4.1 Councillor Rachael
Robathan (Leader of the Council) provided an update and responded
to questions on matters of corporate interest, which
included:
·
the impressive
roll out of the NHS vaccination programme across
Westminster.
·
the roll out of
the asymptomatic testing in schools already being carried out twice
a week.
·
the stringent
guidelines around providing residents with transport to vaccination
sites relating to transmission rates and the possibility of
resourcing the charity sector to carry out this vital
role.
·
the discussions
taking place with the NHS CCG’s to hopefully open more
vaccination sites locally after the present category of
vaccinations have been achieved.
·
the importance of
supporting our businesses with business grants and the lobbying of
government for the continuation of the business rates holiday until
2022.
·
the economy
recovery of the West End as well as the whole of Westminster which
included promoting the Inside/out Festival, West End Live and the
Oxford Street District Website. The
Commission touched on the need for the public to regain confidence
in public transport.
·
the invaluable
contribution of Westminster Connects throughout the pandemic and
the importance of maintaining the motivation of the community of
volunteers.
4.2 The Commission discussed
in depth the Council’s vaccination campaign to promote the
benefits of the vaccine to ensure that recent reports of
anti-vaccination activity did not have an impact on vaccine uptake.
The Commission heard that giving residents the opportunity to ask
questions about the vaccine was likely to alleviate
residents’ concerns and have a positive impact on vaccine
uptake. The Commission noted that
further conversations needed to take place with GPs, the NHS and
CCGs regarding the format of the message.
4.3 The Commission endorsed
the Leader of the Council’s positively encouraging all
Councillors to actively engage and signpost their communities to
information regarding the vaccine and to share the responsibility
for the recognition of the importance of the vaccination
campaign.