Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change.

Decision

(a)       That the initial impact of the ‘lockdown’ phase of COVID-19 on                    vulnerable groups in Dorset (attached at appendix 1) be noted;

(b)       That the findings of a series of round-table discussions with Councillors   as summarised at appendix 2, be noted;

(c)        That the an ongoing assessment of the impact on vulnerable groups          through subsequent phases of the pandemic be agreed;

(d)       That the action plan outlined at section 5 of appendix 1 be agreed; and

(e)       That the initial assessment undertaken largely by staff ‘released’ from core roles to assist with the covid-19 response be noted and the actions set out in section 5 require appropriate resourcing and oversight.

(f)        That the report be referred to People Scrutiny Committee for  consideration.

Reason for Recommendation:  To ensure that Cabinet is aware of the impact of COVID-19 on Dorset’s vulnerable communities and responds accordingly. 

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change set out the report on how well the Council had responded to the Covid-19 pandemic in meeting the needs of vulnerable groups during the lockdown period. 

Since the last meeting of Cabinet work had been undertaken on an initial assessment of the ‘lockdown phase’ including  local and national research, discussions with partners and round-table meetings with Councillors. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that it was a qualitative exercise based on a constantly evolving situation and that the feedback from Councillors had been hugely helpful.

The EqIA should be viewed as a “live” document that was designed to inform decision-making during the coming phase of Covid-19, reset & recovery. The report had a level of pre-scrutiny due to the round table events but would also be considered by People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July 2020 with an update being reported back to Cabinet later in the year.

Additionally  the EqIA had also been internally reviewed by the Equality Action Group. Members heard from officers who set out some of the detail findings for the action plan,  including focusing on how to ensure that key messages reached vulnerable groups.  In particular Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups were at greater risk that White Ethnic groups. There was a need to look at how the Council it would meet the requirements of these vulnerable groups going forward into the future.

In response to a question regarding rough sleepers, the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety advised that some rough sleepers just didn’t want to be housed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but he confirmed that officers continued to work with them with the support of outreach services to ensure that they were supported.

Members welcomed the report which was content rich but noted that it was also important to remember that many of those who were vulnerable and  community shielding also wanted to make a contribution with the skills that they had to offer.

Decision

(a)       That the initial impact of the ‘lockdown’ phase of COVID-19 on                    vulnerable groups in Dorset (attached at appendix 1) be noted;

(b)       That the findings of a series of round-table discussions with Councillors   as summarised at appendix 2, be noted;

(c)        That the an ongoing assessment of the impact on vulnerable groups          through subsequent phases of the pandemic be agreed;

(d)       That the action plan outlined at section 5 of appendix 1 be agreed; and

(e)       That the initial assessment undertaken largely by staff ‘released’ from core roles to assist with the covid-19 response be noted and the actions set out in section 5 require appropriate resourcing and oversight.

(f)        That the report be referred to People Scrutiny Committee for  consideration.

Reason for Recommendation:  To ensure that Cabinet is aware of the impact of COVID-19 on Dorset’s vulnerable communities and responds accordingly.