Executive Board Meeting 10am, Friday 25th September 2020 MS Teams (Virtual) AGENDA 1. Apologies 2. Declarations of Interest 3. Minutes of the Executive Board Meeting 19th June 2020 * 4. Chair’s Report 5. Growth and Infrastructure Report * 6. Employment Issues for Local Government – the Regional Employers’ Board * 7. Asylum and Refugee Resettlement in the East Midlands * 8. Report of Management Group * 9. Any Other Business *Papers attached Item 3 EAST MIDLANDS COUNCILS EXECUTIVE BOARD MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19TH JUNE 2020 HELD VIA MS TEAMS Present: Cllr Martin Hill OBE (Chair) – Lincolnshire County Council Cllr Jonathan Morgan (Vice-Chair) – Charnwood Borough Council Cllr Mick Barker – Derby City Council Cllr Tom Beattie – Corby Borough Council Cllr David Bill MBE (EMC Lib Dem Group) – Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Cllr Roger Blaney (EMC Conservative Group) - Newark & Sherwood District Council Cllr Gordon Brown – Rutland County Council Cllr Kay Cutts MBE – Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr Tricia Gilby – Chesterfield Borough Council Cllr Barry Lewis – Derbyshire County Council Cllr David Lloyd – Newark & Sherwood District Council Cllr Sandra Naden-Horley – Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Jonathan Nunn – Northampton Borough Council Cllr Ivan Ould – Leicestershire County Council Cllr Alan Rhodes (EMC Labour Group) – Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr Nick Rushton – Leicestershire County Council Cllr Sarah Russell – Leicester City Council Cllr Jason Zadrozny (EMC Independent Group) – Ashfield District Council Meng Khaw – Public Health England Rowen Limb - BEIS Anthony May – Nottinghamshire County Council Bev Smith – North West Leicestershire DC Stuart Young – East Midlands Councils Andrew Pritchard – East Midlands Councils Sam Maher – East Midlands Councils Brein Fisher – East Midlands Councils Lisa Hopkins – East Midlands Councils (Minutes) Apologies: Cllr David Mellen (Vice-Chair) – Nottingham City Council Cllr Matthew Golby – Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Oliver Hemsley – Rutland County Council Cllr Chris Poulter – Derby City Council 1 Item 3 ACTION 1. Apologies 1.1 Apologies were received as noted above. 2. Declarations of Interest 2.1 Cllr Martin Hill declared an interest in land on the edge of Melton Mowbray – this is a standing Declaration of Interest held on file since September 2015. 3. Minutes of Executive Board Meeting held on 20th September 2019 3.1 The minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record. Matters Arising 3.2 There has been much work undertaken in relation to development schemes and infrastructure proposals during the last few months, not least the 10 year HS2 investment plan. 3.3 Stuart Young reported on-going discussions to re-convene the East Midlands APPG. Cllr Hill suggested it may be easier to arrange a remote meeting with MPs. Stuart will follow this up with the co-chairs, Alex Norris MP and Nigel Mills MP. SY 3.4 Work is continuing with HS2 East, Midlands Connect and Northern Powerhouse rail partners. 3.5 All other matters arising are covered in the papers. 4. Chair’s Report 4.1 Cllr Martin Hill introduced this report. There are several financial implications for local government in relation to Covid-19 and it is hoped that central government will now devolve more roles to local government. 4.2 Stuart Young updated members in relation to the current situation. Business support grants are fundamental to keeping local businesses going. We were quick as a sector to support these grants which were welcomed, however there are a number of gaps. Local Authorities have put together locally focused schemes. 4.3 Local Authorities have stepped up and the sector has worked more collaboratively. 2 Item 3 ACTION There will be real changes ahead not least with the restarting of the economy and the next phase in July with the re-opening of the hospitality industry. As a region we are working through Anthony May with the MHCLG Economic Recovery Group and working with BEIS. 4.4 Anthony May updated members on the latest developments. In Anthony’s role as Lead Chief Executive for the region, he has also a national role. He updated members on the implications of long-term unemployment and skills and the difficulty for people getting on the employment ladder. His role is to ensure that the East Midlands is represented at national discussions. The full nature of the impact is not yet known. 4.5 Cllr Martin Hill highlighted the main issue now is trying to get the local economy going and high street restarted. There is a need for people to have the confidence to go out. 4.6 Feedback from Chief Executives has suggested that this has progressed quite well. Signage and preparation for the reopening of the high street has worked well and there has not been a huge amount of concern over the last few days. There have been some localised concerns and public transport is a main area of concern. 4.7 Rowena Limb updated members on the business support schemes, and how BEIS have been working with Local Authorities and LEPs in relation to the spend and delivery. 4.8 Stuart Young highlighted that the business sector and LEPs have pulled together on issues around growth, restart and recovery and there is a need to be clear in relation to the leadership roles and how we can work together. There have been times over last couple of months for the need to be organised and how we work with MHCLG. 4.9 Cllr Martin Hill stated that public transport issues and viability of these going forward is of concern. There are issues that need to be addressed and there is also a ‘double hit’ due to school closures. He stated there is a big problem in relation to getting children to school as there are not enough home to school transport. 4.10 Cllr David Bill highlighted the letter from Robert Jenrick MP. He asked whether this is a definite situation or whether schemes can still be submitted? Cllr Martin Hill confirmed this is through the LEPs and there will be more opportunities in the future. Rowena Limb confirmed there is talk of a Chancellor’s statement later this month. 3 Item 3 ACTION 4.11 Rowena Limb stressed the need to continue thinking about what is needed for the future even though the initial scheme closed yesterday. The Towns fund could be an additional opportunity. 4.12 Cllr Barry Lewis echoed the schools transport issues and confirmed this will be a significant pressure. Public Heath 4.13 Meng Khaw updated members from on Public Health England developments in the East Midlands. The current rate of infection is 201 per 100,000 and the East Midlands rate of infection is relatively low. However, there is a difference in regions. The peak was around mid-April and we are now seeing a plateau to lower figures. 4.14 There are Local Authority variations with the lowest in Rutland at 88.2 per 100,000 up to Derby City at 242.2 per 100,000. 4.15 Meng Khaw highlighted to members the data of different areas and members held a discussion around this. 4.16 In relation to the outbreak in care homes, this is now dropping in terms of outbreaks per care home per day. However, the phenomenon of a second wave is something to be mindful of. 4.17 The Report shows variation across the East Midlands. Local Health Protection Boards have been set up and it is hoped can control the transmission of Covid-19 at a local level. 4.18 There is a theme emerging across the East Midlands in outbreaks at food processing and food manufacturing plants. There are 9 in the East Midlands – mainly Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Studies are being undertaken to look at this and understand the local roots of transmission. 4.19 Anthony May is working with upper tier authorities to ensure consistent plans. The 7 themes these will focus on are: . Care Homes and Schools . High Risk Workplaces . Mobile Testing Unit and local approaches . Contact tracing in complex settings . Data Integration . Vulnerable People 4 Item 3 ACTION . Local Boards 4.20 Peter Marks has been appointed to coordinate these across the region and to ensure consistency. It is hoped these plans should be completed by 30th June 2020. 4.21 Cllr Martin Hill stated that moving forward it is expected that outbreaks and plans will be managed locally. However, there is an issue with the timeliness of getting results back and the expectation of managing a local outbreak without knowing where the outbreak is. 4.22 Meng Khaw confirmed that in terms of data sharing national discussions are ongoing and there will be an announcement next Wednesday in relation to when postcode level data sharing will be available. This should help Local Authorities deal with a local outbreak. 4.23 Cllr Nick Rushton suggested we should be talking of local confinement rather than lockdown. 4.24 Cllr Tricia Gilby highlighted the importance of involving District Councils should a local outbreak occur. They have local details about local communities and relationships which have been built up by district councils and voluntary sectors that will get cooperation from people. 4.25 Cllr Sarah Russell highlighted the emphasis on sharing information and reiterated that the postcode data will be useful. There is a need to have a consistent message and there is importance around demographics. 4.26 In relation to the speed of getting test results back, Pillar 1 testing – confidence that these can be turned around within 24 hours and results back within 48 hours. Majority reach this target – the latest figure is 85%. 4.27 Meng Khaw confirmed that one of the first people to be notified when a local outbreak occurred would be the DPH team 4.28 Members stated there will be implications on budgets for next year.