Update - 8 May 2020
Local Government Response Unit main page
Quick reference guide for 2020/21 annual planning processes (PDF, 557KB). (For full guidance go to the SOLGM SectorGoodtoolkit).
Guidance for council services at Alert Level 2 (WORD, 78KB ) (In Word version for ease of use - Note this document now includes CDEM guidance and additional guidance for libraries).
All-of-Government FAQs for Alert Level 2 - these complement the detailed Alert Level Tables that can be found here. (same as yesterday).
Response Unit Recovery workstream
Today the Recovery reference group met to discuss the future of this workstream, and further refinement of a programme structure.
The group raised the importance of maintaining clear, collaborative and communication as we move forward - referencing this email as a useful format with LGNZ, SOLGM and DIA all feeding into one set of communications.
The group also raised a desire to better understand how local government can communicate with other agencies, not only as a reference group or sector, but as individual Councils or organisations as we progress into a recovery space nationally and regionally.
The Reference Group will continue to meet weekly in the short term, with an early focus on establishing initial priorities and implementation programmes.
We will communicate progress of the Recovery work and roles and responsibilities of parties in more detail over the coming weeks through this COVID-19 email.
COVID-19: Quick reference guide for 2020/21 annual planning processes
In previous updates (3 April and 29 April) we circulated legal advice from Simpson Grierson on 2020/21 annual planning, rate-setting and related consultation considerations in the context of COVID-19.
We have worked with Simpson Grierson to produce a one-page, diagrammatic summary of that advice as a ‘quick reference guide’.
The guide (attached) includes information on:
- annual plan changes and the long-term plan;
- annual plan consultation;
- unbalanced budget considerations; and
- annual plan adoption
We trust the guide will be helpful and encourage councils to seek specific advice if your circumstances are not covered by the general information included in the summary or the more fulsome advice circulated previously.
Record Keeping during Alert Levels 1-4
Some Councils have queried whether workshops and other non-meeting Zoom chats between elected members—including ‘informal’ or ‘social’ chats between elected members where officials aren’t invited—ought to be documented in the usual way during the COVID response period.
Councils are reminded that their obligations under Part 2 of the Public Records Act 2005 to maintain full and accurate records of their affairs remains in place, regardless of what alert level the country is on.
Read helpful information about record keeping on the Archives website.
Alert Level 2 Guidance
Please note: we remain at Alert Level 3 until we are notified of any change by the Government. Cabinet will consider any change in Alert Level on Monday 11 May, an announcement on this decision will be made at 4pm.
The attached guidance has been developed for council services based on the decisions the Government has made for Alert Levels. This guidance now includes the CDEM guidance which was distributed to CDEM Group Managers yesterday evening.
We would like to thank you all for your input into this process; your expertise is crucial to ensuring this guidance is fit for purpose.
You can also find this guidance on the COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit webpage.
We will continue to work to refine this guidance as future Cabinet decisions are made and other sectors finalise their Alert Level 2 guidance and will keep you up to date on any changes.
If you have any enquiries around council services/operations at Level 2 please send these enquiries to the Response Unit through to this COVID-19 inbox or your regular SOLGM/LGNZ/DIA contacts.
Alert Level 2 framework: general All-of-Government information
Detailed All-of-Government frameworks were distributed as an attachment to yesterday’s daily email: you can view these on the COVID-19 Government website.
Below are the golden rules for businesses and public under Alert Level 2, and attached are a set of All of Government FAQs that you may find useful in conversations with your communities and planning for a transition to Alert Level 2.
Golden rules for business at Alert Level 2
Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.
- COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
- All businesses can operate if they can do so safely. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible.
- Hospitality business should keep customers seated, separated, and with a single server.
- Talk with your workers to identify risks and ways to manage them.
- Ask everyone – workers, contractors and customers – with cold or flu-like symptoms to stay away from your premises.
- Keep groups of customers at least 1 metre apart
- Keep contact-tracing records of anyone who will have close interaction (workers, contractors or customers).
- Reduce the number of shared surfaces, and regularly disinfect them.
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
The Golden Rules for everyone at Alert Level 2
Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.
- COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
- Keep your distance from other people in public.
- If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise.
- If you have symptoms of cold or flu call your doctor or Healthline and get tested.
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
- Sneeze and cough into your elbow, regularly disinfect surfaces.
- If you have been told to self-isolate you must do so immediately.
- Keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen.
