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Councillors and committees

Agenda item

Results of Covid 19 Survey

Presentation

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation on the results of the Covid 19 Survey conducted in March 2021.  The aim of the research was to make sure that the pandemic emergency and recovery plans enable Gateshead to thrive as the borough adjusts to living with Covid.

 

The Objectives of the survey were to:

 

·         Assess the ongoing impact of the pandemic

·         Gather information to identify, estimate and address potential risks and issues – clarify the ‘known unknowns’

·         Generate insights to support effective decision making

·         Facilitate emergency response and recover planning

·         Understand the longer-term legacy and implications of the pandemic for future service delivery

 

There were three themes to the survey:

 

1.    Public Health Service planning; feasibility of self-isolation, attitudes to social distancing, access to mass testing, vaccination roll out and take up

2.    Economic outlook; household sentiment, patterns of consumer demand (eg shopping, home working, access to public spaces, trave); changes to work, hours and earnings

3.    Living standards; personal health and wellbeing, household financial resilience

 

The design and the delivery of the survey was undertaken in partnership with NE Local Authorities, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), NHS North East Integrated Covid Hub, Community Covid Champions and Durham University.

 

The survey was undertaken between 8 and 28 March 2021.  The online survey was built on Gateshead Council’s online consultation portal and then circulated by individual local authorities.  Paper copy surveys were available on request.

 

Responses received were as follows:

 

·         All participating authorities             5514

·         County Durham                      -           728

·         Darlington                                -           381

·         Gateshead                              -           1867

·         Middlesbrough                        -           138

·         Newcastle upon Tyne             -           466

·         North Tyneside                       -           693

·         Redcar and Cleveland            -           283

·         South Tyneside                       -           345

·         Sunderland                             -           613

 

 

The Committee were advised that the outcomes was summarised as follows:-

 

·         Analysis of attitude to social distancing, testing, self isolation and vaccination shard with health partners to inform targeted public information and behavioural change campaigns and rollout of the vaccine programme

·         Evidence used to estimate the ongoing economic and fiscal impact of the pandemic and resultant revenue/financial losses caused by a reduction in activity

·         Generated feedback for local, regional and national audiences on the effectiveness of government support measures (Furlough, Self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS), Getting Building Fund (GBF), emergency grants (Local Restrictions Support Grant, Additional Restrictions Grant, Hospitality and Leisure Grants) and Welcome Back Funds)

·         Influenced Gateshead’s Local Economic Development Strategy

·         Informing our approach to securing future investment in the borough

·         Lessons learned will underpin future resilience planning

 

The survey contributed to a robust, reliable and statistically relevant evidence base to inform system-wide policy development, service planning, lobbying, and influencing to protect lives and livelihoods.  Results were used to encourage public compliance with lockdown and social distancing measures, maximise the efficacy of mass vaccination, and support economic recovery planning.

 

The outcomes of the survey allowed for:

 

·         Analysis of attitudes to social distancing, testing, self isolation and vaccination shared with health partners to inform targeted public information and behavioural change campaigns and rollout of the vaccine programme

·         Evidence to be used to estimate the ongoing economic and fiscal impact of the pandemic and resultant revenue/financial losses caused by a reduction in activity

·         The generation of feedback for local, regional and national audiences on the effectiveness of government support measures (Furlough, Self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS), Getting Building Fund (GBF), emergency grants (Local Restrictions Support Grant, Additional Restrictions Grant, Hospitality and Leisure Grants) and Welcome Back Fund).

·         Influencing of Gateshead’s Local Economic Development Strategy

·         Informed approach to securing future investment in the borough

·         Lessons learned to underpin future resilience planning.

 

RESOLVED -              That the information presented by noted

 

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