Agenda item

The Panel received a report introduced by the Chief Executive about the Council’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and expressed an appreciation to the workforce and Members for embracing the “One Council” approach adopted by Lewisham.

In response to question during the presentation of the report, the Chief Executive gave an assurance to the Panel that the efforts employed to address the crisis were consistent with aspects of Council’s corporate priorities about the protection of the health and wellbeing of residents, particularly the most vulnerable.  However, the easing of the lockdown could be challenging due to concerns that surges of infections that might occur.  The Chief Executive stated that the scale and pace of the work had been unprecedented but the benefits from lessons learnt in the last few weeks, and those to be developed would be captured to harness and showcase the Council’s resilience in working with its partners to deliver to residents.

The Panel noted the report, and welcomed information that the Council was also contributing to the wider London arrangements by learning and sharing experiences with other local authorities, with a view to enhance its resilience to sustain capacity for timely delivery and response.

The Chair, Councillor Bill Brown, expressed a concern about the lack of clarity of funds to be reimbursed by the government in light of its promise that councils should provide whatever was necessary to support local people during the Covid-19 crisis.  The concern expressed by the Chair was echoed by other Members of the Panel, including Councillor Jim Mallory, Chair of the Public Accounts Select Committee, who stated that he had no question at the present time on the matter due to inadequate information.

Councillor Mallory sated that it was however right to inform the meeting that he had received an assurance from the Acting Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer that the Council would prepare separate budget headings for money spent on Covid-19 related items and other existing service.  Nevertheless, a published communication strategy would have enabled local people to see what would be involved in the process.  Councillor Mallory informed that he would attend Mayor and Cabinet meeting on 10 June 2020 to express his views about the uncertainty and potential gaps in the Council’s finances that could occur if the government’s refunds were insufficient.

The meeting moved into a question and answer session.  The Chief Executive and the Executive Director of Housing, Regeneration and Environment responded as follows:

1.             The Council’s Recovery Group

It was confirmed that work to implement the Group was underway.  The details would be submitted to Members when completed.  A strand of the work required the Council to provide an interim ‘lessons-learned’ report to inform the London-wide arrangement.  Internally, efforts would focus on improvement opportunities against achievements as a means of identifying what the Council would continue to do going forward.

·            Actions: information about the types of community involvement and consultation processes to be employed should be communicated to the Panel.  The Panel to receive regular updates about the work of the Group upon implementation.

2.             The Council’s Covid-19 Objectives

The Panel was advised that collaborative efforts across departments and with partnering agencies and Members were fundamental in providing critical and non-critical services to residents during the crisis.  It was stated that the Council aimed to utilise experiences from ‘lessons-learned’ in dealing with the crisis before rolling out peer reviews about its resilience and emergency planning undertakings.  Thus, objective monitoring would focus on the internal processes, rather than externally validated activities.

·            Action: The Panel to receive progress on objectives at subsequent meetings.

3.             Government Reimbursement

The Officers stated that no confirmation had been received about the amount of money the government was willing to reimburse local authorities for dealing with Covid-19 crisis.  Messages on the matter had been fluid their interpretations but Lewisham was following current guidance by keeping a forensic record of legitimate costs for monthly submission to the government.  It was stated that a report to be considered at the next Mayor and Cabinet meeting on 10 June 2020 would provide the latest data on the Council’s Covid-19 spending activities.

4.             Business Grants

The Panel heard that 3400 businesses were earmarked as eligible for the support.  To date, 2800 businesses had received grants up to a total of £37m.  The Council’s intentions included plans to pay individual visits the remaining 600 to inform about the financial aid available to assist with impact of constrains to their businesses during the current crisis.

5.             Community Outreach activities

It was confirmed that twenty members of staff from across departments and Lewisham Homes were involved in community outreach activities.  Some of the work included telephone calls to residents.  Physical welfare checks were also made to vulnerable residents at care homes within social distancing guidelines.

·            Action: The Panel to receive data about the breakdown of category of staff involved in the work.

6.             Parks and open spaces

The Panel was advised that protocols issued by the government for members of the public to use parks and open spaces were clear at the initial stages of the lockdown.  Thus, reports from staff assigned on patrols informed that the majority of people were behaving well, and self-distancing appropriately.  However, since the rules became relaxed, there had been reports of people gathering during unsocial hours and doing inappropriate things.  In the last eight weeks, some enforcement staff were attacked and abused in parks, and the police and relevant Cabinet Member were briefed about the incidents.  Notwithstanding that, the police and Council were focusing on a community-based approach as opposed to enforcement, with a view to remind and encourage members of the public to apply self-discipline when using parks and open spaces.

Specific to a concern by Councillor John Paschoud, the Officers stated that the Council was aware of the risks around the lake in Beckenham Place Park, particularly during the summer months.  Thus, steps had been taken to increase staff patrols in the area.  It was confirmed that breaches and breakages to fencing in and around Beckenham Place Park were corrected in a timely fashion, and signage directions had been updated as part of safety measures implemented by the Council.

7.             Shielding List

The Panel was advised that the Council was receiving daily updates from the National Health Services (NHS) and local General Practitioners (GP) about clinically vulnerable residents on the shielding list.  It was stated the majority of those on the list had been contacted.  However, it would be difficult to maintain currency of data because of shifts in individuals’ needs over time.  Notwithstanding that, the Council’s outreached engagement team would continue to undertake routine follow-up phone calls to residents to offer advice.  Adjustments would be made to care support packages where appropriate.  Those residents who no longer required the support would be removed from the list.

8.             Public awareness of free Covid-19 Hubs in Lewisham

It was stated that the free Covid-19 hubs erected in the north and south of the borough existed primarily to provide advice to residents.   “Frequently-asked questions” provided to call-centre staff to assist them to make referrals when dealing with residents contained information about the hubs.

·            Action: Officers to publish information about the existence of the hubs on the Council’s website to increase public awareness of the advice service.

9.       Information about Covid-19 deaths and symptoms

The Panel received confirmation that Lewisham does not have the third highest Covid-19 deaths in London.  It was stated that the number of deaths in care homes as a result of Covid-19 was below the London average.  As at 8 May 2020, the official national statistics figures for recorded deaths in Lewisham was 15.

10.          Development of Care Homes Support Plan

The Panel noted that there was no uniform distribution of care homes across London.  The Officers confirmed that the Director of Public Services was leading the work on developing Lewisham’s Care Homes Support Plan (CHSP) in partnership with the Clinical Commissioning Group and other health colleagues.  The Council had also been engaging with care home owners and managers on a regular basis in the last 10 weeks, as there were specific questions that only they could answer in regard to their clients’ needs. 

The Panel was further advise by the Officers that amongst other things, the  CHSP would set out what the 1.6m allocated to Lewisham would be spent on, with information on an assessment of whether the money would be enough to meet demands in regard to infection control, testing, personal protective, workforce, clinical support and related provisions.

It was confirmed that the draft CHSP would be signed-off for implementation by the Chief Executive and published in light of the government’s expectations, so that the public are kept informed about the work.  Members could also request a copy of the CHSP if required.

·            Action: To confirm whether consultations with trade unions took place during the development of Lewisham’s CHSP.

11.          Private care provision

The Panel was advised that carers working for residents who were financing their own social care support should be Care Quality Commission (CQC) qualified as an assurance of patients’ safety.  Thus, if it was known that such staff were not appropriately registered, the Council would take action to request compliance with CQC requirements.

12.          Rough sleepers

The Panel was advised that since the Covid-19 crisis, residents classified as ‘rough sleepers’ continued to be housed in temporary accommodation, and that the government had agreed to cover some of the costs associated with the arrangements.  The Officers stated that as with most councils across London, Lewisham would be challenging the government to continue the support, with a view of provide a longer-term housing solution for those residents.

13.          Hospital appointments

It was stated that questions about reduction of appointments in hospitals would be best answered by officials at the Lewisham and Greenwich Trust.  However a letter to the Council from Lewisham and Greenwich’s Trust Accountable Officer confirmed that efforts were ongoing to support campaigns aimed at encouraging residents at risk of strokes and heart attacks to visit hospitals, including children who had fallen ill.

14.          Local dentists and opticians

The Panel was advised that staff working in the Council’s Public Health Team would be providing financial advice, guidance, support and training in hygiene and related matters if needed by local opticians and dentists when they re-open their services to members of the public.

15.          Mental health

The Panel received confirmation that the Council had been mindful of the impact on individuals’ mental health and wellbeing, not just as a result of the general impact of Covid-19.  Thus, in addition to the package of support for Lewisham’s workforce and partners, the Council would be playing a key role in a Mental Health Prevention summit organised by the National Health Services to take place on 2 June 2020.  A key outcome planned for the upcoming summit would be a 12-months targeted programme of prevention aimed at people experiencing the impact of Covid-19 on their mental wellbeing who have not had a need to access to such a service prior to the crisis.  Thus, it was likely that issues relating to the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black and Minority Ethnic communities, the current rise in domestic violence, loss of jobs, uncertainty created by self-isolation and related matters would be addressed at the summit.

·            Actions: To report back about the proposed 12-month programme that would be delivered at the summit that is to take place on 2 June 2020.  To provide information of number of reported cases of BAME individuals sanctioned in Lewisham as a result of Covid-19 outbreak.