A report of the Mayor had been circulated with the agenda.

The Chairman invited members to indicate whether they wished to ask a question of the Mayor. Councillors Bell, Bashir, Smith and Dhindsa indicated that they wished to ask questions.

1)         Welcoming the constructive cross party working during the Covid 19 pandemic, Councillor Bell questioned the appropriateness of party leafleting during the current lockdown and whether this was contrary to government rules.

             The Mayor explained that it was vital for councillors to keep in touch with residents in order to inform them about the help and support available.  Leafleting provided an opportunity to disseminate information.  There were no epidemiological arguments to support the suggestion that leaflets were unsafe in the face of on-going postal and delivery services to households.

2)         In a supplementary question, Councillor Bell argued that the leaflet in question contained only party political information.  This was neither necessary nor welcomed by residents.  He also raised concerns about those delivering leaflets not wearing face coverings. 

             In response, the Mayor argued that it was important for democracy to continue.  The government had stated that local elections would take place in May and it was necessary to inform residents about local issues.  He reiterated the need to focus on the science which did not support Councillor Bell’s concerns about the spread of Covid 19 as a result of leaflet distribution.

3)         Councillor Bashir also welcomed the Mayor’s engagement with the opposition group during the pandemic.  Addressing the current Covid 19 mass vaccination programme, Councillor Bashir asked whether the Mayor could update the meeting about the possible provision of a mass vaccination centre in Watford and whether the Mayor had offered any council or community facility for this purpose.

             The Mayor underlined the importance of encouraging the uptake of the Covid 19 vaccines.  Local leadership from councillors was crucial in this endeavour.  He noted that local vaccination levels were high.  The Mayor confirmed that the council had been working with the NHS to make council facilities and land available.  It was hoped that a mass vaccination site would be opened in the town in the coming weeks.

4)         Referring to the real living wage, Councillor Smith asked the Mayor whether the council required their contractors to pay their employees at least a real living wage.

             The Mayor agreed that it was important that people were paid a decent wage for the work they did.  The issue was taken seriously by the council.  He noted that the new contract agreed with SLM had extended the real living wage to younger employees who were not legally entitled to it.  Ensuring that everyone received a decent wage would continue to be a key consideration as council contracts came up for renewal.

5)         Councillor Dhindsa focussed on the issue of free school meals which had been highlighted both nationally and at a local level.  He asked the Mayor what had been done with the £230k which had been allocated to the council for this purpose.

             The Mayor concurred that it was important all children, and particularly those from low income families, received the food they needed.  The government’s management of this issue had been outrageous.  The Mayor explained that Hertfordshire County Council was the responsible authority for education and held information on those children in receipt of free school meals.  Watford Borough Council had received £10k towards food more generally about six months previously.  This had been distributed to local groups including the Watford Foodbank, Watford Women’s Centre and One Vision.  Additional support had been afforded by the Watford Covid Appeal which had raised over £160k to support local groups.