Decisions

On 1st March 2022 the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) published details of the ADULT SOCIAL CARE OMICRON SUPPORT FUND.  This was the final specific ASC Covid funding stream.

Surrey County Council (SCC) has received £1m of Omicron Support Fund monies.  Funding was provided so that “Local authorities have discretion to use the funding as needed locally, to support the adult social care sector, including relevant local authority staff, in its COVID-19 response, and in particular increased challenges posed by the Omicron variant”.

The funding was unringfenced and did not have to be spent within a set period.  When the funding was received, the Council was paying out the final allocations of the Infection Control and Testing Fund 3 and Recruitment & Retention Fund round 2 funding streams to ASC providers.  It was agreed therefore that Omicron Support Fund monies would be retained on the balance sheet so they could be utilised to support ASC providers in the early part of the 2022/23 financial year.

As with all previous Covid grant funding streams, the Council consulted with the Surrey Care Association to seek views on the best way to dispense the limited grant funds across Surrey’s broad ASC provider base.  Following this consultation the Adults Leadership Team determined that given this funding stream is unringfenced it would be most appropriate to invite all ASC providers to bid for funds against a set of criteria.  Providers were invited to submit applications for a funding allocation towards:

•The cost of staff sickness in April 2022.

•Hardship payments to pass onto staff members who have suffered loss of earnings due to sickness and/or the need to self-isolate.

•The cost of facilitating safe visiting in April 2022, with the option to submit a claim for the period May-June 2022 as well if funds could accommodate.

•Other cost pressures caused by the pandemic in April 2022, with the option to submit a claim for the period May-June 2022 as well if funds could accommodate.

Due to the limited value of grant funds, a decision was taken to prioritise funding for providers who provide services to residents whose care is funded by the Council.  This was made clear on the application form.

An online form was prepared to gather applications and this form was sent to providers on 20th May 2022 inviting them to apply with a deadline of 10th June 2022.

Applications were received from 165 providers, totalling £3.1m.

The Education and Lifelong Learning Service is responding to a consultation on the process for paying business rates on school premises. This would mean DfE paying billing authorities directly (and subtracting the cost from local authority Dedicated Schools Grant allocations). The proposed change is largely a change of administrative process and should have little impact on the overall education funding for Surrey, although some assurances are needed on the technical detail.

Decision made:

It was AGREED to submit the proposed attached response to the consultation outlined above.

Reasons for Decision:

The responses to the consultation will be submitted to Government so that it can be considered in relation to any future decision on the proposal.

RESOLVED:

1.   That the update on Surrey’s Digital Infrastructure strategy, the external drivers and different investments and influences be noted.

2.   That the steps being taken to accelerate delivery of certain key and relevant ‘enabling’ projects and to identify associated resourcing options be noted.

3.   That an update be brought to Cabinet in the Autumn to include:

·      Assessment of Building Digital UK (BDUK)  plans, aligned to commercial rollout

·      Update on delivery against the Digital Infrastructure strategy programme plan ‘immediate actions’

·      Identification of gaps (geographical and funding) and possible measures to address them

Reason for decision:

Achieving the Council’s objectives around digital deployment and connectivity is critical to the well-being and prosperity of Surrey’s residents and businesses.  A digitally connected Surrey will ensure that our residents and businesses can benefit from new and emerging technology enablers, i.e. virtual and augmented reality (VR & AR) which will drive the next generation of innovation at home and in the workplace; for example, autonomous electric vehicles and transport, hyper-automation, drone delivery services and digital healthcare provision.  Delivering these benefits for Council service outcomes requires a step change in digital capability and connectivity.  Surrey’s economic growth also requires a hyper-connected environment to facilitate its innovation eco-system.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources & Performance Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1.    That the purchase of the freehold land at a price of [E-10-21], plus stamp duty costs of [E-10-21], and legal, surveying and site transaction costs be approved.

Reason for decision:

See Minute 91/21.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1. That the freehold purchase of land off Chertsey Road, Shepperton, as outlined in the Part 2 of this paper for the purposes of the River Thames Scheme be approved.

Reason for decision:

The decision recommended by this report will contribute to enabling the Council, in partnership with the Environment Agency, to progress the River Thames Scheme – a major infrastructure project that will reduce the risk of flooding from the Thames for communities in Runnymede and Spelthorne.  It will achieve this through the construction of two new channel sections to divert water away from the Thames and additional capacity improvements to Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington weirs.

To construct the channel sections, it will be necessary to purchase land and to formalise agreements with third party landowners.

A forward purchase of land, in advance of submission of a Development Consent Order (DCO) application provides the opportunity for Surrey County Council and the Environment Agency to obtain land through agreement for the scheme. Forward purchasing also averts the risk of land disposal by current landowners possibly into small parcels that would make future purchase potentially more complex and expensive.

In addition, the purchase of this land provides an opportunity to provide green infrastructure for the enjoyment of residents in Spelthorne, which is underserved by the Council’s Countryside Estate which provides 10,000 acres of high-quality landscape and recreational space across the county but in Spelthorne, is limited to Sheepwalk Lake. The area known as Chertsey Meads on the opposite side of the river, complements the site linked on both sides to the Thames Path, a 184 mile long national walking trail, which provides an opportunity for a circular route within the site and an additional attraction for visitors to explore along the river.

Since the landscape quality of the site is currently low, there is a high net biodiversity value to be gained from managing the site to maximise value delivered by new wetland, woodland and grasslands.  

Approving the purchase of the land will allow Surrey County Council to support both the River Thames Scheme project and the Greener Futures priority objective.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1.    That the work undertaken by Create Streets - the latest draft of ‘Healthy Streets for Surrey’ be noted.

2.    That the aims and objectives of the draft guidance be supported.

3.    That stakeholder engagement be authorised.

Reason for decision:

Surrey County Council has a significant role in the design and implementation of new development, particularly in respect of streets specifically and transportation in general. As such, the County Council as the local Highway Authority advises the county’s Boroughs and Districts on the transportation implications of applications for planning permission. The Surrey Street Design Guide, ‘Healthy Streets for Surrey,’ is being produced in order to assist developers, the Boroughs and Districts and the community to understand what the County Council will be seeking when considering proposals. The aim is to deliver high quality, attractive, safe, accessible and sustainable development.

Before the County Council finalises this approach, it wishes to share it with stakeholders to give them the opportunity to comment on and to influence the guide, with the ultimate aim of achieving well-designed places.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1. That the Council’s forecast revenue and capital budget positions for the year be noted.

Reason for Decision:

This report is to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval of any necessary actions.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1.    That the progress being made in delivering on the ambitions of Surrey’s Economic Future Strategy be noted.

2.    That a progress update be received in six months.

Reason for decision:

Work to deliver on Surrey’s economic ambitions is underway and progress is central to Surrey’s economic recovery as we emerge from the constraints and impacts of the COVID 19 Pandemic. The actions being taken will drive economic recovery and embed resilience for Surrey businesses and residents, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that everyone is able to benefit from economic growth and therefore it is important that Cabinet have oversight of progress.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources & Performance Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1. That the latest public health situation with regard to Covid-19, nationally and in Surrey be noted.
2. That the actions being delivered through Surrey’s Local Outbreak Control Plan, including the vaccination roll out, and the ongoing support to vulnerable residents, including through the council’s Community Helpline and the Covid Winter Support Grant scheme be noted and endorsed.
3. That the latest impacts on Adult Social Care and Children’s, Families, Lifelong learning services be noted.
4. That the ongoing preparation for the local elections in May 2021 and associated risks be noted.

5. That the work and planning going on in respect of the transition into recovery from the pandemic be noted and endorsed.

6. That the intention to stand down the Major Incident from the end of April 2021 be endorsed.

7. That the continued use of Covid Bus Service Support Grant to support contracted bus services which have continued to operate through the pandemic be noted and endorsed.

Reasons for Decision:

The county and council continue to face unprecedented challenges due to the Covid-19 crisis. We are simultaneously managing response activity and work with our partners to enable recovery within the county, looking ahead to a return to day-to-day life for communities following the end of national lockdown.

The recommendations set out in this report ensure Cabinet are appraised of the most recent work going on across the council to protect, sustain and support residents and communities and the economy of Surrey.

[Where necessary a waiver for call-in will be sought from the relevant Select Committee Chairman]

RESOLVED:

1.    That the decision taken by officers since the last meeting be noted.

Reason for decision:

To inform the Cabinet of decisions taken by officers under delegated authority.

[This decision is subject to call-in by the relevant Select Committee Chairman dependent on the recommendation.]

RESOLVED:

The Leader introduced a Part 2 report containing information which was exempt from Access to Information requirements by virtue of paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including commercially sensitive information to the bidding companies).

See Exempt Minute [E-11-21]

Reason for decision:

See Exempt Minute [E-11-21]

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

There were none.

There were no petitions.

There were no public questions.

There was one member question. The question and response were published as a supplement to the agenda.

There were none.

The Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 30 March 2021 were approved as a correct record of the meeting.

There were none.