Agenda item

M Rawdon introduced the report and asked the Committee for any questions.

Cllr Barry asked if there is a breakdown per venue of the attendance at Adventure Playgrounds.  M Rawdon confirmed there would be and he will circulate the details.

Action M Rawdon

Cllr England mentioned that on Page 39 Communications, he wanted to say thank you and appreciation to the Team, we do appreciate how challenging it is at this time, also the web statistics, which he had asked for previously so wanted to say thank you for providing them.  These will prove useful to see trends over a period of time and hopes it will continue as it’s helps to understand what’s being done.

Cllr England asked what the Council’s Policy is and what it might be in terms of supporting the local community with information about the incidents of Covid locally.  Cllr England mentioned that he had been copied into correspondence, from Jo Bullen who is posting information on Facebook daily, which asks if the Council can amplify the output that she is producing.  Cllr England wanted to know if we can do that.  M Rawdon will raise with the Incident Management Team. 

Action: M Rawdon

L Roberts advised that we need to be very careful of the information provided due to confidentiality.  Cllr England will the request as he does not think it contains personal information, it’s Government information and just a case of amplifying it as it’s already in the public domain.  L Roberts confirmed it would be helpful if Cllr England could forward the information.

Action: Cllr England

Cllr Pringle raised concerns about public perception on Covid at the moment, there is a sense that people are consciously challenging the risk despite the Governments advice, which people are not trusting.  There is more trust at a local level and Cllr Pringle would like Dacorum Borough Council to take stock and reflect on the vital role we can play, a granular approach is needed, working very closely with schools, which is a trusted community network.  Cllr Pringle had raised previously about a communications strategy, people need to know what’s happening in their community because it’s vital that people understand the facts.  Consideration should be given to a granular breakdown being published daily, with perhaps inclusion in weekly newsletters in schools and education facilities that are already being sent out, which sets out the details in the Borough to ensure that the public are fully aware of the risks and the actions they can take.  M Rawdon confirmed he would raise it at Incident Management Team.

Action: M Rawdon

Cllr Mahmood had thought that reporting on Covid was the responsibility of the County Council.  M Rawdon confirmed this was the case, they have a Communications Cell that we piggy back on, that’s doesn’t mean that we can’t issue our own messages, but in the main we will be led them. 

Cllr Mahmood mentioned that we rely more on IT could there be a ticker tape on the website where people can find information.  L Roberts said we have an obligation with accessibility, our information can be viewed on many different types of devices, some of which the ticker tape style option does not transfer across and this would mean that we would not be compliant with the accessibility rules.  Cllr Mahmood said to use something else that does transfer across so that we keep the public informed.

Cllr Mahmood said that the closure of the Old Town Hall and at first he was a bit concerned but now there is another lockdown I can see that it was a good decision and requested that we keep it on the agenda for when it can be opened. 

Cllr Mahmood highlighted that the figures on Dacorum Delivers was very good, there was a good turnout at the Adventure Playgrounds over the summer.

Cllr Pringle wanted to come back in on what Cllr Mahmood said and said she would like to emphasise that we are going through a very new experience of rapid change and we all have to step up.  Cllr Pringle was concerned with what she was seeing and we need to improve the communications across the Borough, positive not alarmist messages about keeping people safe, there is an element of denial setting in and we need to look at what we can do to work hand in hand with the Government and Herts.

The report was agreed.