Issue - meetings

To adopt a Council wide plan to support the District’s recovery from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and to agree a number of short term actions in advance of a wider delivery plan being adopted.

RESOLVED that Cabinet -

(a)    agrees the contents of the Council’s ‘Back to Business’ agenda;  

(b)    allocates £862,000 from the Back to Business budget and authorises the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance to do the following:

          i.    Explore options to provide dedicated resources to manage the Council’s Back to Business agenda;

         ii.   Subject to a Project Initiation Document being approved by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance and the appropriate procurement rules being followed, to explore options for the refurbishment of Clacton Skate Park;

        iii.   Update the Council’s procurement rules to ensure more of the Council’s spending stays within the local economy;

        iv.   Within the parameters of the Council’s financial regulations, make arrangements for a framework to be developed to provide redundant Council IT equipment to disadvantaged young people; and

         v.    Explore options to allocate additional funding towards local organisations providing mental health services to young people.

(c)    gives thanks and acknowledges those Members who participated in the consultation on the approach and who had contributed a number of the projects and actions that were now being taken forward.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Leader of the Council (A.4) which sought its adoption of a Council wide plan to support the District’s recovery from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its agreement to a number of short term actions in advance of a wider delivery plan being adopted.

Members were fully aware that Covid-19 had significantly changed the way in which the public worked and lived their lives, as well as impacting on both the national and local Tendring economy.  In its role as a community leader, the Council was committed to supporting the District’s recovery towards a brighter future.

It was reported that the ‘Back to Business’ process would be targeted at improvements to the District’s environment/quality of life and support for its residents, businesses and wider local economy in order to recover from the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.  The plan would also focus on the Council and its services adapting to the challenges of the pandemic and long term planning for how services would operate moving forward.

Cabinet was informed that, following Greater Essex moving into the Tier 2 ‘High Alert’ level for Covid and the subsequent announcement of a national lockdown, this plan and the impending delivery plan, was intended to complement the business support schemes provided through Government and Essex County Council.  It would be a continually evolving agenda which would adapt to the challenges faced by the District’s businesses and residents alike.

Members were advised that this Back to Business plan set out the Council’s approach to supporting the District’s recovery from Covid-19 and included a number of short term projects, in advance of a wider action plan being brought forward to Cabinet.  It is recognised that a successful recovery would only be achieved through a collective approach, both within the Council’s range of portfolios and with local businesses, partners and stakeholders.

Cabinet was made aware that in order to ensure the Council had sufficient resources to support the delivery of its range of Back to Business actions and projects, it was proposed that a dedicated resource would be provided to deliver this plan.  This resource would be tasked with bringing forward a wider Back to Business delivery plan, with a number of deliverable projects and actions.  This would reflect feedback from the council’s Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the responses from Members following the associated All Member Briefing and subsequent requests from the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance.

The Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder made the following statement:-

“The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly changed the way we work and live our lives, as well as impacting on the national and our local Tendring economy. 

This Back to Business plan is targeted at supporting the District’s recovery; and we are going to work right across our range of Council Portfolios to support business and residents in bouncing back from the challenges they face.

Although there are a number of short term projects included in this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86