Issue - meetings

A report from Cabinet Members, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth; and Cabinet Member for Communities and Emergency Planning is attached.

The Leader, Councillor O’Brien presented a report updating Cabinet on the Council’s planning for recovery from Covid-19.  The Leader reported that at its meeting on 29 July 2020, the Cabinet received an update on the Council’s response, with partners, to the Covid-19 crisis. The report particularly focused on the recovery phase, with the launch of the ten point plan of immediate recovery priorities for the next six months, with the objectives of kick-starting the local economy, protecting the most vulnerable and strengthening resident confidence and engagement.  This report provides an update on the progress of the pandemic in Bury, together with an outline of the actions underway as part of the recovery phase.

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

• Note the progress on GM and the Borough’s response to the Covid-19 emergency.
• Agree the walk-up testing sites at the Mosses Centre and Chesham, with further sites in Ramsbottom, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich; the locations of which to be delegated to the Director of Public Health, with all Councillors being notified.
• Delegate decisions regarding longer term resourcing requirements to support test and tracing, to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for HR and Corporate Affairs and other relevant Cabinet Members as appropriate.
• Agree the business continuity arrangements in relation to Civic Halls, as described in section 3.9 of the report.

Reasons for the decision:

The current changes to lockdown require that strict measures are in place. A decision to keep Council venues closed is a matter for the Council itself to decide upon.

However, cancellation of events must be undertaken in accordance with the terms of the contractual arrangement in place and legal advice should be sought where required.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject recommendations contained within the report.