This week we finalised our response to the consultation on the future lending terms for the PWLB. As previously reported, the deadline for the consultation has now been extended until the end of July, however, we are submitting our response now as it calls for HM Treasury to implement some steps immediately to help councils manage their cash flow and other costs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The response also highlights several problems with the core proposals in the consultation as they will make it harder for councils to borrow from PWLB to fund priority capital schemes (such as for housing) and it will place PWLB officials in the position of adjudicating decisions that are a matter for elected councillors.
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Best wishes,
Mark Lloyd
Chief Executive
Local Government Association
@MarkLloydLGA
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