Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Chief Executive regarding the County Council’s continuing responses to and process (and leadership) of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive regarding the County Council’s Response to the COVID-19 crisis.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor House addressed Cabinet, welcoming a full and helpful report. He raised questions on the position on data sharing with government and on the provision of telephone based services. Councillor House highlighted the importance of learning from experience to ensure both transparency and better outcomes in the future.

Key elements of the report were introduced, highlighting the importance of keeping “R” as low as possible, the learning that had taken place with regards care homes, preparations for the wider re-opening of schools and recreational facilities, the booking system in place at HWRCs and the work of officers in Corporate Resources to keep key support processes running. The position of telephone based services was clarified.

Cabinet welcomed the report and agreed the importance of learning from experiences to both understand what could have gone better and also what went particularly well and could become part of a new normal.

Tributes were paid to officers delivering services and working hard to bring back services that had been suspended. The resilience and response of Hampshire’s communities in looking after each other and working together was praised.

The recommendations set out in the report were considered and agreed. A

decision record is attached to these minutes.