Bucks Council staff could move departments to help during lockdown
Leader Martin Tett updated councillors this morning
A top politician and leading decision-maker behind public services across Buckinghamshire has hinted at a shake-up within the council after England was put into another lockdown.
Buckinghamshire Council leader Cllr Martin Tett spoke of possible ‘closures’ of public services provided by the authority during a Cabinet meeting this morning, and he also said council staff may have to be “deployed” following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s January 4 announcement.
The leader said council chiefs would convene to “digest the full implications of the new lockdown”, before issuing a public statement today or tomorrow morning.
While Cllr Tett did not name individual services or departments he is thinking of, he did say there are “a lot of questions that need to be addressed following the announcement yesterday”.
The latest lockdown and its measures, introduced by the PM on January 4, will be reviewed for England on February 15.
Schools have shut to most students in England, and cabinet office minister Michael Gove said GCSE and A-Level exams are being cancelled this year.
The lockdown rules are:
Can I leave the house?
People will only be allowed to leave their house for limited reasons, including shopping for essentials, work or education, exercise, and to seek medical assistance.
Mr Johnson said residents can leave their homes for shopping for necessities such as food and medicine, but only as infrequently as possible.
Are schools open?
Schools are closed to most pupils, except the children of key workers and those who are vulnerable. Teaching will continue remotely online.
Do I have to go into work?
People will be able to go to work if it is impossible to work from home, such as those working in the construction sector or who are critical workers. All others must work from home. Cleaners and other trades people will still be able to work in people's homes. Those shielding should not go to work
They are advised not to go to work even if they cannot work from home.
Are support bubbles still allowed?
Support bubbles are still allowed. This is when two households link up, effectively forming one household. Only certain people are allowed to form support bubbles, including adults living alone and single adults living with children. More information forming support bubbles can be found here.
Can I go shopping?
All non-essential shops, hairdressers and personal care venues must close. Essential shops, including food stores and supermarkets, will remain open.
Can weddings and funerals go ahead?
Weddings and funerals can go ahead with strict restrictions on the number in attendance. Funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people, while commemorative events such as wakes can be attended by 6 people. Weddings and civil partnerships can only take place with 6 attendees under exceptional circumstances, such as an urgent marriage where one person is terminally ill.
What's happening with universities?
Students studying courses which require formative training, such as medicine, dentistry, education, veterinary science and social work, will return to face-to-face teaching as normal. Students studying other courses should, where possible, remain where they are and start their term remotely with online learning.
Are restaurants and pubs closed?
All cafes, pubs and restaurants should close. Restaurants and other hospitality venues can continue delivery or takeaway services, but people will not be able to add alcohol to that order.
I want to exercise, are gyms open and sports allowed?
Gyms and leisure facilities must close. Exercise outside will be allowed – preferably limited to once a day – with members of your household or support bubble or one other person from another household, such as going for a walk or run. Exercise should be taken locally.
Can I go to church or other places of worship?
Places of worship can remain open for individual prayers and communal worship, but people should only visit with their household or support bubble and maintain social distancing throughout.
What about childcare?
All primary and secondary schools as well as colleges will move to remote learning, but early years settings such as nurseries and childminders can remain open, and existing childcare bubbles will be allowed to stay in place.
Can I play sport?
Outdoor gyms, tennis courts and golf courses must close, and outdoor team sports will not be permitted. Organised outdoor sport for disabled people can continue.
Premier League and other elite sports that already have in place strict testing regimes and their own bubbles will be allowed to continue.
Can I still move house?
Yes, people can still move house. Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to operate. You can still attend property viewings.
Cllr. Tett said:
“Obviously, we’ve got to digest the full implications of the new lockdown.
“There will be a meeting of this cabinet informally just to understand exactly what those implications are for us as an organisation.
“What of our services actually remain open, which will have to close; what it means in terms of staffing where they will be deployed potentially to support vulnerable residents; and the implications in terms of our country parks.
“There’s a lot of questions that need to be addressed following the announcement yesterday. We will make sure we understand the answers to that, and I will be communicating hopefully most of those to residents later today or early tomorrow morning in another of my residents’ updates on Covid.
“That’s the plan ahead and obviously there’s a lot we are going to have to do to continue to keep Buckinghamshire safe going forward.”