Agenda item

Update to the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in this portfolio.

3.1     Councillor Tim Mitchell (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health), provided a briefing on key issues within his portfolio. The Committee also heard from Jeff Lake (Deputy Director of Public Health).

3.2     Councillor Mitchell advised that case rates of Covid-19 had been falling steadily in Westminster since early mid-January following wider restrictions introduced earlier in the month. Based on cases from the previous week, WCC had the sixth lowest rate of infection in London at 331.4 per 100,000 population (which was down by 29% from the previous week). Further information was also provided on the rollout of vaccinations and testing including the vaccinations programme for care homes.

3.2     The Committee received the update and held detailed discussions on the following topics:

·     Outbreak Management – In response to questions over how outbreaks of Covid-19 were managed within Westminster the Committee was provided with details on the roll out of local testing sites, and roll out of targeted asymptomatic testing, which had supported an increase in local testing rates. Members were pleased to note that that there was three local testing sites, using PCR laboratory tests for those with symptoms, and mobile testing facilities at Hyde Park. Asymptomatic testing was also available at three other sites within Westminster. For those who were asymptomatic, the focus had been on testing key workers and others who had to leave their home during lockdown. Testing had also been targeted at settings with vulnerable residents, including the homeless and those with supported care.

·     Communications and Resident Engagement – The Committee was updated on the Covid-19 communications undertaken to date to ensure residents, businesses and stakeholders were aware of how to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus. There had been a recent focus on promoting the stay at home message, symptomatic and asymptomatic testing, and encouraging residents to feel confident in taking up the vaccine when they were offered it. The Council was aware of anti-vaccination messaging around the Covid-19 vaccine circulating within communities. Communications and Community Engagement Teams were currently sourcing and producing localised content, with trusted sources sharing factual information about the vaccine and what it meant to them to receive the vaccine. Members were interested to note that the Council was producing its own localised communications to address local vaccination hesitancy in addition to working closely with the NHS to amplify national NHS campaigns.

·       Vaccine Uptake - The roll out of Covid-19 vaccinations had commenced in late December with the programme being led by the NHS with support from the Local Authority. Currently, there was no published data available on vaccinations at a Local Authority level. However, regionally, 890,877 first doses and 59,155 second doses of the vaccination had been delivered in London (by 30th January 2021). In the North West London Health and Care Partnership CCG area, which covered Westminster, 158,032 doses had been administered up to the 24th January 2021. The Committee discussed vaccine hesitancy in areas with high deprivation and within BAME communities. Whilst precise data within Westminster was not currently available for these communities’ work was being undertaken on communicating factual information to these groups. Members discussed the importance of working in unison with faith groups, Ward Councillors and individuals who worked within these communities to tailor specific messages in order to break down barriers and help identify areas the NHS should target.

·     Adult Social Care Budget – In response to a concern raised over the Adult Social Care budget Councillor Mitchell informed the Committee that the budget proposals had been discussed at the Budget Task Group and Cabinet and were due to go before Council for approval shortly. It was explained that any changes to the Adult Social Care budget were about ensuring the efficient use of resources. As any changes would have a minimal impact on service delivery there was not a requirement to undertake a public consultation exercise.

3.3      The Committee also discussed the development of a mental health task group, transporting residents to vaccination centres and staff working within the care home sector. Finally, the Chair expressed the Committee’s thanks to the Cabinet Member and all those staff who were providing valuable assistance in helping respond to the challenges faced by the Covid-19 pandemic.