Dear Conor Matchett

Request for information: Freedom of Information request - Covid-19 Second
Wave C-19

Thank you for your information request which we have logged as reference
argyllbuteir:11954.

It has been passed to the relevant service(s) for attention and you should
receive a response under either the Freedom of Information (Scot) Act 2002
or the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 by 2020-10-06
00:00:00. We hope to respond within this timescale but, due to the
staffing/capacity issues with COVID-19, some requests may take little
longer.

Please quote the reference number above in any correspondence you may have
with the Council in regard to this request.

Regards

FOI Officer

Privacy information: Any personal information you have provided in
relation to this request will be used only for the intended purpose -
please read the full privacy notice to find out more about how your
personal information will be handled, and your rights under data
protection legislation.

Classification: OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Matchett

Request for information: Freedom of Information request - Covid-19 Second
Wave C19

Reference: argyllbuteir:11954.

I refer to your request for information which was dealt with in terms of
the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

I would firstly point out that the Council has not undertaken forecasting
analysis specifically in relation to a second wave of Covid-19.

We are currently dealing with the ongoing situation and developments
regarding Covid-19 as they arise and are working in several areas across
the Council in regard to that.

I’ve provided some information which hopefully provides an appropriate
response to your request.

1)    For the period between May 1 2020 and present, any forecasting
analysis undertaken by the local authority for a potential second wave of
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Winter 2020 or in 2021 which

a) details the overall financial impact of a second wave for the local
authority

Please find a link to a report considered by the Council’s Business
Continuity Committee on 13 August
[1]https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/moderngov...

b) the potential death and case numbers of a second wave

We have appropriate plans in place to deal with additional deaths due to
Covid-19 and I would suggest that you direct this specific request to
Public Health Scotland

c) the impact on care homes

We have appropriate plans in place to deal any issues that arise within
the Council’s care homes due to Covid-19 and I would suggest that you
direct this specific request to Public Health Scotland

d) the impact on schools

I’ve attached copies of the Council’s Covid-19 School contingency planning
guidance and with Covid-19 Contingency Planning – Staffing Levels
documents. I can also advise that Education has a weekly meeting
established with Public health to pick up any issues.

Our forward planning for the catering and cleaning service in schools
isn’t just around just forward planning for a ‘second wave’ in isolation,
but around ensuring that services continue to operate within the current
situation along with other internal and external factors, including the
financial impact on the planned work prior to Covid 19.

We are considering the following which may be relevant to your request
although no documents are available at this time

o How free school meals will be provided to entitled pupils who may be
required to self-isolate
o Any potential second wave will adversely impact on school meals income

e) the impact on council run services

We are currently surveying staff about longer term working from home
rather than a return to office working.

We have resumed our Tactical Group so that council services can respond
quickly, as we did previously, to emerging community needs eg if a
helpline is needed, if support for food/medicine is needed again.

We have established emergency planning/business continuity structures in
place that would ensure we tie in with national partners.

The Chief Officer of the Health and Social Care Partnership has advised
that we are focussing our efforts on working through the changes the 2nd
phase may bring and plan for a deteriorating Covid position, whilst
re-establishing our health and social care services in line with Scottish
Government expectation and current guidance.

I’ve attached an extract from a report considered by the Council’s
Strategic Management Team on 31st August which highlights where the
Catering and Cleaning Innovations work is at this moment in time, largely
as a result of the pandemic and other external factors.

2) Any internal documents, briefing notes or reports circulated to the
chief executive and/or council leader detailing plans or contingencies for
a potential second wave of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) between the date of May
1 and September 7 2021.

2a) Please consider this request to include draft reports which I argue,
given the extremely high public interest in plans to combat a second wave
of a deadly pandemic, should be disclosed unless there is a significant
barrier against the presumption of disclosure.

I have attached a number of documents in fulfilment of your request.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request for information
has been dealt with you are entitled to request a review by writing to the
Executive Director Customer Services, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory,
Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RT, or by email to [2][Argyll and Bute Council request email].

Your request for review must state your name and address for
correspondence, specify the request for information to which your request
for review relates and why you are dissatisfied with the response. 

You must make your request for review not later than 40 working days after
the expiry of the 20 working day period for response to your initial
request by the Council, or not later than 40 working days after the
receipt by you of the information provided, any fees notice issued or any
notification of refusal or partial refusal.

If you make an application for review and remain dissatisfied with the way
in which the review has been dealt with you are entitled to make an
application to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9DS (Tel: 01334 464610) for a
further review. You can now do this online here
- [3]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.

You must make representation to the Scottish Information Commissioner no
later than 6 months after the date of receipt by you of the notice or
decision you are dissatisfied with or within 6 months of the expiry of the
period of 20 working days from receipt by the Council of your request for
review.

If you make an application for review and remain dissatisfied with the way
in which the review has been dealt with you are entitled to make an
application to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9DS (Tel: 01334 464610) for a
further review. You can now do this online here
- [4]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.

Yours sincerely

Alison McGinty

Assistant Compliance & Regulatory Officer

Legal and Regulatory Support

Argyll and Bute Council

Kilmory

Lochgilphead

PA31 8RT

01546 604057

 
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