Issue - meetings

F Williamson introduced the report and asked if Committee had any questions.

Cllr Mahmood asked who Sopra Steria were.  F Williamson confirmed they were a local company who went through the procurement processes and had been appointed under New Normal to streamline processes.  They are working on a proof of concept process.

Cllr Mahmood enquired if the 32 day key to key period was working days.  F Williamson confirmed it was calendar days.

Cllr Mahmood said that he had noticed that the service objectives had started in 2018 and finished in 2019 and asked if there would be any new ones.  F Williamson advised that there is a new service plan for this year, we’ve had to revisit some of the objectives due to Covid, but most of them will be new.

Cllr Mahmood commented that in light of social distancing what are we doing to ensure work can be carried out in homes.  F Williamson explained that we have had two remobilisation meetings to ensure that we work safely, both on external sites and in homes.  We carry out risk assessments prior to starting work onsite and the operatives have to sign to confirm they comply with Covid restrictions.  Work in sheltered schemes has been suspended but we have had to increase cleaning in schemes, so there will be an impact on key to key times.

Cllr Pringle asked how the increase in domestic abuse due to lockdown had been identified.  N Beresford stated there has been an increase and this has been identified via the victims and perpetrators, engagement with the Police and where we are making placements into temporary accommodation.  We have also seen an increase of reports from male victims but we’ve needed to seek support from elsewhere as there are no facilities for men in Dacorum.  Due to Covid there has been a reduced capacity within refuges across the county, but there will be a new dedicated refuge with six units in Dacorum and completion of sale is next week.