Minutes:
(1) The Leader updated the Council on events since the previous meeting. He said his update would include Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC), the return to school, Covid 19, the devolution white paper and winter pressures.
(2) Mr Gough referred to the Section 5 report from the Monitoring Officer relating to UASC, which was on the agenda for this meeting. He said that following the rapid pace of UASC arrivals in Kent, KCC could no longer meet its statutory duties and provide safe care to those arriving; therefore, since 17 August 2020 new UASC arrivals had not been taken into the care of Kent County Council. This decision was taken due to concern both for the welfare of those arriving and those already in KCC’s care. Mr Gough outlined the engagement that had taken place since the spring with the government and representations made by KCC in relation to UASC. There had been an increase in financial support and transfers to other local authorities had resumed with some 153 young people placed since 1 June, but the number of arrivals had significantly exceeded the number of transfers. Mr Gough said he had given evidence to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. The committee had shown a strong interest in the situation in Kent and had expressed its appreciation for the work that KCC’s deeply committed staff were doing in this area, He stated that the National Transfer Scheme needed to be mandatory and the authority would respond accordingly to the Government’s consultation on this matter.
(3) Mr Gough referred to the return to school and provided figures on the attendance rate for Kent schools on 8 September 2020. Of those schools which had submitted a return to the DfE, attendance was 90% which was in line with the national figures. He paid tribute to the work of Kent’s schools to create a secure and welcoming environment for pupils. In relation to home to school transport, Mr Gough commended the work undertaken by the public transport team and officers in Education in dealing with an uncertain situation. The public transport team had worked closely with schools and operators to model demand and the impact of social distancing requirements to ensure sufficient capacity. He also thanked the relevant cabinet members who had led on these issues.
(4) Mr Gough stated that Kent had been below the national average in terms of the 7- day rolling average of Covid-19 infections per 100,000 of population since late July. KCC was working with regional partners to deliver local aspects of Test and Trace and had developed structures to manage any local outbreaks including the establishment of a Local Outbreak Engagement Board where Members would play a key role. He acknowledged that the situation was evolving nationally and it was essential to be ready to respond rapidly.
(5) Mr Gough said that the Government proposed to publish a White Paper on devolution in October. There had been much speculation about its contents; however, local authorities in Kent had agreed it was prudent to await its publication before making any decisions. His view was that the authority should ensure the continuing operation of Kent as a unit, both as a county with a historic identity and a strong strategic cohesion, and to avoid the risk of disaggregation of key, large-scale people services such as children’s and adults. He concluded that Kent should as much as possible respond to the White Paper as a unified local government community.
(6) Mr Gough then referred to the prospect of a number of significant risks including an increase in Covid-19 infections, winter health pressures, the end of the EU/UK transition period on 31 December and severe winter weather occurring concurrently. He said the Government focus was on trader readiness for the ending of the transition arrangements, the development of smart systems for port readiness and traffic management as a contingency. KCC continuing to exert pressure to ensure the timely delivery of solutions and decisions on issues such as enforcement powers. He thought there was still much work to be done in areas such as trader readiness and said that KCC was continuing to work to ensure that Kent was prepared is to the maximum degree possible.
(7) Mr Gough highlighted the launch of the Economic Renewal and Resilience Plan in August 2020. He referred to the government announcement of its Getting Building Fund which included £37million for projects in Kent and Medway. The new Kent and Medway Employment Taskforce would meet on 1 October 2020 and would have a major role to play in linking local businesses with people seeking employment. He referred to the negative impact of Covid-19 on the working community, including the career opportunities for young people, and stressed the importance of working with partners in both the public and private sectors to identify new opportunities for employment, skills development and work experience.
(8) In conclusion Mr Gough referred to the strategic re-set report considered at the County Council meeting in July and stated that the County Council’s interim strategic plan, covering the next 18 months, would be submitted to the County Council in the near future.
(9) Mr Bird, the Leader of the Opposition, said the speed at which the number of new cases of Covid-19 had risen appeared to have surprised the Government but it was unsurprising as the Government’s confusing messaging had been ignored by many. He acknowledged that the situation in Kent was not as challenging as other parts of the UK, but he referred to the difficulties that Kent residents had experienced in getting a test. He also said it was not the right time to abolish Public Health England and questioned the appropriateness of the person put in charge of its stripped-down successor organisation.
(10) Regarding the return to school Mr Bird paid tribute to school staff, KCC’s transport team and bus operators for their hard work. He stated that it would have been helpful if the DfE guidance, including home to school transport, had been provided earlier.
(11) Mr Bird said that the Government’s advice not to use public transport had had a detrimental effect on town centres, with increased congestion and air pollution. He referred to the disappointing announcement by Eurostar that services from Kent would not recommence until 2022 and asked the Leader to press for this service to be restored in 2021.
(12) In relation to the end of the Brexit transition period, and the lack of the necessary infrastructure, Mr Bird said the prospect of thousands of lorries being stuck in the county would be devastating for Kent residents and businesses.
(13) Referring to the proposed devolution white paper, Mr Bird expressed the view that imposing unitary councils on Kent would be totally inappropriate unless it could be clearly demonstrated that they would provide better services and value for money for Kent residents, which he did not believe to be the case.
(14) Mr Farrell, Leader of the Labour Group responded to the Leader’s report, by saying that KCC needed national support for the unique services that it provided for UASC arriving at Dover and that the national transfer scheme should be mandatory.
(15) Mr Farrell highlighted the inconsistencies in the steps taken by the Government during the Covid-19 crisis and the ambiguities in its guidance. He referred to the discharge of patients from hospitals into care homes without prior testing and the subsequent dropping of the care home testing pledge. He said it was unfair to blame young people for the rise in Covid-19 cases and emphasised the impact of the failure of the national Test and Trace system and, in particular, the contradiction between the Government encouraging the public to be tested and then blaming the public for having too many tests.
(16) In relation to the economy, Mr Farrell referred to the steps taken by other countries such as, Germany and France to extend their furlough schemes for up to 24 months in recognition of the need of millions of workers for support.
(17) In conclusion Mr Farrell referred to the lack of strategy at a national level in relation to Brexit and Covid-19.
(18) Mr Whybrow, Leader of the Independents Group, acknowledged the strong support that KCC had provided to vulnerable UASC. He agreed with the Leader that the national transfer scheme should be mandatory. He referred to the fake news online and expressed horror at the recent demonstrations by racist groups in Dover.
(19) Mr Whybrow, expressed his thanks to all officers for the work they had carried out to support schools and pupils to ensure they could return to school at the beginning of September.
(20) Mr Whybrow highlighted the consequences of the proposed changes to the planning laws on housing targets and the impact on local democracy. He referred to transport issues including the impact of Covid-19 on bus services, Eurostar not stopping in Kent until 2022 and to the potentially disastrous consequences for Kent residents and businesses following the end of the Brexit transition period.
(21) In conclusion Mr Whybrow, requested the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services to consider postponing the re-design of the commissioning of wellbeing services particularly given the steep reduction in income for charities due to Covid-19.
(22) In replying to the comments made by the leaders of the opposition groups, Mr Gough updated Members on the action he had taken in relation to the restitution of Eurostar services at Kent stations. This included a virtual meeting scheduled with the chief executive of Eurostar at which he intended to seek an assurance that services would return to Ashford and Ebbsfleet as soon as possible.
(23) Regarding the return to school Mr Gough reiterated his thanks to school staff, KCC officers and public transport operators who had responded very well to an extremely challenging situation.
(24) In relation to the end of the Brexit transition period, Mr Gough acknowledged the risk of traffic disruption. He stated that the Government was working with KCC and other partners on traffic management proposals. He was continuing to press this issue with the Government with the support of Kent MP’s to ensure that the necessary measures were in place and that Kent and its businesses were as well-prepared as possible.
(25) In conclusion, Mr Gough agreed that there was a need to focus on the impact to the economy of the end of furlough in October and referred to the work of the new Employment Task Force.
(26) RESOLVED that the Leaders update be noted.