11 December 2020

Dear Colleagues,

This has been an incredibly busy week that has seen a number of developments in Wales and the wider United Kingdom in the on-going response to COVID-19. 

Health and social care workers have been amongst the first people in Wales to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine this week. Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan University Health Board have rolled out the first batch of vaccinations from a dedicated vaccination centre in Splott. Carers from our residential homes will be amongst the first to receive the vaccine this week and this will continue over the coming weeks to safeguard our most vulnerable residents. Although the arrival of a small number of vaccines is incredibly good news, the vaccine remains some time off yet for most people.

I spend a lot of time with colleagues looking at what the data from Public Health, Shared Regulatory Services and the Test, Trace, Protect Service is telling us about the pandemic to help inform the actions we take. I am extremely concerned to see the significant rise in the number of positive cases in the Vale of Glamorgan over the past few weeks. In the last 30 days, over 1000 people have become infected by the virus in the Vale. In just the last week, there have been 359 new cases and nearly 3000 people have been tested. This is at a worryingly high level and the coronavirus is spread across all parts of our communities in the Vale and it is present in all age groups. The rate at which the virus is now spreading should be a significant cause for concern to us all. From discussions with our partners in the Health Service, they are now seeing pressure on hospitals at similar levels to the spring. The impact of people becoming infected, or in contact with someone who has tested positive, is also putting vital public services under immense strain.

I must ask that colleagues to not get complacent when it comes to following the really important rules that have been set to protect ourselves and others, or think that coronavirus might not affect them. From the Test, Trace and Protect Service we know that here in the Vale, the virus is spreading when people mix in different houses, share cars, and do not maintain social distance when they are at work. Please remember the sacrifices we have all made this year and protect yourselves and your loved ones. We are working hard to protect our community and we need your help in following the rules. 

Christmas is an important time for many, but this year it will be different. I know this time of year staff would usually get together to celebrate Christmas but I’m afraid this year social occasions cannot go ahead as they normally would. No teams should organise social events where people come together and mix. There are other ways to celebrate and I am grateful to our wellbeing champions who have developed an online quiz for teams to take part in, if they are looking for an opportunity to socialise virtually. More information on this can be found on the Wellbeing section on Staffnet+. The BBC has also produced some information that I would urge colleagues to take time to look at when thinking about their Christmas plans.

As a result of the continued rise in coronavirus cases in Wales the Welsh Government has also indicated that secondary schools should move to distance learning from Monday 14 December. In the Vale of Glamorgan, we have taken the decision that our nursery, primary schools and special school will remain open for on-premises learning up to and including Wednesday 16 December. In her statement the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, stressed: ‘this is not an early Christmas break and pupils should do everything they can to minimise their contact with others’. Inset days already scheduled by individual schools for the end of term will continue as planned.  

I would like to once again thank all of our education and schools staff for your continued efforts to keep Vale of Glamorgan pupils in school in such challenging circumstances. I hope you can all look forward to a couple of weeks rest from next week. 

The Welsh Government has also announced this week that the self-isolation period in Wales will reduce from 14 days to 10. More information on this and what self-isolation means can be viewed on the Welsh Government website. It is really important that when told to isolate by Test, Trace and Protect, that people do this and are supported. I would like to extend my thanks once again to our colleagues in the Benefits team who are processing self-isolation payments for people in this situation. Diolch for your continued hard work. 

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to an important consultation that we as a Council have launched this week. It’s on our draft Annual Delivery Plan and Budget proposals for next year. The Annual Delivery Plan outlines the key priorities for the Council in 2021/22 and the actions that we will undertake to deliver our wellbeing objectives. The budget part of the consultation then asks how we should look to deliver services in future. The past year has brought significant challenges, but also opportunities and I would encourage you to share your views on how we can take this forward into the future to continue to provide the services our residents need and value. All of the relevant information can be found on our website. 

I know this year has been a challenge for everyone and I would like to re-iterate once again how grateful I am for everyone’s efforts to keep going, support one another and our communities. 

I hope over the coming weeks you will all have an opportunity to relax and that many of you will have some time away from work.

Diolch yn fawr.

Stay safe.

Rob