This report provides an update on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 emergency.

The Executive Director of Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services submitted a report updating on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 emergency response, following the declaration of a major incident on 20 March 2020 by the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The report described the Council’s emergency response in relation to some of the key issues which had to be addressed, which included:

•        Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

•        Setting up and operating the One Reading Community Hub

•        Rough Sleeping

•        Workforce

•        Testing

•        Building capacity into bereavement services and leading on the  LRF’s Temporary Place of Rest.

•        Rebilling Business Ratepayers to take account of reliefs announced, the payment of grants to businesses; and

•        Rebilling of Council Tax payers in receipt of the Council’s local Council Tax Reduction Scheme to reflect the £150 Hardship Relief announced.

The report also provided an overview of the current legal and financial issues arising from the emergency.

Resolved –

That the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic as set out in the report be noted.