Message from the Chief Executive 

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you are well. I am writing to update you on the recent changes announced by the First Minister regarding Coronavirus and the situation in Ukraine.

Coronavirus

From 28th February 2022, face coverings are now only legally required only in retail, public transport and health and care settings. 
As a consequence, many attending workplaces will be thinking about what this means for us.
  
The Council’s corporate risk assessment has been updated to reflect changes for office workplaces.
 
Continuing to maintain social distance and regular handwashing has become part of our daily lives. In line with the WG advice, we will still encourage the use of face coverings in communal areas and stairwells, corridors and toilets and in areas where maintaining social distance is difficult, unless you are exempt from doing so.
 
The Welsh Government’s current general Keep Wales safe advice is:

• Get both jabs and your booster
• Outdoors is safer than indoors
• Do a lateral flow test before seeing others
• If you have symptoms, self-isolate and get tested
• Wear a face covering

For those colleagues working in other settings, such as in education and social care, your manager will have provided you with the latest guidance relevant to your place of work.

The latest guidance for colleagues can be accessed on Staffnet+.
 
Whilst many will welcome the continuing increase in personal freedoms that the latest easing in restrictions offers, I recognise that there are colleagues who will be more anxious than others. I would encourage all to continue to consider the impacts of our individual actions on our colleagues and those that we are in close contact with when carrying out our day to day duties.  

Ukraine

The Council condemns the attack on Ukraine and we have visibly demonstrated our support for Ukrainian citizens by the lighting of our shelters at Barry Island and the Hood Road tunnel. The Leader of the Council also addressed Cabinet this week on the matter and I know intends to do so again at council on Monday evening.  In addressing Cabinet, the Leader referenced the fact that the Council is reviewing the position with regards to any clear links with Russia (as an example through our procurement channels, energy supplies, investments and the like).  Cllr. Moore also referenced that this is something that many local authorities are doing at the moment. 

We are working closely with colleagues in Welsh Government and other local authorities on the role we can play in supporting Ukrainian refugees and I will ensure further information is communicated to all colleagues in due course.
 
This is a concerning time for many colleagues and I know many of us will have been affected by witnessing horrific scenes unfolding in Ukraine as reports emerge and the unfolding tragedy is played out on television screens on a daily basis. To this end, I would like to again draw your attention to the employee assistance services that are available to you all via Care First. Please do not hesitate to use the facility should you feel the need to. 
 
Kind regards,
 
Rob