OSDM.11/20
The Joint
Meeting was presented with a report that summarised what continued
to be a highly effective response to the challenges of the
Pandemic; detailed key recovery actions already completed or
underway; and proposals to develop and implement the first
iteration of the Council’s long/medium term recovery and
renewal plans.
The
Chairman informed of his intention for the Meeting to consider the
draft Recovery and Renewal Plan on a theme by theme
basis:
Theme 1: Business and Economy
In
discussion, the following points were raised:
(a)
The lead Executive Member advised that, whilst still
very much in its infancy, he was committed to developing the
Business Forum concept as the Plan continued to evolve;
(b)
An addition was PROPOSED and
SECONDED for inclusion in the Plan that read as
follows:
To include the following
addition in accordance with action 1.5: ‘Engage with existing
businesses to understand what support they need’:
‘Support
taxpayers who currently find themselves excluded from meaningful
support.’
The proposer highlighted that
there were still local taxpayers who were not able to obtain
meaningful support from Central Government for a variety of reasons
and he considered it to be important for the Council to do
everything that it could to assist these people.
The Joint Meeting proceeded to
recommend that this addition should be included in the draft
Plan;
Theme 2: Place and Environment
In discussion, reference was
made to:
(a)
the importance of the Climate
Change and Biodiversity agenda being an underpinning issue
throughout every aspect of the draft Plan;
(b)
increasing wildflower spaces and protecting wildlife
corridors. Some Members singled out
these actions for particular focus and felt that the Council should
place significant emphasis on these matters. In addition, the view was expressed that the
Council should look towards working in partnership with those local
town and parish councils who had also declared a Climate Change and
Biodiversity Emergency;
(c)
the need to utilise external
advisors. To deliver on a number of the
proposed actions, a Member felt that the Council should be looking
to take advantage of the wealth of external local knowledge and
expertise that was residing within the South Hams area;
(d)
the proposal to influence the development of
active travel schemes. Support was
expressed for the inclusion of this action within the draft
Plan.
Theme 3: Residents, Communities and
Partnerships
The Joint Meeting expressed its support for
the content of the draft Plan as presented.
Theme 4: Service Recovery and
Redesign
The Joint Meeting expressed its support for
the content of the draft Plan as presented.
Theme 5: Communications and
Governance
In discussion on this Theme, particular
reference was made to:
(a)
the format of the Council
Constitution. The need to re-design the
Council Constitution to ensure that it was a more reader friendly
document was recognised;
(b)
an amendment to the draft Plan
was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read
as follows:
‘To consider
utilising three day fallow periods before and after a single
meeting to open ...
view the full minutes text for item 11.