Question from Councillor S. Whyte to the Leader of the Council:
‘With the lifting of Covid safety restrictions across the country, what measures are Runnymede Borough Council putting in place to protect our more vulnerable residents, such as those who are immunosuppressed, as they will no longer be able to rely on those with Covid symptoms to self isolate?’
Question from Councillor Burton to the Leader of the Council:
‘At the July 15th 2021 Full Council the following motion was passed regarding the SCHOOL TRANSPORT SERVICE:
“To review both the need for the service and also the other projects and priorities to support children and young people within the borough, in order to ensure the current subsidy agreed for the service is spent in the most appropriate way.”
“That in support of families who used the previous school transport service, funding for contributions to public transport costs be made, with a maximum budget of £58,500.
And
That to support families within the borough impacted by the Covid pandemic, a grant of £2,500 is awarded to each secondary school, totalling £12,500, with officers working with the schools to create a hardship grant scheme for the academic year 2021/2022.”
What progress has been achieved to date on these three actions? ‘
Minutes:
Question from Cllr S Whyte:
Cllr S Whyte asked the Leader of the Council the following question under Standing
Order No 13:
‘With the lifting of Covid safety restrictions across the country, what measures are Runnymede Borough Council putting in place to protect our more vulnerable residents, such as those who are immunosuppressed, as they will no longer be able to rely on those with Covid symptoms to self isolate?’
The Leader of the Council responded as follows:
‘Officers had reviewed Council policy in the light of the recent Government announcements on Covid restrictions. When it comes to our vulnerable clients; those in receipt of meals at home or who attend our day centres, we consider it necessary to continue to take precautions and protect people from covid. Therefore, we will be asking staff to continue to wear masks in appropriate settings, to wash their hands regularly and to test on a regular basis. We are in the process of sourcing lateral flow and PCR tests for staff who are working in settings with vulnerable people. As supplies may be limited, we are asking staff to source their own tests as well. Anyone who has symptoms, is being asked to stay at home until tests prove they are negative. I stress this applies to those employees working closely with vulnerable people in certain settings such as day centres, independent retirement living etc.
Any client with covid symptoms, will be asked to inform Community or Housing Services staff (as appropriate) so that we may consider taking adequate precautions.’
In response Cllr S Whyte pointed out that Covid cases were still occurring and that social media should be used to advise residents to continue to take appropriate precautions.
The Leader of the Council commented that whilst SCC was the public health authority and led on communication on Covid, he would ask the Council’s Communications Team to schedule posts in the coming weeks reminding residents to continue to take appropriate precautions.
Question from Cllr Burton
Cllr Burton asked the Leader of the Council the following question under Standing Order No 13:
‘At the July 15th 2021 Full Council the following motion was passed regarding the SCHOOL TRANSPORT SERVICE:
“To review both the need for the service and also the other projects and priorities to support children and young people within the borough, in order to ensure the current subsidy agreed for the service is spent in the most appropriate way.”
“That in support of families who used the previous school transport service, funding for contributions to public transport costs be made, with a maximum budget of £58,500.
And
That to support families within the borough impacted by the Covid pandemic, a grant of £2,500 is awarded to each secondary school, totalling £12,500, with officers working with the schools to create a hardship grant scheme for the academic year 2021/2022.”
What progress has been achieved to date on these three actions?
The Leader of the Council responded as follows:
‘We have decided to review the service offered by the so called yellow bus service because: -
a) of the very low take up at some schools
b) the significant subsidy to the service for relatively few pupils
c) two miles if unsafe route to walk/cycle. The fact that home to school transport is a County Council function. Every pupil over 8 and living more than three miles from their school is entitled to free transport as are pupils with disabilities or those that have no safe walking route from home to school.
d) we have subscribed a service for families who can afford to pay a daily fare. It does not help low income families, or target children at risk or in need of support.
As the Council develops its Health and Wellbeing Strategy (which will be with us in draft form in the next couple of months) it seemed the appropriate time to look at how best we might target our scarce resources. What the work today shows is that supporting children and young people through provision of leisure, recreation/services is a key need in the borough. This is a wider challenge/need than transport for a small number.
A full report will be submitted to the Community Services Committee at the first opportunity after the May elections. However, in the interim here are some of the initiatives we are considering: -
a) Support to schools to ensure that particularly vulnerable pupils attend school by providing a school based bus service.
b) Ride to school bicycle schemes, to provide subsidised cycle purchase or free to those on very low incomes.
c) After school activity clubs such as the proposed Addlestone Youth Café. This would not only provide low cost or free recreational opportunities but provide access to laptops for homework.
d) Small bursaries to enable young people to develop in the world of arts and sport.
e) Opportunities for young people to access ‘rewards’ for community work.
f) Eat healthy/be active schemes. Runnymede does have a higher than Surrey average in terms of obesity and lower than average levels of physical activity and this ought to be a priority.
As the Strategy and its Action Plan is developed it is intended to hold a session with the H & W Member Working Party, to receive Member comments, ideas and contributions, as well as engage with statutory and voluntary/community sector partners through the H & W Task Group. These are just a few of the ideas coming forward. It is open to any Councillor to feed in their suggestions via Darren Williams in Community Services and they will be explored.
In response, Cllr Burton asked whether any of the £58,500 budget to assist towards public transport costs had been spent and if the secondary schools had been given a grant £2,500 each.
The Leader of the Council stated that none of the £58,500 had been spent as yet and would provide a written answer to all Members in respect of the grants to secondary schools. The Leader stated that officers were working hard to stabilise the situation post Covid, but confirmed that the budget was in place for next year and future years.
Cllr R King commented on the high truancy rates in Runnymede and the need for the service. The Chairman of Community Services Committee confirmed that the issue of truancy rates would be discussed with the Corporate Head of Community Services this week and would be addressed in the emerging Health and Wellbeing Strategy.