Thursday
18
April
Many council workers continue working from home
29/07/2020 @ 06:45
No date has been given for the return of staff to the Powys County Council offices in Newtown or its headquarters in Llandrindod Wells.
At tomorrow's full council meeting, Councillor Sandra Davies will be asking the Council Leader, Rosemarie Harris to clarify the issue.
“What date will this authority resume its routine business and when will the Council office be open to members of the public?”
Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said: “Whilst we are preparing our buildings to enable staff to return to our offices, this must be planned carefully in accordance to Guidance prepared by Welsh Government and the Health and Safety Executive.
“This currently requires strict social distancing, hygiene, a risk assessment for each workspace, as well as arrangements to record attendance, in case Contact Tracing may be necessary.
“We are not therefore in a position to publish a date when council offices will be open to members of the public.”
Cllr Harris added that over 3,350 council staff are frontline workers and provide services in schools, care settings, or work from depots such as highways or refuse collection workers.
These work places have already had a risk assessment and appropriate measures put in place.
Cllr Harris said: “Routine business has gradually been re-established remotely and further developments will take place from September.
“However, this will remain subject to the progress of Covid-19 as officers from across the Council continue to respond to the virus, which remains active within the County.
“At this stage, and in the absence of a vaccine, it is not known how long these arrangements will need to be maintained.”
Under the meeting rules Cllr Davies will be allowed to respond to the answer with an extra question.
At tomorrow's full council meeting, Councillor Sandra Davies will be asking the Council Leader, Rosemarie Harris to clarify the issue.
“What date will this authority resume its routine business and when will the Council office be open to members of the public?”
Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said: “Whilst we are preparing our buildings to enable staff to return to our offices, this must be planned carefully in accordance to Guidance prepared by Welsh Government and the Health and Safety Executive.
“This currently requires strict social distancing, hygiene, a risk assessment for each workspace, as well as arrangements to record attendance, in case Contact Tracing may be necessary.
“We are not therefore in a position to publish a date when council offices will be open to members of the public.”
Cllr Harris added that over 3,350 council staff are frontline workers and provide services in schools, care settings, or work from depots such as highways or refuse collection workers.
These work places have already had a risk assessment and appropriate measures put in place.
Cllr Harris said: “Routine business has gradually been re-established remotely and further developments will take place from September.
“However, this will remain subject to the progress of Covid-19 as officers from across the Council continue to respond to the virus, which remains active within the County.
“At this stage, and in the absence of a vaccine, it is not known how long these arrangements will need to be maintained.”
Under the meeting rules Cllr Davies will be allowed to respond to the answer with an extra question.
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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