OSDM.5/20
The Joint
Meeting was presented with a report that summarised the work
undertaken by the Council in delivering a highly effective response
to the challenges of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In addition, the report also outlined some initial
thoughts with regard to the challenges that the Council would face
and provided an initial opportunity for Members to input into the
way forward.
At this
point, the Chairman informed that it was his intention for the
meeting to first consider the Response element of the agenda item
before then providing some initial thoughts on the draft Renewal
and Recovery Plan.
(a)
Response
In discussion, particular
reference was made to:-
(i)
the work of officers in response to the
Pandemic. A number of Members wished to
thank and pay tribute to the work undertaken by officers since the
start of the Pandemic. In particular,
special praise was extended to the Deputy Chief Executive and his
Senior and Extended Leadership Team colleagues.
Some Members also felt that it
would be remiss if the Meeting did not recognise the excellent work
that was being carried out by Town and Parish Councils and local
community groups. As a result, it was
felt that this should be recognised in the recommendation that was
to be put forward to the Executive meeting to be held on 18 June
2020;
(ii)
the lessons learned exercise. At the time when the exercise was to be carried
out, some Members requested that consideration should be given to
the belief that all Members should be engaged right from the
offset;
(iii)
the role undertaken by the Community Response
Team that had been formed in response to the Pandemic. Members found the initiative to have been very
useful and a model that could be adapted in the draft Renewal and
Recovery Plan;
(iv)
the latest financial position. The Section 151 Officer provided an update on the
financial position and made specific reference to:
a.
the decision-making cycle for an amended Budget for
2020/21. Members were informed of the
intention for a draft Budget setting Workshop to be held during
August, before a draft amended Budget was then considered
by:
§
another Joint Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny
Panel and Development Management Committee to be held on 3
September 2020;
§
the Executive meeting to be held on 17 September
2020; and
§
the Full Council meeting to be held on 24 September
2020;
b.
Central Government listening to the financial plight
being faced by District Councils and the latest information being
that a comprehensive package was to be announced imminently;
and
c.
the latest financial situation for the Council being set out in the
Budget Monitoring Report that was to be presented to the Executive
meeting to be held on 18 June 2020.
(v)
Business Rates
Grants. Members recognised that the
Council had responded as soon as was practically possible to
distribute grant funding to local businesses. In the likely event of the Business Rates Grant
Fund being over-subscribed, officers confirmed ...
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