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Dear Colleague,
News of the death of the inspirational Captain Sir Tom Moore from COVID-19 is a stark reminder of the battle we have been fighting against this deadly virus for the last 12 months. As a mark of respect, the flag at 10 Downing Street is at half-mast.
We've heard from Government about further encouraging developments in the vaccination programme. Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP shared that 9.2 million people across the UK had been vaccinated, including 931,204 vaccinations just this weekend. By this evening, the combined total of those who had received one or two doses had risen to over 10 million. The Secretary of State also confirmed that almost nine in 10 of all those aged over 80 had been vaccinated, and over half of those in their 70s have also received their vaccines. The incredible work of local government in supporting the vaccine rollout was highlighted by Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi on twitter yesterday when celebrating this milestone and I would like to echo his thanks and praise.
Today the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick and the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Matt Hancock, wrote to all council Leaders and chief executives, again expressing their thanks for your excellent work supporting the vaccine programme. Many of you joined our Chief Executives' webinar this afternoon, at which Eleanor Kelly - the chief executive at Southwark Council who is working on the vaccine rollout nationally - addressed the letter and invited feedback from local government colleagues.
Importantly, the letter outlined the Government's view of the role of local authorities in supporting the programme, particularly in the context of public health. The Secretaries of State emphasises in the letter that this is not intended to be a constraining list, but rather the building blocks of a collaboration already happening to support the vaccination delivery plan. Of course, we will continue to work closely with colleagues in Government and advocate for the best use of councils' skills and local knowledge. The letter also outlined plans to publish vaccination take-up at council-level very soon and acknowledged that councils face extra costs supporting the vaccine rollout and set out routes to seek secure reimbursement.
Last night, Matt Hancock pointed out that residents and staff at every eligible care home with older residents in England have been offered a COVID-19 vaccine. Mr Hancock said the achievement had been made possible by the health and social care sectors working side-by-side to protect people most in need. In our response, we said that the success of the rollout so far is a reflection of the ongoing close partnership between care home managers, councils and the NHS that so many of our most vulnerable people and their carers have now received their first vaccination.
A small number of care homes have had their visits deferred for safety reasons during a local outbreak. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is clear that those homes will be visited and vaccinated as soon as NHS staff are allowed to do so and is advising any care home in England with older residents and staff who have not yet been visited to get in touch via covidvaccineasc@dhsc.gov.uk.
You will have seen that a small number of cases of the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa has now been confirmed in some local areas across England. In addition, the Health Secretary also confirmed this afternoon that there were a number of cases of ‘mutations of concern’ identified in Bristol and Liverpool. Colleagues in these areas are doing everything they can to encourage people in their communities to get tested so we can prevent this particular strain of the virus from spreading further. I outline the latest position in my note to you below.
Any queries, issues, or best practice surrounding vaccinations you would like to raise, please let us know at vaccination@local.gov.uk. For other COVID-19 related queries and best practice sharing, particularly around self-isolation, please contact outbreakmanagement@local.gov.uk.
Surge testing for South African variant
DHSC has confirmed that a small number of cases of the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa have been found in localities across England, that cannot be traced back to international travel. All cases are now self-isolating, but additional surge testing and sequencing is being deployed in these locations, which will be targeted within the following specific postcode areas:
- East of England (EN10)
- London (W7, N17, CR4)
- North West (PR9)
- South East (ME15, GU21)
- West Midlands (WS2)
Councils in affected areas have established local communications to strongly encourage every person over 16 living in these locations to take a COVID test this week. Mobile testing units (MTUs) will be deployed offering PCR testing to people without symptoms who have to leave their home for work or essential reasons, and councils will be encouraging people to get tested in the area by providing additional home test kits. Councils will also be responding through their local test and trace teams. Positive tests will be sequenced to identify any further spread of the South African variant, enabling a better understanding of the variant and identifying if there are any more cases of this particular strand of the virus in the area. There is currently no evidence to suggest this variant is more serious than others, or that the regulated vaccine would not provide a level of protection.
It was announced by the Health & Social Care Secretary today that there were also mutations of concern found in Bristol and Liverpool. It is expected that surge testing will be launched there too and residents must stay at home and only leave home where it is absolutely essential.
Local Outbreak Management
Beyond the immediate Contain Framework which includes Public Health England and Joint Biosecurity Centre teams, a large number of regional partners are working together to support local COVID outbreak management, including LGA Principal Advisers, ADASS and ADPH regional representatives. The aim of this work is to pool insights and intelligence on local area COVID outbreak management. These arrangements will not lead to changes in the regional teams that you are engaging with but will build on the existing support already in place within each region. This will ensure there is a systematic and joined up approach to supporting local authorities, recording key themes and issues and sharing good practice. The secretariat support will be provided by the Joint Biosecurity Centre within each region. If you have any queries, please contact outbreakmanagement@local.gov.uk.
Public health resources
PHE has published new guidance to help reduce the risk of catching Covid-19 and passing it on. Its Campaign Resource Centre has also been updated with new materials to counter the rise in the incidence of vaccine fraud. A range of translated social media materials have been created to promote vaccine confidence among a wider audience. In addition, there are a selection of vaccine explainer videos to promote vaccine information and uptake.
Vaccination Equalities Conversations
Vaccination Equalities Conversation events are taking place this week to support the work on achieving parity in the take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine amongst priority groups. This is the first part of a series of conversations aimed at bringing together partners to share best practice, pool thoughts on further action and agree key next steps that could make a difference right now.
The Inclusion Health event, Friday 5 February 2.00pm - 3.00pm, explores how to reach groups such as people who are homeless, those from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and people without an NHS number. Bookings will close at 11.00am on Friday and a joining link will be sent out the same day at 12.30pm. If you are unable to attend but would like to be invited to future conversations email England.vaccination-equalities@nhs.net.
Vaccination experiences
Our communications team is looking to share the experiences of people who have recently been vaccinated, and what it might mean to them, across our social media channels. If you or someone you know has recently been vaccinated and are willing to share your story, please email amelia.sutton@local.gov.uk for more information. Or, if you have already produced content similar to this please do share it with us.
Vaccination centre road signs
The AA has extended its offer of free directional road signs for community COVID-19 vaccination centres, which may be useful for councils. This offer is now open to all temporary vaccination centres opening in January and February. The service will include production, distribution, fitting and maintenance of the signs, as well as removal and recycling at the end of the vaccination programme. Signs can be requested by emailing aasigns@theaa.com, including full address and intended opening date, as well as the name and contact information of the site contact.
Driving tests for mobile emergency workers
Due to the current restrictions, practical driving and theory tests have been suspended. Despite this, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is still able to provide a practical test service for frontline NHS health and social care workers and other frontline roles responding to ‘threat to life’ and who need to drive as part of their job. This includes ambulance drivers, paramedics, social workers, Environment Agency flood defence workers, and local authority winter defence drivers e.g. gritter vehicle drivers, in England.
Applications must come from an employer, not individual employees. Your employee must already have practical test booking on the DVSA service or should make one on the DVSA online driving test booking service. Employers can then request a driving test for any of their employees, by emailing MEWApp@dvsa.gov.uk and including: employee's name; job role; employee’s driving licence number; the type of test they require; driving test booking reference number; current driving test date; the reason why the individual requires the licence to carry out the duties of their role (this should not include commuting to work); which driving test centres they would prefer to take the test from; any dates when the candidate is unavailable.
School admissions
We recently updated you on the Department for Education's (DfE) plans to extend Temporary Admission Appeals regulations up to the end of September in response to concerns we raised with officials on behalf of councils. Another set of temporary regulations (The School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2021) have been introduced which extend the temporary provisions until 30 September 2021. These came into force on 31 January 2021 and updated guidance has also been published. The updates are to reflect the change in date, there are no changes to policy or process.
Schools testing
The Government has today published guidance which includes conditions of grant funding for the national roll-out of rapid, mass coronavirus testing in schools and colleges. These conditions of grant funding cover the initial roll-out of rapid mass testing from 4 January until February half term 2021. The guidance covers scope, eligibility, allocations and payments approach, and the terms of funding.
DfE has updated its frequently asked questions on asymptomatic testing in primary schools, school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools. It has also updated the frequently asked questions for secondary schools and colleges.
Impact of lost learning
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has published report detailing the impact of lost learning on children and young people. The report suggests the loss of schooling is contributing to lower educational progress and skills, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. The IFS call for a national policy response arguing that costs of lost schooling could amount to hundreds of billions in the long-run and calls for radical ways of increasing learning time, including a ‘national plan with cross-party support and close partnership with teachers, schools and local government’.
Ofsted surveys
Ofsted has launched its annual point in time surveys of social care providers to understand the experiences of children, parents, staff and professionals. Relevant registered managers and responsible individuals or nominated persons will have received links the online survey. The responses are highly valuable and help inform Ofsted’s future inspections and build a national picture of peoples’ experiences with their respective providers. Ofsted's guidance for providers has more information and alternatively, you can share views directly with Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 or via emailing enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. The surveys will close on 28 March 2021.
Domestic abuse
The Government has announced an extra £40 million for specialist support services that help victims of rape and domestic abuse. This follows charities reporting a 200 per cent increase in calls and people accessing webchat services since the first lockdown. The funding will allow support organisations to recruit more staff, keep helplines open for longer and adapt to remote counselling where necessary. It will also fund the recruitment of more independent sexual violence and domestic abuse advisers across the country. In our media response, we said we were pleased the Government had acted on councils’ calls for more funding to recruit advisers, as well as for support services during the pandemic. We reiterated the vital need for victims to be able to have access to all the help they need.
It's also important to highlight the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published draft guidance on the delivery of support to victims of domestic abuse, including children, in domestic abuse safe accommodation services. If you would like any further information, please contact Rachel.Phelps@local.gov.uk.
Accommodation for prison leavers
The Government has announced a £70 million funding package focusing on accommodation for prison leavers, as the second part of its plan to reduce crime and protect the public, following the recent announcement of £148 million investment to combat illegal drugs and provide substance misuse treatment. At least £23 million of funding will go towards building 200 new spaces in Approved Premises (APs), which allow probation staff to closely monitor and support the highest-risk offenders in the community, whilst more than £20 million will be invested in supporting prison leavers at risk of homelessness into temporary basic accommodation for up to 12 weeks.
Launching in five of the 12 National Probation Service regions (the East of England; Yorkshire and the Humber; Greater Manchester; Kent, Surrey and Sussex; and, North West regions) it will support around 3,000 offenders in its first year. There will also be investment in dedicated staff across at least 11 prisons to provide additional support to prisoners so that they are better prepared to access accommodation, healthcare and employment support services on release, whilst £20 million will be dedicated to the new Prison Leavers Project, which aims to improve the social inclusion of people leaving prison and reduce reoffending.
Housing and planning
The Government is seeking views with a deadline of the 27 March on the draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and draft National Model Design Code for England as part of the planning reforms. According to the Secretary of State, the National Model Design Code provides a clear framework setting out the parameters that contribute to good design and a step-by-step process for local authorities to follow to produce their own local codes and guides. The NPPF clarifies that all areas should produce their own codes or guides, based on the principles set out in the Design Code. The Government will establish a new 'Office for Place' to support councils next year and is calling for expressions of interest from councils in England to test the National Model Design Code. In our media response we said we shared the Government's ambitions to ensure that homes are built to a high standard. We have said we look forward to seeing the details of the draft national design code and the new Office for Place and will continue to work with the Government to get these proposals right.
Alcohol deaths
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that deaths caused by alcohol in England and Wales reached a new high during the first nine months of 2020. Between January and September, 5,460 deaths were registered, an increase of 16 per cent on the same months in 2019 and the biggest since records began in 2001. In our response, we said every one of these figures represents a life lost too soon and is another tragic reminder that people with alcohol and other substance misuse problems need the right support and treatment. Councils are committed to providing these services, despite the ongoing pressures of the pandemic, but need certainty over their individual public health grants for next year to help keep people healthy and reduce pressures on the NHS and social care.
Waking Watch Relief Fund
The Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick has announced the opening of the Waking Watch Relief Fund. The £30 million fund will protect leaseholders from the high costs of Waking Watches. Councils can apply to the fund if they are currently passing these costs onto leaseholders in their properties and intend to replace the Waking Watch with an alarm system after 17 December 2020. More detail can be found in the guidance and application forms for social providers. Social providers must apply to MHCLG by 14 March 2021. For private blocks, the fund will be distributed through councils, regional authorities and directly through MHCLG, depending on the location of the building. The fund is available for buildings across England, with £22 million targeted to the cities with most high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding, including Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.
On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme
The Department for Transport (DfT) this morning announced that the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme has been extended into 2021/22, with £20m available to local authorities to apply. Chief executives should have received a letter from the Transport Secretary, encouraging councils to take advantage of the scheme, which is intended to boost the number of on-street electric vehicle chargepoints in towns and cities across the UK.
Organisations that trade with the EU
Government is encouraging councils to signpost stakeholders and businesses in their local area to webinars and videos about trading with the EU. Topics include importing and exporting goods, moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and details of the government’s cross-border trade forum, designed to help businesses and traders find answers to questions regarding the transition period.
Waste and recycling
The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), working with the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO), The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) and the LGA, has restarted the Fortnightly COVID-19 Waste Survey. Given the high number of COVID-19 cases, and waste operatives being required to self-isolate, the survey provides valuable insight into the challenges facing local authorities and the waste industry. There is a link to the live survey, as well as results of the earlier surveys.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Waste Management Plan for England 2021. This focuses on waste production and how this can be managed. It also includes changes to waste management plan requirements, as well as an update on the Environment Bill.
Flooding
Government published a consultation on proposals to support householders in flood hit areas to obtain discounted insurance premiums. The consultation covers changes to the Flood Re scheme, a joint industry/government initiative designed to reduce the cost of the flood risk element of home insurance. Government has also published a Call for Evidence to look at changes to the flood funding formula to benefit frequently flooded communities, including ways to increase the uptake of property flood resilience measures so that homes and businesses are better protected.
Devolution
Cllr Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the LGA's City Regions Board, gave evidence this morning to the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the subject of devolution. Cllr Leese, who appeared alongside Cllr David Williams, Chairman of the County Councils Network and Leader of Hertfordshire County Council and Cllr Julian German, Leader of Cornwall Council, made a clear case that a one-size-fits-all approach to local governance is ineffective, and that a 'bottom-up' approach to devolution is needed. Cllr Leese said that rather than asking what should be devolved, we should instead be asking what should remain centralised. The session was a further opportunity to reinforce the key messages that Cllr James Jamieson, gave to the Housing Communities and Local Government Committee in his evidence last Monday and is further proof of the increasing interest in the issue as we look towards the publication of the Government’s Devolution White Paper.
LGBT+ History Month
Yesterday marked the start of LGBT+ History Month which provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the contributions and stories of individuals and communities, which have remained hidden at points in time due to persecution or censure. The theme for LGBT+ History Month this year is 'Body, Mind, Spirit'. You can read more about this on the LGBT+ History Month website where you can also download further helpful resources to share with your communities.
Celebrating adult and community education
Every year the Learning and Work Institute's annual Festival of Learning is an opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work that goes on in local communities to help adults gain the skills they need to progress in work or get on in life. Councils' adult and community education (ACE) provision has an important role to play within the wider further education landscape. The festivals awards, which celebrates the many benefits learning can have for everyone and recognises individuals, tutors, employers and learning provisions, who have used learning to change their lives and the lives of others, is now open for nominations until 9 February. For more details on how to nominate visit their website.
Consultation on revisions to the Prudential Code for Capital Finance
This week the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) published consultations on proposed revisions to the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities and the Treasury Management Code. The review of these Codes is in part a response to the report last year of the Public Accounts Committee into local authority investment in commercial property and some of the proposed changes seek to tighten the codes' rules over such investments. The consultations close on 12 April and the LGA will be submitting a response. If you have any views to feed in to our response please send them to lgfinance@local.gov.uk.
Charging policy judgement
A recent case law judgement has been made concerning how a local authority’s charging policy relates to the income of working age people with disabilities. Monitoring Officers, S115 Officers and DASSs will have received correspondence regarding the SH v Norfolk County Council Case in respect of the charging policy, which was sent by CASCAID.
A small group, including the LGA, Lawyers In Local Government (LLG), the National Association of Financial Assessment Officers (NAFAO) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), amongst others, has been convened to consider the judgement and its implications, and will seek to advise other local authorities shortly, so that they can consider whether and how to review their charging policies with this collective local government advice.
In the interim, it may be that you wish to take the same approach as Norfolk County Council, and consider a full review of your charging policy and any other impacts that may arise as a result of changes, prior to responding in detail to CASCAID or coming to any final determination.
Adult Social Care Honours
After an extremely challenging year, DHSC is looking to ensure that the extraordinary efforts of the adult social care workforce are considered for this year’s honours. DHSC is asking that nominations are submitted for those outstanding practitioners and care workers from the front line, especially those who have stood out for their contribution.
Anyone submitting a nomination is asked to address the following points:
- What projects or work has the nominee undertaken that is outstanding? What impact have they had on patients/residents, colleagues or the wider sector?
- What has changed because of the nominee? Would this have happened without them?
- Were these activities part of their day to day paid role or in addition to it (including voluntary work)? If it is part of a paid role, how are they going above and beyond what they are expected to.
The deadline for submissions is 12 March 2021.
Behaviour change webinar
We are due to hold a webinar on whether COVID-19 has changed the way communities behave. This will look at how the pandemic has changed public opinion and behaviour. To help councils with their recovery planning and to shape a narrative that resonates locally, we commissioned Britain Thinks to conduct qualitative research with 50 participants from across the country. The results are fascinating, and in their presentation Britain Thinks will explore the different changes in behaviour since the first lockdown, the local issues residents are most concerned about and the ways councils can encourage greater public involvement. The webinar is free to member councils.
I hope you found this update useful and as always, I will be in touch again on Friday. In the meantime, if there are any issues you would like us to raise on your behalf please do get in touch with your Principal Adviser.
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Best wishes,
Mark Lloyd
Chief Executive
Local Government Association
@MarkLloydLGA
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