Yesterday I appeared before the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee at the House of Commons to discuss our response to the pandemic.
It was a great opportunity to reflect on all the things we’ve done since last March, as well as thinking about what we do when the new restrictions come in next week.
What struck me was the sheer scale of what we’ve achieved and the enormous efforts of our staff and councillors during the past eight months.
Our immediate challenge was to support the NHS and we’ve worked with our local health board and Neath Port Talbot Council to ensure a consistent and united approach. We built a 1,000-bed field hospital in just six weeks – forget anything DIY SOS has done, it was almost miraculous to achieve that in such a short space of time. We reluctantly, but out of necessity, changed our social care offer and added extra residential care settings to support hospital discharges, we sourced vital PPE, opened childcare settings across Swansea for key workers and sadly ensured we had sufficient mortuary and body storage facilities.
On top of this we did so many other things including providing free school meals throughout, operating the shielding system for the vulnerable and introducing and operating the Test Trace Protect system.
And then for the current firebreak we also brought in local testing capacity, set up a revised business support programme and stepped-up enforcement.
We all know we did much more than this and we have heroes right across the council, but when you sit back and consider all of this it really hits you just what you have all done.
The MPs were also keen to know how we’ve been working with the Welsh Government. My view is we’ve never worked closer and our access to WG Ministers has been constant and excellent. We’ve been consulted on restrictions and lockdowns and put forward suggestions, many of which have been taken on board. And working across local government and with the WLGA has been excellent.
Of course there have been issues. The test and trace system has had problems and we’re operating with a huge degree of financial risk as we’re having to pay for Covid-related things up front and waiting and hoping that the Government will cover those vital costs.
But that doesn’t take away from the huge number of success stories.
And now as we prepare to enter a new phase of restrictions next week, we mustn’t forget we’ll have tough days, weeks and months ahead. The number of cases continue to rise nationally and locally and we don’t expect the impact of the current firebreak to be felt for several weeks yet.
You’ll have seen some of the details of what to expect after November 9, but more details will follow. In the meantime, I know many of you are already planning the service changes based on those new restrictions.
And our over-riding message from here on must be to take personal responsibility and do the right thing. Some areas such as pubs and restaurants will be re-opening, but there will be restrictions and we all need to think what we should do rather than what we can do.
There’ve been some examples locally of people not doing the right thing. We’ve seen students disciplined, individuals fined and businesses closed. But they are the minority because the vast majority of people are being sensible despite how tough that may be at times. Not seeing loved ones or meeting friends isn’t easy and those running local businesses affected by lockdown must be heartbroken.
We’re doing all we can for those businesses. And once again I have to thank colleagues in Finance and ICT for responding so quickly and ensuring the latest grants are paid as quickly as possible.
Away from Covid matters, I’m delighted our Dylan Thomas Centre that won a UK national award yesterday. Its Literature and Trauma initiative was saluted by the Museums Association’s Museums Change Lives awards for delivering positive social impact. The creative writing scheme is a big hit with its target audience – refugees and asylum seekers living in Swansea. www.swansea.gov.uk/DTSaward0511
Well done to Andy Rose who is the Direct Payment Services Manager in Adult Services. A caller to the BBC’s Jason Mohammed show rang to thank Andy who came to the rescue when the 80-year-old caller fell and injured herself in the marina. The injured woman could not praise Andy enough and I’d like to pass on my thanks too.
And a big thanks to our Active Young People team who’ve organised some mobile skate sessions in Morriston for scooter and skate enthusiasts on the back of a request from a young lad, thanks to the team for the swift and great response.
Once again, thank you for all your efforts. Let’s all do the right thing, and please stay safe.
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