Issue - meetings

This report updates Cabinet on the Council’s response to the pandemic situation and its proposals for economic recovery.

The Cabinet

            RESOLVED – That

(1)  The action taken to date be noted;

(2)  Consideration be given to the way for the Council post-recovery

(3)  As part of the work in (2) above, support the establishment of a Coronavirus Recovery Working Party based on the following terms:

(a)  Terms of Reference – to conduct a review on the way forward for the Council post recovery

(b)  Size of the Working Party – 10 Members with seats allocated as follows – Lib Dems [4]; Cons [4]; Ind [1] Green [1]

(c)  Nominations to the seats – to be made by the relevant Group Leader and confirmed as Councillors Bennett, Chapman, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Dendle, Mrs Haywood, Mrs Staniforth, Tilbrook, Ms Thurston and Dr Walsh;

(d)  Proposals for the allocation of seats if vacancies occur – to be for the relevant Group Leader to fill the vacant seat and report this information to the next Full Council meeting;

(e)  Timescale for the work to be undertaken – over the next few months of recovery and to include whatever time is required in view of the uncertainty of Covid19

(f)   To report back to Cabinet on 20 July 2020; and further meetings

(4)  If established, the Working Party can then:

(a) Review its terms of reference at its first meeting and recommend any change back to Cabinet;

(b)Make any recommendations to Cabinet based on the terms of reference – it will have no decision-making authority; and

(c)Meet in private unless it agrees that it will work to the Meeting Procedure Rules at Part 5 of the Council’s Constitution.

The Chairman introduced this report confirming that it provided another update in terms of how the Council had been dealing with the Coronavirus over recent weeks.  All Members had been receiving a weekly update from the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council and the bulk of those briefings had also been sent to the Council’s partners.  The first part of the report provided a formal record of what had been done to date.

The Chairman then outlined that it was now very important for the Council to consider not only the economic impact on the Council, local businesses and the community, but also that these social impacts be fully considered.  The report also discussed both aspects from a short, medium and long term point of view.

          Finally, the report proposed the establishment of a Working Party to discuss, in private, how the Council could help the Council and the community to recover from this terrible pandemic. The Chairman confirmed that he welcomed and fully supported this approach, and that he believed that the three other political parties were also supportive of this approach.

            The Chief Executive then presented his report confirming that he wished to thank the Economic and Communications Teams for their recent phases of work in preparing for getting the District’s High Streets ready for coming out of Lockdown last Monday, 15 June 2020.   They had had to work with very little Government guidance and very little time to deliver the programme that balanced a warm welcome with confidence for the public to return to shops safely.  They had worked closely with Town and Parish Councils to make practical arrangements for retail areas across the entire District and were now currently working with the Town and Parish Councils on further improvements.

The Chief Executive outlined that the report discussed possible changes in society addressing the terrible downsides; deaths, isolation, mental health issues, domestic violence, business failures and unemployment issues.  There had also been positive outcomes being an uplift in community spirit, caring for others, improved health, lower pollution and family time - all of which had encouraged stronger support for supporting being “local” and more sustainable in the future.

This was an important time for the Council to provide Leadership, economic stimulus and  to facilitate recovery, using the positives that had come out of the pandemic.  As a Council, Members and Officers together, had just as much chance as any expert or consultant to come up with possible answers for the recovery programme, and the report proposed the establishment of a Working Party to help take this forward and to provide proposals for Cabinet to consider in the future months. The report suggested short, medium and long term issues to consider and work on.

            TheCouncil’s finances were of great concern as it headed towards a possibledeficit of £2.9m for this financial year.The Council’s CorporateManagement Team (CMT) had been meeting regularly to discuss possible financialsolutions which would be discussed further with Cabinet over the coming weeks.The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60