Agenda item

The attached report on the COVID-19 crisis is to be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 13 May 2020. The decisions of the Executive will be circulated on a supplementary agenda.

Council considered a report on the latest Covid-19 position, including the Council’s emergency response, the financial impact of Covid-19 on the Council and a proposed approach to recovery.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

1.               That the current position and the Council’s emergency response to date be noted.

2.               That the Officer Key Decisions which have been taken in response to the COVID-19 emergency, as set out in Paragraph 4.11.2 in the report, be noted and endorsed.

3.               That the recovery phase approach, as set out in Section 4.13 of the report, be approved.

4.               That the Executive records the significant pressures on the Council’s budget if the Government does not meet its promise to fund the shortfall being predicted and set out in the report, and that officers be requested to undertake a review of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Strategies and report back to the June 2020 Executive meeting.

5.         That the following Motion be agreed -

‘That this Council formally places on record its heartfelt thanks to all those across the NHS, care workers, local councils, food retailers, transport services, all other key workers and volunteers upon whom we have become reliant to get us through these unprecedented times. They have selflessly put their own lives at risk in order to support our community through the pandemic. Some have sadly fallen victim to the virus and our heartfelt condolences go to their families and loved ones. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.   

We also wish to place on record our thanks to all of our SBC staff across the services who have faced extraordinary pressures and whose response to the Coronavirus pandemic has been quite simply amazing.

May we also thank the people of Stevenage whose response has been extraordinary, in protecting their families and communities by following government guidance, in spite of the personal sacrifice this has entailed, and in the many small acts of kindness and neighbourliness that have happened across the town.

We know that there will be no quick resolution and the impact of the pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future.   Many are still falling ill but a greater number of people are recovering thanks to the efforts of our NHS heroes.  It is predicted now that we will face a deep recession which, if it happens, will further compound the suffering that many have already faced.  The Council will be working with our partners to tackle this with a Recovery Task Force.   And there is hope.  Our brilliant scientists are working flat out to find a vaccine and we are all adapting the ways we work and interact with each other to minimise the risk of infection.

It will be tough for us all to return to ‘normal’, whatever that normal may look like.  However the spirit of Stevenage has been clear to see in recent weeks when we have truly lived the value of our motto ‘The Heart of a Town Lies in its People’, and it is in that spirit that we will continue to work co-operatively with our staff, partners, businesses and, most importantly, our community to face the coming challenges positively and continue working for an ‘even better’ Stevenage.’