Agenda item

To adopt a Delivery Plan for their Back to Business agenda in order to support the District’s recovery from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

RESOLVED that –

a)     the content of the Council’s ‘Back to Business’ delivery plan be approved;

b)     where noted on the delivery plan, the approval of Project Initiation Documents (PID) be delegated to the appropriate Portfolio Holder; and

c)      if virements are required to realign the budget between projects, as set out in Appendix A to the Report of the Leader of the Council, authority for such virements be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance & Governance, in consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Leader of the Council (A.4) which requested it to adopt a Delivery Plan for their Back to Business agenda, to support the District’s recovery from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Cabinet was informed that to date the Council had processed vital grants to the value of around £38m to support the local economy, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Building on a period of unprecedented engagement with local business, focus had now turned to supporting them to flourish through a range of measures targeted at fuelling the wider economic recovery.

Cabinet recalled that it had adopted the ‘Back to Business’ agenda at its meeting held on 13 November 2021, which set out how the Council would work across its range of services and portfolios to support the local economy, Tendring businesses and residents in recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members were reminded that Cabinet had allocated £862,000 to the Back to Business agenda, in order to fund an action plan in support of this process, which was apportioned to the various projects listed in the delivery plan (Appendix A to the Leader’s report).

It was reported that the Back to Business agenda not only targeted interventions to support Tendring businesses and our local economy, it also set out a number of measures targeted at improvements to the environment/quality of life and support for residents in recovering from the challenges of the pandemic.  The three areas of focus were as follows:

“STRIVE (support for our businesses)

Throughout the pandemic the Council has been working hard preparing for how we can support our economy through the challenges it undoubtedly faces.  We have updated our economic development strategy and are concentrating resources to support the local recovery, whilst recognising it is Tendring’s businesses that will deliver economic growth;

THRIVE (support for our residents)

Many residents of all ages have been adversely affected by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, whether through being furloughed, feeling isolated while shielding or being home-schooled during lockdown. We are looking at measures to support our residents through these difficult times, towards a positive future; 

LIVE (pride in our District)

Alongside economic recovery, we will continue to focus on the importance of pride in where we live, celebrating our culture and heritage and improving quality of life. There has never been a more appropriate time to focus on all the things that make Tendring special.”

Cabinet was advised that due to the many uncertainties which remained after almost a year of national restrictions, a balance of the overall budget had been held in reserve and would be utilised for the Back to Business agenda as and when appropriate. To date £1.95m of external funding had been levered in to support the Back to Business approach.  Further opportunities were actively being developed to increase monies levered in to support the District’s recovery.

Having considered the contents of the report and its appendix:

It was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, moved by Councillor G V Guglielmi and:-

RESOLVED that –

a)     the content of the Council’s ‘Back to Business’ delivery plan be approved;

b)     where noted on the delivery plan, the approval of Project Initiation Documents (PID) be delegated to the appropriate Portfolio Holder; and

c)      if virements are required to realign the budget between projects, as set out in Appendix A to the Report of the Leader of the Council, authority for such virements be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance & Governance, in consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder.