The Leader and Portfolio Holders to report on current issues.
Minutes:
49.1 The Leader and Portfolio Holders gave brief updates on current issues not reported elsewhere on the agenda:
· The council would be responding to the government’s announcement of a national lockdown, although details had yet to be published. Whilst there was no mandatory shielding for vulnerable residents, the council would be gearing up resources to provide support for those who needed it. The need to act support homelessness and rough sleepers was being anticipated, although there had been no guidance on this as yet; and the council would once again be administering the latest round of grants for businesses.
· The Leader urged everyone to observe the government guidelines on meeting with others, maintaining social distance and wearing a mask in public places.
· The threat of enforced local government reorganisation had receded for the time being, but KPMG were continuing to work on finalising their report with a focus on how the Districts and Boroughs could best cooperate and work together.
· Cllr Merryweather reported that the financial impact of the new lockdown was still being assessed, but it was likely that it would remain within the parameters of the contingency revised budget agreed by Full Council in August. The Executive had committed to review the Medium Term Financial Plan and report for Full Council by December, and this work was underway. The impact of Covid-19 would impact the Council next year, and in subsequent years, and much depended on the additional financial impacts of Covid and the amount of support provided by the government to support councils.
· Cllr Williams advised that the latest draft of the council’s response to the climate emergency, the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan 2020-2030, would be going to the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee later in the month, and then to the Executive and Full Council in December. The response to the public consultation on climate change had also been published: 93% of respondents believed climate change was an important issue; and 89% believed that Waverley Borough Council should tackle its own emissions as a priority and lead by example.
· Cllr Rosoman advised that further guidance was being sought from the government on supporting rough sleepers during the Covid lockdown, and there was pressure to reintroduce the ‘Everyone in’ scheme. The redevelopment work at Ockford Ridge was progressing well, and Community Safety Partnership continued to meet regularly to monitor reports of anti-social behaviour and other community issues.
· Cllr MacLeod reported that the council’s responses to the government’s consultations on the future of the planning system had now been submitted. The consultation on the pre-submission Draft Local Plan Part 2 would be starting shortly. This had been extended from six to eight weeks and options were being explored to overcome the restrictions of Covid and the lockdown to make hard copies available to the public. As construction work was able to continue through the new lockdown, it was hoped that the impact on the Brightwells development would not be too severe, and there would be an update following the project board meeting with Crest Nicholson later in the month.
· Remembrance Sunday events were going ahead across Waverley on Sunday, but with greatly reduced attendance compared to normal years, which was the right thing to do in the current circumstances.
· Cllr Townsend advised that the council’s leisure centres would be closed for four weeks from Thursday, with the exception of The Edge which would remain open for school use. Places Leisure staff were being furloughed, apart from a contract manager and a technical operative at each centre. The financial impact was being assessed by Places Leisure, and there would be a meeting with them on Thursday. Up until lockdown, the leisure centres had been performing better than forecast and with very positive feedback.
· Cllr Clark reported on the increased threat of cyber crime, particularly against organisations that hold large amounts of personal information, like the council. Information management and security was of paramount importance and Waverley belonged to the South East Government Warning Advisory and Reporting Point, to provide early warning and best practice advice around the latest cyber security threats. The council also subscribed to the services provided by the National Cyber Security Centre, and had recently received funding for technical cyber training.
· Cllr Follows advised that the Communications Team were receiving a high volume of questions from the public through the council’s various media channels and were working hard to respond. The Covid section of the Waverley website would be updated as more information was received from the government, and all Members would be kept updated on any developments.