May 22nd 2020

Questions of Councillor Tim Huggan

On our Local Centres

What assessment has been made on the impact on pubs and restaurants in our local centres such as in Broomhill, Crookes, Crosspool and Walkley.  Are any plans or schemes being formulated to help and support our local centres after the lock down ends and whilst social distancing remains in place?

No specific work has been undertaken to assess the economic impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on individual businesses in any part of the city, including pubs and restaurants. However we are acutely aware of the financial pressures facing these businesses and have been actively promoting free business support via Business Sheffield and encouraging eligible properties to apply for a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grant.

A number of measures have now been implemented in local areas to widen footways on a temporary basis where reports of queues on street and pedestrian activity meant that 2m social distancing could not be maintained. We are keen to understand which locations similar concerns arise and officers will consider the ability for similar measures to be delivered at these locations.

We are also referring businesses to the gov.uk advice in respect to operating under social distancing requirements as well as other guidance such as that provided by the British Retail Consortium.

On Active Travel

Has the ongoing work to finalise the proposed location of temporary cycle lanes been completed and when will it be publicly available?

The Phase 1 works have been identified and have been detailed in a press release.  The second phase of works which includes social distancing measures at key local centres and is using an evidence base led approach to investigate the implementation of cycle lanes.

Are any schemes for ‘Active Travel’ planned within the boundaries of Crookes and Crosspool Ward?

Yes.  It is assumed that all measured proposed are active travel as these measures are inherently being developed to support walking and/or cycling movements.

As part of ‘Active Travel’ measures the City Council unveiled four temporary footpath widening schemes, has the council any plans to for any further schemes?

Yes.  The schemes referred are Phase 1, with additional schemes identified and to be delivered.  Phase 2 works include social distancing measures at key local centres and is using an evidence base led approach to investigate the implementation of cycle lanes.

The UK Government indicated that money would be available for active travel schemes.  Has the City Council proactively requested additional funds to fund or part fund any proposed schemes?

The money referred to has not yet been agreed or allocated to the Council.  The Sheffield City Region will receive the money and the Council will be allocated a share of this.  It is unclear at this time how decisions on the funding that SCR receive will be made but we anticipate that this will soon be confirmed.  In light of this, and understanding the urgency, the Council is working at financial risk to design from scratch a programme of works.

It is unclear if this is revenue or capital spend, with a significant risk being carried by the Council until this is resolved.

Help for Pedetrians

When will the review of retiming of pedestrian crossing phases and locations be completed?

This has been completed.  It should be noted that traffic signals operate within a complex series of linked junctions.  Timing structures of ‘greenman’ sequencing are dynamically linked with other traffic signals meaning isolated changes are not easily accommodated.  However, where the technology is available, these have been changed.

When will the council begin marking out the 2 metre safety marks at busy locations?

The marking of 2m spacing will be installed at pedestrian crossings in the City Centre in the first instance and at bus stops across the city.  This work is in the design stage and will be implemented within Phase 1 works, with the first safety marks having recently been installed at crossings.

Questions of Councillor Mohammed Mahroof

On Covid 19 Rates

Further to my previous question on this matter, it remains that Sheffield’s confirmed Covid infection rate remains high compared to other Core Cities. The fatality rate is similarly high.

I accept we are testing more which is good but we have no data to support this, in particular how many tests have been carried out in Sheffield.

Can you please tell me why we are not coordinating this data?

As set out in the briefing session on 11th May and in the written answers following, we do not have access to all the data from testing programmes.  The Department of Health & Social Care’s testing programme is divided into five “Pillars”; Pillars One (NHS swab testing for those with a medical need and the most critical key workers) and Two (commercial swab testing for critical key workers in the NHS, social care and other sectors) are the relevant areas here.

We do not have access to any data from work in Pillar Two and only have periodic access to pillar 1 data; this is a consequence of the national approach and not something we have any influence over. 

The way in which the testing programme has worked out, and as noted previously Sheffield Teaching Hospitals really pushed the boundaries on pillar 1 means:

Relative to other places Sheffield has an inflated number of tests done (which have found people who have infection but are largely well); and

We can’t robustly compare Sheffield with other places.

As explained previously, this has skewed all the subsequent analytics that are done on the back of the test positive number.  We will provide a more detailed briefing note for Members at the earliest possible opportunity.

It is important to note that ONS data shows our age-standardised mortality rate is unremarkable – Sheffield’s rate is not significantly higher than the rest of the country.

On Education

I raised this matter previously at a full Council meeting. Sheffield’s rate of Home Schooling is quite high. I can only see this rate rising post Covid.

Do we anticipate this and what checks and balances are in place to ensure a good standard of education is provided to all students?

Officers remain alert to the potential for greater number of elected home educated children. At the start of the pandemic, while schools remained fully open, some additional enquiries were made about home educating but the introduction of the lockdown meant that these were not followed through. The government has given parents the choice of whether or not to send their children to school once the wider attendance of children is implemented.

Home education statutory guidance does not allow for the council to check or determine whether “a good standard of education” is being provided to students. The council’s statutory duties on those who are home educated is restricted to their safeguarding.

There is a likelihood that some schools will be returning on the 1st June. Clearly both students and teachers are concerned. In terms of LEA administered schools what PPE measures are being implemented?

Teachers are concerned about their safety both in the classroom and staff rooms.  What measures are being put in place to ensure this happens?

The council has issued a model risk assessment to all schools which incorporates the council’s PPE framework for its workers. This includes category 2 activities, where incidental contact takes place, and category 3 activities where intimate care may need to be provided. Schools are also being provided with a “symptomatic kit” of PPE should any child or adult become symptomatic during the working day and needs to be dealt with. Schools are, generally, sourcing their own PPE but can, also, access the council’s supply chain. The model risk assessment also guides schools through hygiene and social distancing measures needed in and around the school as well as the application of “social bubbles” for small groups of children (nor more than 15 children in each group) in classrooms. Schools are actively discouraged from using communal staff rooms.