Decisions

Various licence applications/permissions/consents made under the Licensing Act 2003 for the month of July 2021

Individual decisions made in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation are detailed on the attached document

To agree the Applications for Planning Permission and Other Consents under the Town and Country Planning Act and Associated Legislation for July 2021

Individual decisions made in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation are detailed on the attached document

To make the following changes to the measures currently in place and to review safe systems of work in light of the changes to Government restrictions effective from 19 July 2021.
- To increase throughput in the HWRC site by 50% in recognition of changes in Government guidance.
- To maintain an appointment system to manage traffic throughout the working day to avoid traffic congestion at peak times along Whessoe Road outside the HWRC site.
- Staff operating the HWRC site have been instructed in safe systems of work by the site operator, John Wades.

Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts considered

Service to be available as detailed above.
Safe systems of work in place as agreed with the Council’s Health & Safety Unit and John Wade Group.

Equality Impacts - consider separate impact assessment where appropriate

None

To make changes where appropriate with effect from 19 July 2021 as detailed above.

To allow the public to visit the Household Waste Recycling Centre in line with Government guidance whilst adhering to safe systems of work as agreed with the Council’s Health & Safety Unit and John Wade Group.

To make the following changes to the measures currently in place and to review safe systems of work in light of the changes to Government restrictions effective from 19 July 2021.
- Opening hours to remain the same.
- To restrict large gatherings inside the museum over the summer, e.g.
private hires. Where possible these will be outside.
- Booking system for visits to the museum will remain, although the number of people allowed to book within a 15-minute slot will be increased from 6 to 12 (this will still restrict numbers to the venue but will be much reduced from normal capacity).
- Visitors will still be asked to scan the Track and Trace QR code on arrival and wear a mask when moving around the building. When booking, the main contact will still need to supply a name, contact number and email address.
- The one-way system will remain around the building (usual direction of travel). Social distancing to be encouraged but not enforced.
- All staff to continue to follow safe system of work and will wear masks, sanitise hands and keep a distance when working on site.
- A screen to remain at reception to protect staff. Masks will be worn when two members of staff are present but could be removed behind screen when working alone.
- All events to be planned for delivery outside and will only move indoors as a wet weather option.
- Regular cleaning and sanitising of touch points will remain in place.
- Volunteering at the museum will not be allowed until after the summer period.
- Procedures to be reviewed again at the end of summer with the plan to remove the booking system as move into autumn period.

Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts considered

Service to be available as detailed above.
Safe systems of work in place as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health

Equality Impacts - consider separate impact assessment where appropriate

None

To make changes where appropriate with effect from 19 July 2021 as detailed above.

To allow the public to visit the Head of Steam in line with Government guidance whilst adhering to safe systems of work as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health.

To make the following changes to the measures currently in place and to review safe systems of work in light of the changes to Government restrictions effective from 19 July 2021.
- To continue to operate good practice safe systems of work.
- Capacities within business areas will increase but will fall comfortably below full capacity.
- Over the next few weeks this will be observed closely and only when comfortable that safety can be maintained will they be increased further.
- If levels are felt to be too high, these will be addressed immediately.
- All good practice in relation to sanitisation, additional cleaning, encouraging customers to distance, wear a face mask, sanitise and check in with Track and Trace will continue.
- Clear signage and the maintenance of some alternative exit routes will be maintained to support navigation for customers.
- Customers will no longer have to book for activities that were not pre-bookable before Covid.
- Staff to continue to wear PPE, to distance and will be encouraged to sanitise.

Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts considered

Service to be available as detailed above.
Safe systems of work in place as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health.

Equality Impacts - consider separate impact assessment where appropriate

None

To make changes where appropriate with effect from 19 July 2021 as detailed above.

To allow the public to visit the Dolphin Centre and Eastbourne Sports Complex in line with Government guidance whilst adhering to safe systems of work as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health.

To make the following changes to the measures currently in place and to review safe systems of work in light of the changes to Government restrictions effective from 19 July 2021. It is proposed to continue with the measures detailed below until at least September 2021.
- Opening hours to remain the same, which are:
Darlington Library: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm (Art Gallery and Centre for Local Studies Mon-Fri 10am-4pm);
Cockerton Library: Mon, Wed, Fri 9.30am-1pm, Tues, Thurs, Sat 1pm-4pm.
- Reinstate additional furniture and computer workstations.
- Remove current signage and floor stickers and replace with Covid Summary poster (asking people to sanitise their hands, choose to wear a face covering, do not enter if you have symptoms of coronavirus and to respect others’ space) and Test and Trace poster.
- The number of people allowed in the libraries will no longer be restricted.
- Staff will still be encouraged to wear a face covering and screens will remain in place for when customers are not using self service facilities.
- Fines and reservation charges removed since March 2020 will not be reinstated immediately.
- ‘Select and Collect’ to remain an offer.
- Home delivery service to over 60s will continue.
- To look to reintroduce Lego/colouring activities.
- eLibrary/computer room to remain closed (a number of computers relocated to reference library) until refurbishment takes place.

Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts considered

Service to be available as detailed above.
Financial consideration of a loss of potential income for fines and reservation charges, although this is minimal.
Safe systems of work in place as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health.

Equality Impacts - consider separate impact assessment where appropriate

None

To make changes where appropriate with effect from 19 July 2021 as detailed above.

To allow the public to visit Crown Street and Cockerton Libraries in line with Government guidance whilst adhering to safe systems of work as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health.

To make the following changes to the measures currently in place and to review safe systems of work in light of the changes to Government restrictions effective from 19 July 2021.

Social Distancing – to go ahead with no social distancing in auditorium as this is now allowed in line with Government guidance. Customers will be advised to wear a face mask while seated but staff won’t enforce this. Where possible, we will also try to provide an area where people can move to within the auditorium (e.g. Upper Circle) if they feel uncomfortable sitting next to other people.
Social distancing will remain in place for dance/theatre classes in the short term.

Face Masks – all customers will be strongly advised to wear a face masks while circulating the building or sitting in auditorium. However, as detailed above, staff will not be enforcing this and won’t be challenging customers.

NHS Test & Trace – Customers will be offered the opportunity to scan the QR code or leave their details, but staff won’t be enforcing this, and it will be optional for the customers.

Covid Pass –Customers won’t be asked to provide this information as it is currently not a legal requirement. However, we are continuing to monitor Government guidance on this, which may change once further information is released.

Staff Safety – Staff to continue to wear face masks while circulating the building or working in a customer facing role. Screens will remain in place on service points.

Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts considered

Service to be available as detailed above.
Safe systems of work in place as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health.

Possible impact on income on ticket sales if face masks were made mandatory in the Hippodrome, similar if we started to use the COVID Pass.

Possible effect on staffing levels with staff having to self-isolate with having increased number of people in the building at one time for shows. If a large number of staff had to self-isolate it could mean temporary closure or reduction in offer.

Equality Impacts - consider separate impact assessment where appropriate

None

To make changes where appropriate with effect from 19 July 2021 as detailed above.

To allow the public to visit Darlington Hippodrome to see shows in line with Government guidance whilst adhering to safe systems of work as agreed with Health & Safety and Public Health.

This is considered the best way to move forward with shows at the Hippodrome while still following Government guidance. We have introduced new technology to assist in social distancing going forward and this will help us to operate a safer building for the general public (e.g. ticket scanners, mobile credit card machines, pre-order app).

To make the following changes to the measures currently in place in light of the changes to Government restrictions effective from 19 July 2021, which will no longer limits the number of people who can attend funerals.

- To return to previous pre-Covid capacity numbers for funeral services.
- The Council’s Cemeteries and Crematorium Team to request Funeral Directors to ask mourners to wear face masks for funeral services.

Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts considered

Service to be available as detailed above.

Equality Impacts - consider separate impact assessment where appropriate

None

To make changes where appropriate with effect from 19 July 2021 as detailed above.

To allow funeral services to take place with pre-Covid capacity numbers in line with Government guidance.