Minutes:
The
Leader addressed Council on the current situation in regard to Covid 19.
The
rate of cases per 100,000 population has further reduced. On the 14th January the rate was
recorded at 363.5 and the positivity rate was recorded at 20.2%. As of the 24th
January the rates had reduced to 235.8 and 17.2% respectively. The current levels compare with those seen at
the time of the last firebreak. As of 27th January 2021 the figures
had reduced further to 187.7 with the positivity rate 15.1.
Currently,
there are 3 new variants of concern (VoC), Kent
variant, South African variant and the Brazilian variant within in the UK. In Wales, 10 cases of the South African
variant have been identified. All these
variants have been identified as being more transmissible. Evidence has emerged that the Kent variant
may have a slightly higher mortality rate with 13 cases per 1,000 compared to
10 per 1,000. Within Wales 50% of cases
tested was of the Kent variant. In
addition, concern had been highlighted that the Brazilian and South African
variant may blunt the effectiveness of the vaccines. As a result the UK
government has introduced travel restrictions.
Although
the number of cases was showing and improvement, the health and social care
system remains under severe strain. As a
result, communities must not become complacent, the guidance must still be
adhered to.
The
number of people presenting for testing remains considerably lower than seen
before the Christmas break. The reasons
for this are still unclear. Testing
capacity has increased and there was concern that people may not be applying
for tests. Public communications has
increased to encourage people to test never mind how mild their symptoms are as
without this information it was difficult to understand how the disease was
progressing within communities.
Concerns
have been highlighted to Welsh Government in regard to the additional modes of
testing that are being introduced within for example universities and Tata
Steel. If these are not fully integrated
into the Test, Trace and Protect arrangements there was a risk that the system
would become undermined.
It
was highlighted that vaccinations were progressing with 37,236 (as of the 26th
January 2021) vaccinations administered in the Swansea Bay Health Board
area. Members noted that this data
needed to be confirmed as there was a delay in the information from G.P.surgeries administering the vaccine. Further data was awaited on the breakdown of
the groups receiving vaccines to show a clearer picture of progress made in
vaccinating the top four priority groups by the 14th February 2021.
Pressure
was growing to add other populations to the priority lists, but the Welsh
Government is following the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunisation, and
therefore, these groups would not be considered for inclusion in the priority
list until Phase 2.
Welsh
Government has amended definitions of who receives vaccinations in the social
care workforce which could result in children’s social care workforce being
excluded. Also, the Council was still
waiting to put forward eligible staff from special schools to be
vaccinated. There has been a delay in
policy decisions within Welsh Government on who would be included despite the
Welsh Government announcing that they would be included some weeks ago.
Service
pressure were still continuing in adult social care, with a number of care
homes at risk. Also, there has been an
increased number of clusters within domiciliary care.
It
was announced that England would not open schools until after the half term
holiday, or later due to the lack of data to enable a decision to be made. We are awaiting Welsh Government’s direction
on the approach to be taken in Wales.
95% of Neath Port Talbot pupil population had continued to receive
remote learning. One to one devices had
been delivered for Key Stage 3 – 5 pupils and students. Also, all staff members who needed a device
were issued with one to allow them to deliver remote learning.
The
Minister for Education announced that the end of year qualifications would be
awarded based on centre assessment grades.
There was concern over the process as a significant minority of Key
Stage 4 pupils had not been engaging with remote learning and the evidence base
needed for accurate assessments could not be compromised. Work was still ongoing to resolve these
challenges.
School
improvement officers had been and were continuing to monitor pupil’s engagement
with learning and the most recent data showed that while numbers were
increasing, there continues to be an inconsistent picture with the percentage
of pupils involved in remote learning ranging from 45% to almost 100%. Work continues to support schools to overcome
issues to secure a consistently higher rate of engagement.
Discussion
were ongoing with the Association of Directors of Education (Wales) and the
Welsh Government to identify options for returning pupils to on-site
learning. Currently, the advice was that
priority should be given to those pupils who find home learning most limiting
and those with additional learning needs. Welsh Government were continuing to
consider how the reopening of schools would be facilitated.
Another
area of concern was the vaccination of school based staff who deliver intimate
personal care. Clarification is awaiting
on the definition of ‘intimate personal care’ from Welsh Government as there
was an inconsistent picture across Wales. A number of Councils and Health
Boards had started to vaccinate school based staff, and other staffing groups
based on local interpretations. Neath
Port Talbot schools were awaiting guidance from Swansea Bay University Health
Board. This was causing considerable tension and legitimate Trade Union
challenge.
Officers
would begin to scope the way that recovery would be approached in the next
month, with detailed work commencing around Easter time, subject to the overall
context.
Members
thanked the Leader for such a comprehensive report and raised the following
questions:
·
In regard to the different variants of Covid,
what is being done to test the vaccine to ensure it continues to work on all
the new variants? It was explained that
work was continuing to investigate the impacts of the different variants but
that there was no new information at present.
The Leader and Chief Executive met on a regular basis with Public Health
Wales and were happy to raise the question at that forum.
·
Was there a reason why there had been a spike in the mortality rate or
was this due to a delay in the data being received? The data was comparing the numbers against a
normal year and anyone who was tested positive for Covid
19 within a 28 day period who died was added to the number of deaths due to Covid 19.
·
Members asked whether school children had been provided with a device to
access remote learning? Confirmation was given that all key stage 3
and 5 children had received devices.
There had been delays in the deliveries of orders placed, but as of this
week, delivery has been received, so every secondary school child would receive
a device for one to one learning.
Primary school children were allocated devices on the basis of 1 between
3 or 5.
·
Were there any discussions taking place with broadband providers to
assist with connectivity issues? It was
explained that in cases of connectivity issues, those pupils had been provided
with a MiFi Dongle to enable them to connect. Members were asked if they were aware of any
pupil experiencing connectivity issues to advise parents to contact their
school but no issues had been raised with the Director of Education and
Lifelong Learning.
Flooding in Skewen Update
The
Leader continued with an update on the current situation in Skewen
after the recent flooding.
On
Thursday, 21st January 2021, information was received of a
significant flooding incident at Goshen Park, Skewen. As a result an emergency response was put
into action. Following on, a major
incident was declared by Mid and West Wales Fire and
Rescue Service and a Strategic Co-ordinating Group was convened.
Eighty
homes were evacuated but after the immediate threat to life was contained a
deep depression was noticed at the junction of Drummau
Road and Goshen Park so a further 30 houses were evacuated.
The
cause of the flooding was confirmed as a blow out from a disused mine working
in the area.
As
a result, the Coal Authority are leading the investigation into the cause of
the incident and would also be leading on remedial works for the immediate
future and to determine a longer term solution for dealing with the mine water.
The
Streetscene and Drainage team were exceptional in
installing temporary drainage to channel the water still spilling from the blow
out point of the mine into a drainage system. In addition, they cleaned and cleared
the highway assets in the affected area.
Positive comments were received on the Council’s response from residents
and partners.
Social
Services mobilised a rest centre at Cwrt Herbert to
deal with the evacuated residents. All
residents were able to secure accommodation with friends, family, neighbours or
in local hotels. Rest Centre staff were
supported by the Salvation Army, local people, business and the Local Area
Co-ordinator to distribute food and clothing parcels.
A
residents’ information centre has been set up at Abbey Primary School with over
60 residents visiting the centre over the weekend. Work was ongoing to extend the role of the
centre to include a wider range of agencies to assist with the recovery
process.
An
advice line and dedicated website has been set up to facilitate social media
and broadcast media activities. The
First Minister has visited the site.
Compliments were received on the way that this has been actioned.
Going
forward, the Council will lead on the process of recovery with a multi-agency
recovery group being convened to look at the immediate priorities.
Members
noted that the impact on residents both physically and psychological would
continue for many months. An on-line
system was opening to make payments to residents on behalf of the Welsh
Government. Council tax exemptions were
also being activated for all affected properties.
Waste
disposal vehicles were being deployed and public health advice provided through
Environmental Health, initially at the information centre and then by a door to
door service.
Update
reports would be brought back to Members on a periodic basis.
Council
praised the work of Neath Port Talbot staff and partners in responding to this
emergency. In addition, Council thanked
local communities, business, volunteers and local members who had supported those
residents affected.
Members
discussed the continuing consequences that mine workings was having on the
area, and the whole of Wales, and the ongoing costs in mitigating those
consequences. Confirmation was given that the Coal Authority was responsible to
the UK Government and that any works to inspect undertake remedial works would
be at the instigation of the UK Government.
Discussions had taken place with Welsh Government on the legacy of
mining within the area and a letter has been submitted to Welsh Government by
Mr. Stephen Kinnock M.P. outlining the issues.