Update No.5 1

HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

CABINET MONDAY, 13 JULY 2020 AT 2.00PM HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 (Please note the content of this report is accurate as at the 22 June 2020)

Report of the Director of Resources Author: Scott Crudgington, Director of Resources

(Tel: 01992 555601) Executive Member: David Williams, Leader of the Council

1. Purpose of the report

1.1 To provide Members with the latest update on the County Council’s planning and response to Coronavirus (Covid-19).

2. Summary

2.1 This report provides an update on the Covid-19 pandemic since the last

Cabinet Report of 3 June 2020 and the work that the County Council is

undertaking with partners to address the challenges faced.

2.2 A new monthly Covid-19 impact monitor has been produced to accompany

this report and can be found at Appendix A.

3. Recommendation The Special Cabinet Panel considered a report on this item of business at its meeting on 2 July 2020. The Panel recommended that Cabinet notes the Council’s planning and response update to Covid-19, including the planned approach to dealing with the financial implications and that Cabinet formally adopts the Hertfordshire Local Outbreak Plan, attached at Appendix C to the Report.

4. Background

4.1 This report is the monthly continuation of a report first commissioned by the Leader of the Council on the 23 March 2020, requesting an update on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Members are asked to consider the contents of the report, with comments welcomed regarding service approach the response and recovery phase of the pandemic.

Agenda Item

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5. International and National Position

5.1 National Update – UK Covid-19 Cases Update

5.1.1 As of the 21 June 2020, Public Health England Statistics has confirmed that 7,890,145 people in the UK have been tested for Covid-19. Of those, 304,331 have tested positive with the virus. The number of associated deaths due to Covid-19 currently stands at 42,632. In England, there are a total of 158,940 confirmed cases, with Scotland recording 15,774 confirmed cases, Wales recording 15,126 and Northern Ireland registering 4,870 confirmed cases.

5.2 Government Strategy – Social Distancing Restrictions

5.2.1 The national Government has continued its approach to uphold social distancing measures in its effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19 across the country.

5.2.2 The Government is continuing to implement its recovery strategy, delivering a phased approach to the lifting of lockdown restrictions on how to protect the nation’s most clinically vulnerable groups. The Government has gradually replaced previous social distancing restrictions with new reduced measures, designed to have an effect on controlling the epidemic whilst attempting to limit the health, economic and social costs. These new restrictions now including the following:

People can spend time outdoors, including private gardens and other outdoor spaces, in groups of up to six people from different households, following social distancing guidelines.

Children in early years (age 0-5), reception, year 1 and year 6 can return to childcare or school in line with the arrangements made by their school.

Single adult households can form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. This policy includes allowing these households to spend time together in one another’s homes. This is to support the mental wellbeing of individuals who might be suffering from loneliness and isolation.

Individuals are now able to attend a place of worship for individual prayer.

5.2.3 A number of non-essential stores across the country were able to reopen from the 15 June 2020. All reopening stores must meet the government’s Covid-19 secure guidelines including the imposition of the 2-metre social distancing rule, clear demonstrations of a commitment to social distancing measures and the regular cleaning of heavily used objects such as checkouts and trolleys.

5.2.4 From the 15 June 2020, it has been mandatory for face coverings to be worn by people using public transport in England. This means that anyone travelling by bus, train, plane, or ferry will be required to wear a face covering in order to reduce the transmission of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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5.2.5 The Government was expected to announce on 23 June 2020 if the hospitality sector would be able to reopen on 4 July 2020 and whether the 2-metre social distancing rules could be relaxed.

5.3 Government Strategy - Test and Trace Programme

5.3.1 The Department of Health and Social Care has introduced the NHS test and trace service in order to monitor the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and reduce the number of people exposed to an individual infected with the virus. The purpose of the service is to ensure that anyone who develops symptoms associated with Covid-19 can be quickly tested, to see if they have the virus and, if the test comes back positive, to help trace the recent contacts of that individual. This programme is also to include targeted asymptomatic testing of NHS and social care staff and care home residents. For individuals who test positive with Covid-19, the NHS test and trace service will notify the individual, advising them to self-isolate for 7 days. The service will then work with the individual to get the contact details of people the individual has had close contact with and has recently visited. These individuals will then be notified by the service, advising them to self-isolate for 14 days.

5.4 Government Strategy – Financial Support

5.4.1 Statistics published by HM Revenue and Customs indicate that on the 7 June 2020, the number of jobs furloughed in the UK using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme totalled 8.8 million, with the total value of claims made equating to £19.6 billion. The service sector with the highest number of claims is the wholesale and retail sector, with total claims equating to £3.3 billion. As indicated in previous reports, the scheme currently provider employers with financial support up to 80% of an employee’s salary, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month per employee.

5.4.2 The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that £300 million will be allocated to local authorities across England to support with the delivery of the NHS test and trace service. Funding will be allocated to help local authorities develop tailored outbreak control plans, working with the service their local NHS and other stakeholders. Funding has been allocated to councils based on need, with additional funding provided for communities with lower incomes and higher demand for local healthcare settings.

5.4.3 The Chancellor announced on the 29 May 2020 that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme would be extended, with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant in August. The grant will be worth 70% of average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.

5.4.4 HM Treasury announced an extra 37.8 million support package to be made available to debt advice providers for this fiscal year. The Money and Pensions Service will oversee the allocation of the funds, with the intention of supporting services, including charities, that are providing essential services to help people who are struggling with their Finances because of the Covid-19

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pandemic. The funding consists of £20.6 million from the government and £14.2 million raised through a one-off increase to the Financial Services Levy.

6. Hertfordshire’s Strategic Response:

6.1.1 As of 9 June 2020, it had been confirmed that the county of Hertfordshire had

a total of 2,921 confirmed cases of Covid-19. This equates to 24.6 cases of

Covid-19 per 10,000 of Hertfordshire’s population. 1,005 total deaths had

been registered in Hertfordshire due to coronavirus. Of these deaths, 674

deaths were recorded at hospital, 270 occurring in care homes and 631 were

recorded in other places, either home, in a hospice or elsewhere.

6.1.2 The Covid-19 Strategic Coordination Group (SCG), as part of the county’s Local Resilience Forum (LRF) has continued to coordinate the multi-agency response to the Covid-19 outbreak in Hertfordshire. The SCG incorporates all the relevant leads from health, the other emergency services, local and national government, and the military.

6.1.3 The Hertfordshire Recovery phase is being led by the Hertfordshire Covid-19 Recovery Coordinating Group (RCG). Chaired by the Chief Executive of Welwyn Hatfield District Council, the RCG is responsible for coordinating the strategic activities needed to transition to normality and to enable the restoration of disrupted services at the earliest opportunity. This includes engaging the business community to support economic resilience and community leaders to provide public leadership and reassurance.

6.1.4 The Chairmen of the SCG and RCG meet weekly to ensure coordination and mutual support across both response and recovery.

6.2 Local Outbreak Planning

6.2.1 A new Outbreak Plan for Hertfordshire has been developed in response to the Government’s request that all Upper Tier Local Authorities lead the development of a plan by the end of June 2020, attached at Appendix C to the report. It is likely that the definition of an outbreak used for this plan will be defined setting by setting to enable action. As a result, an outbreak may be defined as “an increased incidence or prevalence of Covid-19 infection which could result in increased spread of infection” whereas, in some high-risk settings, an outbreak would be defined as one case, triggering public health action to contain and suppress spread. (Infection spread is measured using data from national reports of positive tests and symptoms consistent with Covid-19 to NHS and Public Health England).

6.2.2 The County Council has been developing these plans with partner organisations to take the necessary steps should there be a second wave of infection, as well as planning ahead for the anticipated pressures experienced by both health and social care every winter. This planning includes ensuring there are sufficient beds in the community with the right services and staff to support both in care homes and their own homes with therapy and

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rehabilitation.

6.2.3 A new Hertfordshire Members Engagement Group for local Covid-19 outbreaks, which brings together the leaders from the County Council, the ten district and borough councils and the county’s police and crime commissioner, who held their first meeting on the week commencing 15 June 2020. The group met to discuss how Hertfordshire’s local authorities will work together to manage and contain any local Covid-19 outbreaks, and the priorities for the local outbreak plan.

6.3 Hertfordshire Test and Trace Programme

6.3.1 The process of outbreak planning has started at both a national and regional level. The County Council is already receiving reports of outbreaks from the test and trace programme where people are being asked to self-isolate. As part of this process, Outbreak Management Teams are convened, and public health action determined upon further analysis, including testing and contact tracing. The rest of the system is being put in place over the course of June including detailed specification of local roles. A regional working group including council Public Health staff is already up and running.

6.3.2 The County Council has put in place pathways for testing symptomatic and non-symptomatic care home residents and staff. The pathways are organised through a single point of access and delivered with community health providers. In total through the single point of contact, the Council has tested 1,057 symptomatic residents since the 27 April 2020.

6.3.3 The council’s Director of Public Health has written to school headteachers, informing them about how the county is managing the outbreak process for schools. In particular, schools have been made aware of the contact and trace process should a member of staff or a child test positive for Covid-19. A flow-chart has also been provided to inform schools as to what should be done if there is a suspected or positive case in their school.

6.4 Volunteer and People Assistance Cell

6.4.1 The multi-agency Volunteer and People Assistance Cell (VPAC) was set up

under the Strategic Co-ordinating Group to organise the humanitarian and volunteering response to coronavirus. It is responsible for managing two key operations: Operation Shield and Operation Sustain.

6.4.2 A survey has been launched by the Hertfordshire Community Foundation in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council and Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) to research the impact of Covid-19 on voluntary and community services in the medium to long term. The results of this survey will help to develop a strategy and a hopefully a positive legacy for the future.

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6.5 Operation Shield

6.5.1 Operation Shield is a project to support to residents in Hertfordshire with serious underlying health conditions, placing them at the highest risk of severe illness from Covid-19.

6.5.2 As part of Operation Shield, over 100,000 deliveries of food parcels and household essentials for those residents most in need have been achieved since this work began. This includes over 9,900 parcels delivered to Foodbanks, District Councils and other agencies. As of 15 June 2020, 1,825 successful prescription deliveries have been made.

6.5.3 Operation Shield has been focussing on working supportively with people to make alternative food arrangements so that the direct provision of food can be ended. The team has been working to facilitate access to food e.g. by volunteers to take on shopping for people, or by assisting people with on-line shopping.

6.5.4 At the time of writing, the Government is expected to announce that the shielding programme will close at the end of July 2020. This will enable a firm date to be agreed for the closure of the Mundell’s-based logistic operation and, to ensure all people shielding are able to access food, at which point Operation Shield will come to an end.

6.6 Operation Sustain

6.6.1 Operation Sustain is the mobilisation of residents and voluntary sector to support anyone that has been affected by Covid-19, is self-isolating and/or vulnerable but who have not received a letter from the NHS. This work has been important in supporting people to remain at home and thereby relieve pressures on the NHS and social care.

6.6.2 As of 15 June 2020, 10,835 volunteers remain registered to the three organisations working collaboratively on this: #TeamHerts, Watford3RT and Communities 1st. To date the number of volunteers deployed is approaching 6,000. The recovery and rebuild volunteer legacy will continue to be developed by these organisations and this will be shared with key stakeholders.

6.6.3 Operation Sustain will remain in place for the remainder of the calendar year to support with any second peak and in alleviating pressures on the NHS and Adult Care Services. As the economic impacts of Covid-19 affect households more acutely in the months ahead we are likely to see more people approach for assistance with food for reasons of financial hardship. Operation Sustain will support with an increased financial information and advice offer and work alongside food banks and other charitable organisations. The ‘business as usual’ food crisis offer will remain and criteria to access this will be reviewed.

6.6.4 Other emerging issues where Operation Sustain will work with voluntary and community sector (VCS) and public sector partners to support include digital

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exclusion and pressures on mental and physical health and well-being.

6.6.5 Current thinking is that Operation Sustain will then be formally stood down towards the end of the current calendar year, and the VPAC Cell will close. From January 2021 onwards the existing ‘business as usual structures’ for VCS engagement and activity will then resume, working to build on the legacy created by this period and take forward opportunities to work together in partnership.

7. Hertfordshire Economy

7.1 Hertfordshire’s local authorities continue to provide support to the county’s small businesses. As of the 7 of June, the 10 local authorities within Hertfordshire have distributed £185.5 million in small business grants to a total of 13,878 businesses. This is the equivalent of 93% of the county’s total number of small businesses.

7.2 Councils across Hertfordshire are supporting local businesses by encouraging residents to shop local, shop safely. The County Council has created a range of new signage to encourage people to look after themselves and others as they return to town centres and other key shopping locations from 15 June 2020.

7.3 Statistics recorded by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) indicate a decline in the number of job vacancies being advertised across the county. Figures recorded at the end of May, indicated that the number of vacancies advertised across Hertfordshire had fallen by 32% on the previous year. However, it must be noted that recruitment has increased in several essential sectors including in healthcare, warehouse operations and site cleaning.

7.4 Trading Standards is starting to receive more 'business as usual' enquiries, including on how to start a new business. It also continues to receive calls about accessing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and is working closely with the district and borough Environmental Health Teams to ensure that social distancing is maintained as shops begin to re-open.

7.5 The Hertfordshire LEP continues to provide financial support to Hertfordshire Businesses. In addition to the funding options highlighted in the previous report, the LEP will provide the following:

Herts LEP SME Growth Loan Scheme: This is an LEP funded scheme providing loans of between £200,000 and £500,000 available to established SMEs in Hertfordshire requiring finance to implement expansion activities that will deliver substantial growth.

Lower Carbon Innovation Fund: This scheme is centred around providing support to SMEs that are making a positive impact on greenhouse gas reduction through the development of innovative technologies, products or services. This funding will be available to services planning to shape their

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recovery around the delivering around the national sustainability agenda.

8. Hertfordshire County Council Response

8.1 Strategic Position

8.1.1 Hertfordshire County Council’s Incident Management Team (IMT) has been meeting weekly for the last three months. However, considering the establishment of the Council’s Corporate Recovery Board, it has been decided to stand down the current IMT. The last meeting took place on 18 June 2020. The IMT Lead will continue to attend SCG on behalf of the County Council and will be able to decide when it might be necessary to stand up the IMT in response to any future developments.

8.1.2 The IMT has undertaken an initial evaluation of its role and performance over the past 3 months and any key findings of this evaluation will be shared with the Strategic Management Board and the County Council’s Resilience Board to help inform any future activity and the Council’s wider response to emergency planning.

8.1.3 A new monthly Covid-19 impact monitor has been produced to accompany this report and can be found at Appendix A. This outlines key headlines from a dashboard of performance indicators designed to track the impact of Covid-19 on both County Council services and the county as a whole. The indicators contained in this dashboard will be kept under review over the coming months with new indicators likely to be introduced as the situation evolves and new sources of information become available.

8.2 Hertfordshire County Council Covid-19 Recovery Group

8.2.1 The County Council’s Covid-19 Recovery Group has been established to provide strategic direction and decision making on key principles for recovery of County Council operations.

8.2.2 The following Recovery Group workstreams have been established:

Workplace Safety;

Workforce;

Finance & Commercial; and

Shaping our Future.

8.2.3 The recovery group is currently going through a process of categorising staff according to role type to determine who should continue working from home and who can/could return to offices on a part of full-time basis should their role require them to. Furthermore, preparations are also underway to plan for a return to the imposition of ‘hard’ lockdown measures. The Council’s proposed response is currently to revert to being much the same as it is now i.e. with the majority of staff at home and the minority in council locations as required.

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8.2.4 In the initial stages of the pandemic directorates completed Business Impact

Assessments for each service to understand the impact of lockdown which informed the service closure process. The Business Impact Assessments will be reviewed and refreshed in the coming weeks to take into consideration the impact of re-opening services and learnings from the current lockdown if this is imposed again in the future.

8.3 Hertfordshire Care Settings Update

8.3.1 Adult Care Services (ACS) have reported that as of 10 June 2020, there have been a reported 518 deaths suspected or confirmed to be Covid-19 related in Hertfordshire Care Homes. Due to this data being collated from our contact with providers, the reported total includes deaths that are suspected as Covid-19 related. Data for this information is collated from several sources including from data reported to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Public Health England and information taken directly from care homes. The figures detailing the number of deaths in care homes has been reduced as some deaths previously reported as Covid-19 related have been confirmed as being negative for the virus.

8.3.2 The reducing rate of deaths in these settings demonstrates a slowing down of the infection rate as well as a testament to the significant support to care home setting from Public Health, NHS and social care staff to mitigate the impacts of the virus in Hertfordshire. However, an increase in infections has been noted in people currently receiving home care.

8.3.3 The County Council is continuing to support home care agencies with training

in infection control and offering support to their staff to adhere to PPE guidance and standards of safe practice. This is being supported by the Council’s commitment to use 25% of the Infection Control Fund to bolster home care agencies ability to respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Hertfordshire has been cited in a letter from the Chief Executive of the UK Homecare Association to the Care Minister as being the only Council that has made such a commitment.

8.4 Adult Care Services

8.4.1 What has been delivered (Update)

In response to the announcement of a £600 million Infection Control Fund, Adult Care has worked with care providers to passport this money through to businesses for the specific purpose of preventing the virus spreading by staff working in multiple care locations. This includes agency staff only being able to work from one care home, paying staff full pay when self-isolating and additional training costs. Hertfordshire will be receiving an extra £13.3 million from the Infection Control Fund.

In a direct response to a national request from the Care Minister, the County Council outlined how it continues to respond to the Covid-19

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pandemic in collaboration with its partners in the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association and Hertfordshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups:

o Testing: Building on existing infrastructure to ensure that care homes have access to tests for both residents and staff, as per official guidelines.

o Infection Control: Establishing an outbreak cell, involving all health and social care partners across Hertfordshire in order to mitigate against potential outbreaks and to respond quickly, keeping Hertfordshire residents safe.

o Staff Support: The establishment of a seven-day telephone helpline, email and FAQ support for Hertfordshire care providers and staff.

o Recruitment: Supporting care recruitment campaigns and continuing to raise the quality of care provision in Hertfordshire.

The County Council received a positive reaction from partners and the care sector to this response to the Care Minister. The Council is now working with health partners to deliver on the action plan to reinforce the range of support available.

8.4.2 What is being planned for?

As outlined in Section 6.2, plans have been developed to take the necessary steps should there be a second wave of infections as well as advanced preparation for anticipated Winter pressures. This includes ensuring there is sufficient beds in the community with wrap around health services and care professionals to support people in care homes and their own homes with person centred therapy and rehabilitation.

Testing pathways have been widely communicated across the system and Adult Care Services are looking to see if the pathways can be extended to all patients discharged from hospital to home care settings. Currently, it is only for those patients who have presenting symptoms or are going home to where others in the home are vulnerable.

8.5 Children’s Services

8.5.1 What has been delivered? (Update)

Support has been provided for the reopening of schools in Hertfordshire. Children’s Services and Herts For Learning (HfL) are now working intensively on re-opening and recovery planning for schools. This includes the development of guidance for schools centred around three phases of recovery:

o Immediate — work required to get schools more extensively open, this summer term and then to some (unknown) extent in the early autumn.

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o Medium term — operating successfully once open but still operating under alongside Covid-19 restrictions.

o Longer term — after the epidemic is largely under control and schools have all pupils in as in the past

Children’s Services is developing guidance around each of these phases, with separate guidance being developed for primary, secondary, special schools and early years providers. This also includes the development of guidance packages to help schools through the temporary changes on Education, Health and Care Plans needs assessment.

Bereavement guides for children and young people, parents/carers and adults are now available. Brief interventions from Safe Space and other counselling partners are accessible via Funeral Directors and the mental health single point of access (SPA) to add capacity to the existing provision within the voluntary sector.

Children’s Services are working with schools, colleges and childcare services and the Council’s Highways Service to adapt nearby roads and footways to safely support social distancing during the reopening of schools.

8.5.2 What is being planned for? (Update)

Working to adapt advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) during the reopening of schools. This includes planning for multiple reopening scenarios, reviewing models around scenarios related to the relaxing of school closures and reviewing the susceptibility in children to the virus.

To continue working with the Department of Education (DfE) to record return to school attendance. The County Council currently has data on 81% of the 419 primary schools in Hertfordshire. Based on data returned from schools a total of 3,658 Reception children, 3,293 Year 1 children, 4,818 Year 6 children were in schools on Monday 9 of June.

8.6 Environment and Infrastructure

8.6.1 What has been delivered? (Update)

The Highways Service is continuing to work on reopening Hertfordshire’s town centres in line with Central Government’s social distancing measures. The focus of the service has been on shopping locations where footfall is high and where the existing pavement widths may make social distancing difficult without added measures, in preparation for the reopening of non-essential shops on the 15 June 2020.

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Changes have been made in 15 sites in 13 towns across Hertfordshire, with a focus on supporting residents and businesses to remain safe as restrictions change. Work to open Hertfordshire’s town centres includes closing roads off to traffic, removing parking allocations or narrowing roads, to provide more space for pedestrians and make sure safe social distancing is possible and residents can move around their towns in a way that meets the government’s guidance.

The Highways service has been working closely with Public Health to develop schemes that support the Government’s request for people to cycle or walk wherever possible. The service has implemented changes across four sites in Hertfordshire, with a focus on ensuring the safety of Hertfordshire residents and delivering on social distancing measures.

8.6.2 What is being planned for? (Update)

To continue with the redevelopment of Hertfordshire towns in line with social distancing measures. The Highways Service will also review these locations and produce proposals to mitigate against potential highway problems.

The Waste service continues to monitor the situation with a view to reopening further Household Waste Recycling Centres should resources allow.

The County Council has submitted a bid to Government to support the short-term delivery of active travel measures to further support the relaxation of the lockdown. The bid for £1.6 million included enhancement of existing measures, provision of cycle parking and early consideration of pop up cycle facilities. A further opportunity to bid for up to £6.7 million is expected shortly which will focus on transformational active travel solutions, as announced by the Secretary of State for Transport.

8.7 Community Protection

8.7.1 What has been delivered? (Update)

Hertfordshire Trading Standards have been working closely with Hertfordshire Constabulary warning residents to be aware that scammers are posing as NHS Test and Trace contact workers. The service is working to prevent fraudsters trying to take advantage of the Test and Trace process in on to gather personal information from individuals.

Working to implement Government guidance around the reopening of non-essential shops. This includes ensuring Hertfordshire businesses uphold Central Government guidance on working safely and supplying support to businesses as they reopen. As part of this process, Trading Standards is working as part of the Hertfordshire’s Better Business for All partnership, developing a toolkit to advise them on the new processes and procedures

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in place to support them to re-open and trade safely.

The Resilience Team also continues to play an important part in coordinating both the County Council and wider LRF response to the pandemic. This will continue for the near future and is an integral part of maintaining good communications and decision making structures.

8.7.2 What is being planned for? (Update)

To help deliver the High Streets Task Force project proposed by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government in Hertfordshire. This includes delivering resources to help support in the reopening and recovery of town centres.

Firefighters and Fire and Rescue Volunteers are working with other colleagues in the County Council to ensure that all the vulnerable residents identified by Government and locally have been visited to ensure that none have been missed and they have the support that they need.

8.8 Public Health

8.8.1 What has been delivered? (Update)

Public Health is continuing to work with partners in Health and Social Care to provide Covid-19 tests for key workers and frontline staff.

Public Health has been working with colleagues across the Hertfordshire RCG and with health sector to colleagues to coordinate the delivery of the Test and Trace programme in Hertfordshire and to establish the Local Outbreak plan for Hertfordshire. This is in line with government guidance, to support in the delivery of the national recovery effort.

Working with district and borough councils and other organisations across the county to launch a new ‘Stay Safe Hertfordshire’ campaign, which supports the safe re-opening of Hertfordshire’s town centres. Hertfordshire’s Behaviour Change Unit has developed a toolkit for businesses to provide advice and resources that will help them re-open their premises safely. The toolkit includes a suite of posters that can be displayed in the premises to encourage social distancing and other behaviours that will help to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

8.8.2 What is being planned for? (Update)

Further support for council services and partners across Hertfordshire and provision of information for the public.

Ensuring critically important services are kept running (e.g. drug and alcohol services where people may die if they do not get care; critically important nursing services for young children) while diverting nursing,

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medical and other clinicians to Covid-19 patient care during the epidemic.

It is expected that there will be increased demand on Public Health services once the national lockdown is lifted, for example with mental health and wellbeing services. Public Health will continue to prioritise services that look after those individuals at risk or with complex needs (such as drug & alcohol, sexual health, safeguarding).

8.9 Resources

8.10 What has been delivered? (Update)

Hertfordshire’s mobile test sites are continuing to run across the county, providing tests for Hertfordshire residents with Covid-19 related symptoms and essential workers. On the 13 June 2020, a new regional drive-through coronavirus testing site opened at the Tesco Headquarters in Shire Park, Welwyn Garden City.

Following Government legislation, the Hertfordshire Registration Service has been offering birth registrations from 4 June 2020. Face to face birth registration appointments have been made available at the three larger Register Offices (Watford, Hatfield and Stevenage) initially. The remaining five Register Offices will offer services once works have been completed to ensure they are Covid-19 secure.

The 2020-21 Locality Budget scheme opened ten weeks earlier than usual this year to allow members to make grants related to organisations supporting local communities during the Covid-19 lockdown. As of 22 June 2020, 668 grants had been made since the scheme opened on the 18 March 2020, with the total expenditure equating to almost £432,000.

8.11 What is being planned for?

Resources services are continuing to play a key role in delivering the County Council’s recovery phase and establishing the ‘new normal’ working culture that will develop once the national lockdown is lifted.

8.12 Update on County Council Trading Entities

The County Council owns or has a material interest in several limited trading companies including Herts Living Ltd (HLL), Herts Full Stop, Herts for Learning (HFL), Herts Catering Ltd (HCL) and Herts @ Home.

The Council is working closely with these organisations and is receiving regular updates from all services. There have been no recent updates from the County Council’s Trading Entities for this report.

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9. Public Re-assurance Co-ordination (Update)

9.1 The County Council’s Communication Team to maintain a proactive approach, anticipating the next phase of the developing crisis and putting in place measures to ensure Government updates are being communicated or new emerging service related and community issues are shared in a timely manner to protect and enhance the reputation of the County Council and to get vital information to our residents and staff. The key focus at this time has been to reassure those who are anxious or confused about the change to National Government Guidance and to also communicate service recovery and the ‘new normal’ for Hertfordshire effectively.

9.2 The County Council’s Communication Team has also been involved in the delivery of the “Stay Safe Hertfordshire campaign.” This has included developing and launching a campaign in partnership with districts and internal colleagues form highways and public health to encourage safe social distancing in town centres as they reopened following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

10. Finance Update

10.1 National Perspective - Local Government Finance Update

10.1.1 Since the last update on the 15 June 2020 there have been no further non-

specific funding announcements to ease the financial pressure created by the

Covid-19 pandemic.

10.1.2 The latest financial estimates were reported back to MHCLG on 19 June 2020 in the third return of this type. No feedback has been received on the level of reported financial pressures included in the third submission across the sector. The expectation is the reported position on financial pressures is likely to remain more than double the current level of funding announced. This position excludes further pressures in 2021/22 and onwards due to the tightening of the council’s principal funding stream, Council Tax and Business Rates.

10.1.3 The County Council continues to play its role in the lobbying of the sector to central government to ensure the sector is resourced to respond to the pandemic and is fully compensated for future losses of income caused by the pandemic. If no further funding is made available to the sector, the current level of frontline services will quickly become financially unsustainable. This pattern is repeated across County Councils, and was the focus of a report released by the County Councils Network yesterday, which can be seen at the link below:https://www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/new-analysis-reveals-councils-in-shire-counties-face-unsustainable-coronavirus-deficit.

10.1.4 An added announcement was made on 22 May 2020 for £300 million nationally for local authorities to work with Government to support test and

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trace services in their local communities. Ring-fenced funding will be provided to all local authorities in England to develop and action their plans to reduce the spread of the virus in their area. Work will build on the continued efforts of communities across the country to respond to the pandemic locally.

10.1.5 On the 11 June 2020, Government announced a further £63 million for local authorities to aid those struggling to afford food and other essentials. The allocations and conditions of the funding to local government have not yet been published. The potential benefit this funding could have on the Council’s net pressure has not been factored into any of the figures included in this report.

10.2 Local Perspective – Hertfordshire

10.2.1 As reported previously, the level of funding across the region is still at £60.1

million, with Hertfordshire County Council receiving £47.9 million.

10.3 The Financial impact of Covid-19 on Hertfordshire County Council

10.3.1 In the Council’s third submission on financial pressure to MHCLG totalled £73.5 million. This is an increase of £9.5 million from the May submission. This creates a revenue pressure in the region of £26 million in the 2020/21 budget monitoring.

Update No.5 17

10.3.2 A summary of this figure is included in the table below, and a detailed

breakdown is included as Appendix B.

10.3.3 The increase in return total of £9.5 million is allocated to two key areas. Schools and Children’s Services (SCS) has increased by £4.1 million and ACS has increased by £6.4 million. These increases have been offset by a few small reductions in other areas as forecasts have revised.

10.3.4 In SCS the notable change is an increase of £4.1 million Home to School Transport estimates to a revised forecast of £6.9 million. This is an area of great uncertainty across the sector due to the number of assumptions which need to be applied in connection with the opening of schools, the number of pupils per class and the potential changes in social distancing guidance. The £6.9 million forecast only includes £0.4 million in relation to mainstream school transport. The bulk of the forecast is in relation to the increase in transport required for Special School pupils. The current estimates include an assumption of this level of social distancing being needed until March 2021.

10.3.5 The County Council is still committed to supporting Adult Care Services in their efforts to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Council will continue to offer support to commissioned providers, through the extension of provider claims until the end of September. As it stands, the total increase in provider support to help tackle the Covid-19 pandemic is £16.2 million. The extension in support, along with revised assumptions on the rate of claims to be lodged, has created an uplift of £3.7 million in the forecast of total supplier support. Further intelligence and information have led to a net increase of £2.5m in other areas of ACS. The highest other increase is in relation to residential and domiciliary care not being provided during the pandemic which the Council continues to fund to support the local care sector. This cost is not however included in the £73.5 million forecast, but the reduction in the level of social care contributions now not being billed is seen as a financial pressure. The forecasted pressure for this reason is now

Service Cost

£’000 Risk £000

Income Loss £’000

Un-deliverable

savings £’000

Total £'000

Schools & Children’s Services (SCS)

1,496 17,431 4,025 149 23,101

Resources 1,160 30 4,299 438 5,927

Community Protection 177 - 256 - 433

Environment & Infrastructure

1,654 - 136 - 1,790

Adult Care Services (ACS)

27,375 3,489 1,309 4,023 36,196

Public Health 250 - - - 250

Shield & Sustain 5,089 - - - 5,089

Treasury Returns - - 750 - 750

Total 37,200 20,950 10,775 4,610 73,536

Update No.5 18

estimated at £4.8m.

10.3.6 Within the £73.5 million forecast there continues to be a few areas which are based on high level assumptions. One specific area this is particularly relevant is the impact of lockdown and social-economic decline on the demands and complexity of Children’s Social Care support. There is therefore a risk that the total pressure could be over or understated. There will be continual monitoring throughout the financial during the year, with the revised position reported.

10.3.7 In addition to the £73.5 million cost pressure on revenue, the County Council is acutely aware of unforeseen cost pressure in the Capital Programme. Key strategic infrastructure projects, including the A120, A602 and New River Bridge, totalling £11.1 million. The County Council has bid for external funding to help manage these pressures to remove the need to re-align existing and new capital funding streams, and therefore minimise the impact on the level of schemes delivered and the council’s net borrowing requirement. The effect of Covid-19 is being assessed across the rest of the programme to understand all implications, and where necessary proactive solutions found.

10.3.8 Beyond the impact on the 2020/21 financial position is the forecasted deficit for 2021/22 and the duration of the Integrated Plan. The County Council is working with districts and boroughs councils across the county to monitor and model the impact on the collection rates and the reduction in the net billing position. There is expected to be four key impacts creating a significant financial pressure, which could be in the region of £40 million if there is a net reduction of 5% in rates receivable, for the council:

A gradual increase in Council Tax Reduction applicants due to job losses and an increase in Universal Credit.

A restriction in the forecasted growth in new homes.

A reduction in the value of business rates billing created by less businesses operating and more qualifying for support.

A fall in collection rates as residents and businesses struggle financially during this period of economic recession.

10.4 Medium term impact

10.4.1 Whilst the immediate analysis is focussed on the current fiscal year, it is likely that the on-going impact will be felt in the coming years for the following reasons:

Some of the necessary actions could create on-going costs e.g. in adult social care placements.

It will not only be savings programmes in the current year that are affected, as savings get more difficult to identify and achieve, quite often there is a project that runs across several years and the savings are only achieved when that is complete. For example, the transformation programme for Children Looked After that is creating care capacity in Hertfordshire started

Update No.5 19

in summer 2019, yet savings are only expected in the 2021/22 fiscal year after a project that straddles three fiscal years.

The impact of the issue of reduced Council Tax and Business Rates (explained above) which will be felt next year and beyond. Initial indications from districts councils is the collection rates could fall by up to 5%. This would generate a £40 million funding gap to the County Council.

If the economic position means some companies who supply the County Council cease trading, this could push costs up for the Council to find alternatives or through higher tender costs.

10.4.2 The significant uncertainty created by the impact on the economy and public sector finances has meant the Spending Review that was expected to be published in July 2020 has now been postponed. This postponement in conjunction with the doubt surrounding whether added support will be forthcoming from Central Government produces a very unpredictable financial position for the 2021/22 budget and Integrated Plan refresh.

10.5 Funding

10.5.1 Considering the size of the financial pressure being reported it is essential that the County Council continues to share its pressures across the public domain and use that transparency to lobby the Government for added funding and resources.

10.5.2 The precise cost impact is still difficult to estimate. Costs will not be evenly spread throughout the year, partly reflecting that adult social care costs are being paid to providers on a claim basis, and also the fact there is expected risk of some costs being incurred after the lockdown period, for example in children’s social care.

10.5.3 Further reports will be brought to Cabinet throughout the year on the financial position, including updates to the estimates (as well as any other financial issues arising). At the appropriate stage, Cabinet are likely to need to make further specific decisions about dealing with the financial implications of Covid-19. This may include the following:

Use of financial support from the Government;

Identification of areas where there are some savings (if some activity is halted, there may be some small savings e.g., training courses deferred), or where savings need to be found;

Use of the contingency; and

Use of reserves.

10.5.4 Whilst use of reserves/contingency is always a last resort, prudent financial management in recent years means that the County Council can respond to significant one-off financial pressures. However, the full extent of the financial pressures the pandemic will create is still very volatile. The level of reserves available is not inexhaustible and can only be utilised once. In Iine with the

Update No.5 20

County Council’s financial regulations, a request would be brought back to Cabinet to approve any use of reserves.

10.6 Support for companies supplying the County Council

10.6.1 The County Council continues to work to support those companies that supply the Council. Helping them to support their employees and trying to ensure that those services are ready and can continue as services resume.

10.6.2 In April 2020, the County Council changed all suppliers to immediate payment terms i.e. as soon as the payment is processed it is on the next payment run. The Council made this decision in order to provide additional support to its own suppliers, keeping in line with National Government Guidance on supplier relief. It was agreed that this approach would be reviewed on 30 June 2020 and at this review of the policy, a two-month extension was approved.

10.6.3 Subsequently, the Government has issued further guidance on supplier relief (PPN 04/20) covering the period 1 July 2020 through to 31 October 2020 which supports the continuance of supplier relief where thought appropriate, but also encourages such measures to be supported by a transition plan setting out exit arrangements for ending support; this process should include reviews to ensure that contracts are still operationally relevant and viable. The Council’s guidance pages have been updated accordingly.

11. Equalities Impact (Update)

11.1 When considering proposals placed before Members it is important that they are fully aware of and have themselves rigorously considered the equalities implications of the decision that they are taking.

11.2 Rigorous consideration will ensure that proper appreciation of any potential impact of that decision on the County Council’s statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As a minimum this requires decision makers to read and carefully consider the content of any Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) produced by officers.

11.3 The Equality Act 2010 requires the Council when exercising its functions to have due regard to the need to (a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

11.4 As mentioned in previous reports, the Council’s Equality and Diversity Team have been working with counterparts in other councils to identify areas where the impact of Covid-19 and social isolation could have had an increased

Update No.5 21

impact on specific communities and are working with service areas and partners to develop appropriate plans.

11.5 Following from the Public Health England’s initial publication of the impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, a set of recommendations have now been published. The full list of recommendations can be found on the Government website. The County Council’s internal Diversity Board will be reviewing the PHE recommendations in the context of current external influences raised through the Black Lives Matter movement. Issues raised by staff at a recently held staff BAME Q&A session both in relation to Covid-19 and wider detrimental concerns will also be a key consideration.

Background information

Hertfordshire County Council’s Planning and Response to Covid-19 – Previous

Cabinet Reports:

23 March 2020

https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=1529&

Ver=4

20 April 2020

https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=1530&

Ver=4

18 May 2020

https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=1531&

Ver=4

15 June 2020

https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=1533&

Ver=4

The Government’s website is an essential information source

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-

response

Hertfordshire County Council’s real-time service updates

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/coronavirus-service-

updates.aspx

Hertfordshire County Council’s stay safe guidance

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/news-archive/coronavirus-

frequently-asked-questions