Agenda item

E.41/20            

Members considered a report that provided an update on the Council’s ongoing response and recovery activity and presented the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel Task and Finish Groups.

  In discussion, the following points were raised:-

(a)   A non-Executive Member highlighted the following action within the draft Recovery Plan and questioned whether it would be given a high priority:

‘To explore opportunities to invest in our High Streets by buying empty premises and letting with a rent free period / other incentives to attract businesses into the area.’

In response, it was hoped that this matter could be addressed when the draft Plan was presented to the Council meeting on 17 December 2020.  In taking this point a step further, officers committed to adding a short / medium and high priority to each action contained within the draft Plan.  Furthermore, it was also requested that these time based priorities should be defined within the Council report;

(b)   An amendment to the report recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

1.      That, for the Localities and Communities Task and Finish Group findings, officers assess the feasibility and cost of implementing the proposals and present a further report back to a future Executive meeting;

2.    That officers use the Framework developed by the Consultation & Engagement Task and Finish Group to develop and present (for adoption) a draft Consultation & Engagement Strategy to the Council Meeting to be held on 17 December 2020 and that reference to the: ‘If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together’ proverb be deleted;

The proposer of the amendment wished to thank both Task and Finish Groups for their findings and was of the view that they had been positive examples of the Overview and Scrutiny function complimenting the Executive.  In discussion on the amendment, reference was made to:

-        a wish for the report on the Localities and Communities Task and Finish Group findings to take into account the potential for an increased service provision during the February half-term period.  Without wishing to put undue pressure on the lead officers, the need for this report to be published as soon as was practically possible was recognised;

-       a wish to thank the Localities Team for their excellent work during this year; and

-       confirmation that the principles established by the Consultation & Engagement Task and Finish Group would be applied to the public consultation exercise on the draft Housing Strategy;

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.      That the Council’s continuing response to the COVID-19 Pandemic be noted;

2.      That the Council’s progress in developing and delivering the Recovery and Renewal Plan be noted;

3.      That, for the Localities and Communities Task and Finish Group findings, officers assess the feasibility and cost of implementing the proposals and present a further report back to a future Executive meeting;

4.      That officers use the Framework developed by the Consultation & Engagement Task and Finish Group to develop and present (for adoption) a draft Consultation & Engagement Strategy to the Council Meeting to be held on 17 December 2020 and that reference to the: ‘If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together’ proverb be deleted; and

5.      That officers be requested to finalise the Recovery and Renewal Plan in-line with the approach outlined in the presented agenda report and present it to the Council meeting to be held on 17 December 2020 for adoption.