Lockdown diaries: WMCA’s Deborah Cadman

Deborah Cadman is chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority. Here, she outlines a working day during lockdown, from an early morning meeting with the chief executives of each of the councils and a coronavirus impact meeting with Robert Jenrick to a cool glass of wine to top off the day. Given we are at the sharp end of the biggest peacetime crisis ever seen, my days have become strangely regimented. With lockdown in full swing, my day (like every other working day) starts with the alarm going off at 5.30am. I check through my emails over breakfast. Then, it’s half an hour of exercise in my flat in the Jewellery Quarter, a historic neighbourhood of Birmingham city centre and just a stone’s throw from the WMCA’s offices. A brisk walk to the office and it’s a beautiful morning. I climb the stairs to the fourth floor and it’s eerily quiet. Pre-Covid-19 it would have already been a hive of activity but today (Wednesday 20 May) there’s just me, mayor Andy Street and four or five other essential staff. The first virtual meeting of the morning is the West Midlands chief executives at 8am. The chief executives from each of the councils come together to discuss and co-ordinate the region’s Covid-19 response and talk through the key issues of the day. It helps to make sure the region is speaking with one voice when engaging with government and others. Concerns and logistics around the planned return of primary schools on 1 June is high on the list and what we need to do to ensure a successful economic recovery. Next, I have a call with Whitehall to discuss a virtual meeting taking place later in the day. The West Midlands will be hosting the government’s first ever regional coronavirus impact meeting and we need to finalise the agenda. The meeting will be chaired by communities secretary Robert Jenrick and includes key cabinet members. It is an opportunity to hear what government is planning and for us to show what we are doing. It’s also another chance to set out what we need from government to safeguard the best interests of West Midlands people and businesses. Half an hour later and it’s the 9.15am daily coronavirus briefing with the mayor, deputy mayor and key WMCA directors and departmental heads. We bring each other up to speed on all things Covid-19 for that day. I give a rundown of my earlier meetings, we look at the latest government updates and then drill down into regional items. The disproportionate impact of coronavirus on our BAME community is of particular concern, and a review into this by Public Health England is welcome news. As part of that review the mayor hosted a virtual roundtable the night before. I think it’s no exaggeration to say that things will never be quite the same again. The particular make-up of the West Midlands and its heavy reliance on automotive, construction and manufacturing makes it especially vulnerable, and research suggests we could be the hardest-hit region. But we’ve been here before with the financial crash of 2008. We bounced back from that brilliantly and were the fastest-growing region outside London when coronavirus struck. This time we have an opportunity to build an economy that is greener and more inclusive, helping the fight against climate change and making sure all our diverse communities can feel that growth. I have a change of focus at 11.30am, speaking to my current mentee, who is returning to work after taking maternity leave. I have found my role as a mentor incredibly rewarding. It’s nice to talk with her on a personal level – and this feels extra special during the lockdown. Then it’s time for our weekly all-staff seminar. More than 300 WMCA staff are tuned in, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to come together at a time when 99% of us are working from home. It is Mental Health Awareness Week, and we talk about a recent survey that has shown 72% of UK adults say it’s important we learn from the coronavirus pandemic to be kinder and more thoughtful as a society. I’m sure staff are getting sick and tired of me banging on about the importance of being kind – not just to one another but also to yourself. I remind them we have 17 mental health volunteering buddies in the WMCA who are trained and there to help them if they feel like their mental health is suffering. An organisation is only as good as the people who work for it, and these webinars help safeguard a sense of unity. It also gives staff the chance to ask questions and raise concerns about returning to the office. I tell everyone we are working on a detailed plan to ensure we provide a safe and supportive return to the workplace. After the seminar, I join the Covid-19 Strategic Co-ordination Group, which is chaired by the police and looks at the wider regional response to the pandemic. Then it’s straight on to that meeting with government. In addition to Robert Jenrick we also have business secretary Alok Sharma and DWP secretary Thérèse Coffey. From the West Midlands, we have the mayor and council and business leaders. At 4.30pm I chair the daily recovery co-ordination group preparation meeting. Then I have another round of calls before a walk home to the flat at 6.30pm. The magnitude of the work feels immense as we steer through this pandemic on the road to recovery. But, I’m trying hard to follow my own advice and be kind to myself. I arrange to meet up with a good friend and we go for a socially distanced walk through a local wood enjoying the warm evening air as the sun sets and then a cold glass of wine.