Issue - items at meetings - COVID-19 Road Map out of Lockdown: Managing the City Safely and Outdoor Events Programme 2021

Report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee –

(i)             Noted the multi-agency approach that will operate from the

beginning of April until the end of September 2021 to co-ordinate operations with the aim of safely and coherently managing city as lockdown restrictions are eased;

(ii)            Agreed that £1.01M of Contain Outbreak Management Funds

was allocated to the Managing the City Safely City Co-ordination Group to support the work that aims to ensure that the city is prepared and can manage the easing of lockdown restrictions as outlined in Appendix 2 and paragraphs 3.5 to 3.17;

(iii)          Agreed that the revised events programme listed in Appendix 1 of this report should take place in accordance with the government’s road map and associated guidance, following the approach outlined in paragraphs 3.26 to 3.38;

(iv)          Noted that final permission for events will take place for each event once the relevant step in the government’s road map for coming out of lockdown has been reached, following discussion with event organisers and the Safety Advisory Group, the multi-agency group that oversee events in the city.

48.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture which outlined the spring and summer plans and multi-agency approach which aimed to ensure that Brighton & Hove was prepared and ready to welcome back visitors and keep residents safe as lockdown restrictions were eased in accordance with the government’s Spring 2021 road map out of lockdown.

48.2    Councillor Platts asked what steps would be taken to ensure the programmes were held safely. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that there would be Covid-safe measures for each event, and officers would be checking that the processes in place were being adhered to and were compliant with the latest guidance in place at that time. 

48.3    Councillor Platts asked if Track and Trace systems were being used. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that there wasn’t one system which would be appropriate for all events and would differ depending on whether it was a sporting event where social distancing could be enforced or whether it was a fringe event where track and trace could be used.

48.4    Councillor Allcock was pleased to see the extensive list of events and asked how they would all be monitored. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that in the run up to the events the Safety Advisory Group would be reviewing the programme to ensure that the appropriate safety measures had been considered, but weekly meetings were being held to look at how events had been held and whether there any points which could be considered for the next events being held.

48.5    Councillor Miller said that with the expected number of people visiting the City there was a need for additional toilets and it would be useful to have hand gel available. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that additional toilets would be provided for the seafront. With regard to hand gel, officers would be looking to see whether more PPE such as masks and hand gel was needed as the Summer progressed.

48.6    Councillor Miller noted that it was expected that there would be fewer foreign visitors but asked whether it was likely that due to staycations there would be an overall increase in numbers. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that it was expected that there would be more people both staying and visiting the City for the day. The high number of visitors would put additional pressure on cleaning and ensuring the City was kept safe, and so officers were looking at providing more advice for them and had been liaising with groups such as rail companies to remind people not to litter the beach etc.

48.7    Councillor Clare said that feedback on what worked and didn’t work was important and asked how the Council were engaging on this with multi-agency groups. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that the Council were working with groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Voluntary Groups etc and there was also a dedicated email address for groups to provide feedback to the Council.

48.8    RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee –

(i)             Noted the multi-agency approach that will operate from the

beginning of April until the end of September 2021 to co-ordinate operations with the aim of safely and coherently managing city as lockdown restrictions are eased;

(ii)            Agreed that £1.01M of Contain Outbreak Management Funds

was allocated to the Managing the City Safely City Co-ordination Group to support the work that aims to ensure that the city is prepared and can manage the easing of lockdown restrictions as outlined in Appendix 2 and paragraphs 3.5 to 3.17;

(iii)          Agreed that the revised events programme listed in Appendix 1 of this report should take place in accordance with the government’s road map and associated guidance, following the approach outlined in paragraphs 3.26 to 3.38;

(iv)          Noted that final permission for events will take place for each event once the relevant step in the government’s road map for coming out of lockdown has been reached, following discussion with event organisers and the Safety Advisory Group, the multi-agency group that oversee events in the city.