Agenda item

Presentation by Jenni Craig, Service Director Customer and Communities (slides attached).

3.1       Jenni Craig, Service Director Customer & Communities gave a slide presentation to provide an update on the Covid-19 current position.  Mrs Craig referred to the current trend which was showing the number of cases accelerating significantly due in part to the circulation of the new, even more transmissible variant of the virus.  The continued rate of increase and the impact on health services was deeply worrying.  It was essential therefore that everyone followed the current guidance and followed the ‘Stay at Home’ message.  Due to high case numbers in the Hawick area, a Mobile Testing Unit had been deployed in the town.  In addition a walk-in testing facility had been opened at the Langlee Complex in Galashiels.  The Council was involved in discussions with Scottish Government and other partners about the potential for asymptomatic community testing facilities in the Scottish Borders. Mrs Craig went on to talk about Service implications of the latest lockdown.  In general there were no direct impacts on Council services over and above what was already in place during the short Level 4 period which came into effect on Boxing Day. However, the Council needed to ensure that it continue to deliver essential frontline services and to support communities.  This would likely result in the need to deploy staff to support certain services, which would result in others having to scale back on their operations. In terms of the Education Service, from 11 January online and remote learning was being provided for all pupils, with in-school arrangements for invited young people and the children of key workers.

 3.2      Mrs Craig explained about the Community Assistance Hubs, which remained operational to co-ordinate support within localities. The number of referrals was rising and, due to the continued increase in Covid cases, staff were making more calls to those isolating to ensure they were aware of the support available.  Anyone in need should call 0300 100 1800 to access support. Financial assistance may also be available to those in need.  The Council’s Financial Inclusion Team was able to help with a wide range of advice and support. This support could also be accessed via 0300 100 1800 and via www.scotborders.gov.uk/coronavirus. Information relating to fuel poverty assistance could be found via www.scotborders.gov.uk/affordablewarmth Mrs Craig went on to explain that a range of business support was available for firms experiencing difficulty.  Information was available online at www.scotborders.gov.uk/covid19business. Businesses were also encouraged to use the national Find Business Support website to check all available funding support, including that being administered by other parties. www.findbusinesssupport.gov.scot  The Council continued to work with South of Scotland Enterprise to ensure the most appropriate business support was made available to businesses most in need. In response to a question about funding for businesses, Mrs Craig confirmed that funding for businesses was continuing to flow from Scottish Government and being turned around quickly by the Council.  There were ongoing high level discussions about further future funds and where these should be targeted.  Once decisions were made it was expected this funding would flow through quickly to the Council and be made available to eligible local businesses.