Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual (MS Teams)

Contact: Charlotte Sadler  Email: democratic.services@iow.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

7.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 223 KB

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2020.

Minutes:

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2020.

8.

Declarations of Interest

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

Minutes:

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

9.

Public Question Time - 15 Minutes Maximum

A Question may only be put if notice including the name and address of the questioner has been given by delivery in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services at democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than two clear working days before the day of the meeting, Monday, 25 January 2021.

Minutes:

Questions may be asked of the Chairman without notice but to guarantee a full reply at the meeting such questions must be delivered in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services at democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than 9.30 am on 26 January 2021. Each question must give the name and address of the questioner.

10.

#Covid-19 Response and Recovery

Verbal update from each of the members on Covid-19 response and recovery and identification of areas of concern benefit for the overall well being of the community which the board can consider in the short and medium terms.

Minutes:

The chairman explained that the meeting will be run in a slightly different way as everyone is currently under pressure due to the COVID19 pandemic. As there were no reports written for the meeting as officers time is currently required elsewhere.

 

The chairman invited individual members of the board to give updates. The Director of Regeneration gave an update to the board on the response and recovery of COVID19 from a regeneration point of view. The three intended pillars of recovery were given to the board. Recovering as a community, recovery as an economy and how as a place we can recover and learn from experiences that 2020 has brought.

 

The focus of the community pillar has had a very good response from both businesses and members of the community in collaborating and protecting the most vulnerable. Mental wellbeing is also covered in the community pillar and recourses of support available have been promoted. A sustainable solution for the homeless has also been worked on protecting some of the most vulnerable in the community.

 

From an economic point of view, it was raised how businesses being affected by the restrictions of lockdowns has also had a knock on effect on unemployment. The unprecedented increases in unemployment were raised and it was explained that this is affecting the young people within the community the most. The board was told how two million pounds has been paid out in business grants to help business affected by lockdowns.

 

The Director of Children’s Services gave the board an update in relation to education. The Prime Minister announcement was bought to the board’s attention. It was heard the ambition is to re-open schools on March 8th. Currently schools are still open and proving education the children of critical workers and vulnerable children. The board was told how the Early Years provision on the Island is open for all young children and is being used by many parents. In the Primary School sector there is 20 percent of children attending school. This is a mix of critical worker children; children open to social acre and children with special educational needs. It was explained this is exactly the same as the national average. In the secondary sector it was explained that there is around 4 percent of children attending school. This is both nationally and on the Isle of Wight. The board heard how the services for the most vulnerable children are standing up well and face to face home visits are still being carried where there is evident risk. Children and families are also being supported through online means. The long-term impacts of the COVID19 pandemic on children were raised and the Director of Children’s Services told the board how this issue was addressed by the Prime Minister and the 4 year pan the Prime Minister mentioned was approximately the same time frame as the Director of Children Services had in mind.

 

The Chairman agreed and said that the impact physically and mentally of children on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Members' Question Time

A question must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services no later than 9.30am on Tuesday, 26 January 2021.

Minutes:

A question must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services no later than 9.30 am on 26 January 2021.