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Welcome to the NAG and SOPO newsletter for 11 September August 2020. Feel free to circulate to your colleagues.
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Personal protective equipment
We welcome the latest communications from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who have written to all local authorities setting out future arrangements for the distribution of PPE. The LGA has been calling for a more sustainable supply of PPE and in response to feedback from councils, DHSC will be providing PPE free to local authorities up to 31 March 2021. Local councils are therefore asked not to enter into any further contracts for PPE except those required to cover the immediate period until DHSC can establish the necessary distribution mechanism to meet your needs directly from their own stocks.
A reminder that the online PPE Portal has been expanded on 1 September which now includes, adult social care homes and domiciliary care settings, children’s care homes and secure children’s care homes, children’s residential special schools, primary care, community pharmacies, and substance misuse services. DHSC is continuing to look at how to support those sectors who are not currently supported through the online PPE portal.
Clear face masks
NHS and care workers will be given clear face masks to help them communicate with people with certain conditions such as hearing loss, autism and dementia. The masks are see-through and have an anti-fogging barrier to ensure the face and mouth are always visible to aid communication. Social care providers will have access to the masks through a new pilot system with the first batch being distributed to Local Resilience Forums. Action on Hearing Loss have also published some communication tips for health and care workers.
Adult social care
The Government yesterday updated its guidance to changes to the Care Act to help local authorities prioritise care and support during the outbreak. The updates include FAQs (reframed as 'Supporting Guidance') and a new form for councils enacting easements to complete and send to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) when alerting them about their decision
DHSC has also issued an updated link to the full range of guidance for social care providers. The portal contains signposts and summaries of a range of key areas related to COVID-19 that social care providers may need information on. It also includes a link to the redeployment and volunteers guidance which was coordinated with LGA guidance on secondments.
New lorry parks
Councils may be aware of the Government's latest plans to use emergency powers to build a further 29 lorry parks across England, to provide capacity to cope with border checks after the transition period. These powers are contained in a statutory instrument, coming into force on 24 September, with the full list of 29 council areas listed in Schedule 1 of the order. These proposals would represent major new interchanges on our road network. It is vital that local communities have a say on these plans to help mitigate the potential impact on local road networks and avoid them becoming overwhelmed.
We are pushing the Government to urgently publish details on the locations and resources for the proposed inland ports, so that affected local authorities know whether they have new responsibilities as PHAs and can start preparing. This includes whether they have adequate time and resources to take on any new responsibilities.
CPA insurance survey for care providers
The Care Provider Alliance (CPA) is running a survey for care providers to help understand the issues providers are facing in obtaining insurance. Working together with DHSC colleagues, the aim of the survey is to help capture cost changes in insurance premia over the last three years; better understand how insurance is bought and managed across services; and understand the implications of cost changes since COVID-19 on running costs.
This survey is for care providers - please can you pass this on to the providers in your area. Further information about the survey can be found on the CPA survey webpage. The survey closes on Thursday 17 September.
Supporting businesses with compliance
Alongside council colleagues, we are working with officials from MHCLG, DHSC, the Joint Bio-Security Centre and other departments to look at ways to support you in the important work you are doing with local businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector to ensure they are complying with social distancing and other requirements. We are continuing to make the case that there are some gaps in the tools available to councils currently, particularly relating to lower level infringements and in cases that may not meet the thresholds set out in the health protection regulations.
To help share learning and best practice across the sector, we are keen to hear about the approaches you are taking in your compliance and enforcement work, including the different tools you are using and where you have successfully taken action with businesses and successfully changed their approaches and behaviours. Please email ellie.greenwood@local.gov.uk with any examples.
Non-COVID stories
Air quality funding
The Government has opened the latest round of funding for local projects to improve air quality across England. Councils can bid for a portion of the £2 million fund for a wide range of projects to create cleaner and healthier environments. Applications for the grant close 14 October.
Net Zero
Our new Net Zero Innovation Network brings together local authorities, universities and other stakeholders to address climate challenges at the local level, and seek routes to achieve councils' net zero commitments. The network is being delivered jointly by the LGA and University College London. Over a period of 12 months the Net Zero Innovation Programme will provide up to ten pairings of councils and universities with up to £18,000 in funding support to develop and deliver innovative projects to tackle net zero challenges in their local area.
Housing and planning
Following the recent publication of the Government’s 'Planning for the Future' White Paper, and the 'Changes to the current planning system' consultations, we have been continuing to focus our campaigning activity on the vital role council-led planning plays in boosting housing and creating much-needed infrastructure.
Webinars and e-learning
Procurex 2020 – Recorded sessions
For those who missed this year’s Procurex you can register here for full access to the recorded webinar sessions.
Children’s Social Care and the Spending Review - 29 September
This event will look at what level of funding is needed for children's social care, what the right balance is between early intervention and crisis support and which of the changes made in response to the crisis should be kept.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/childrens-social-care-and-spending-review
Decarbonisation of transport webinars
In relation to the Decarbonising transport briefings, the LGA are hosting a webinar to accompany each briefing. See the full list of Decarbonisation of Transport webinars below:
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