Issue - meetings

It was agreed that this item be taken under urgent business to ensure the county council is able to respond quickly to any new outbreaks or incidents of Covid-19 as they arise in Lancashire.

Cabinet received a report on the proposed arrangements for decision making in Lancashire in relation to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, including in relation to new powers from government to be able to close individual premises, close public outdoor places and restrict events with immediate effect.

In presenting the report, it was noted that there was an error in the date contained in recommendation (iv). The date should have read "31 January 2021" and not "31 January 2020".

Resolved: That

  i.  Authority to give directions under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 be delegated to the Chief Executive and Director of Resources, and any other officer(s) that the Chief Executive deems it appropriate to further delegate to.

  ii.  The Director of Corporate Services be authorised to approve the final arrangements for the policy and procedure for the implementation of these new powers.

  iii.  Powers to take any decision on behalf of the cabinet necessary to urgently address or mitigate outbreaks of Covid-19 which can lawfully be delegated to officers, subject to the decision-taker, before taking the decision, having taken appropriate steps to consult the Leader, or, in his absence, the Deputy Leader, or in the absence of both, any members of the cabinet as considered appropriate by the decision taker, be delegated to the Chief Executive, Executive Directors and the Director of Corporate Services; and

  iv.  Such powers in (iii) above replace the delegation to officers approved by the Leader of behalf of Cabinet on 23 March 2020 and last until 31 January 2021 unless otherwise reviewed.