Issue - meetings

This report prioritise the recommendations from the Covid-19 Recovery Workng Party that were approved by Cabinet at its meeting held on 21 September 2020 and identifies any associated costs.

The Cabinet

            RESOLVED

            To note the report and instruct Officers to proceed with each proposal listed in Appendix A attached to the report.

            The Chairman introduced this item outlining that the Covid-19 Recovery Working Party had met on three occasions.  This report provided the Officer response to some of the ideas that emerged. Councillor Dr Walsh stated that it should be noted that in the Implications section of the report, the Chief Executive had highlighted the workload for Officers as the pandemic continued, and capacity clearly remained an issue.  

The Chief Executive then worked through the Appendix to the report which set out the Officer response to some of the ideas that had emerged.  It had to be accepted that the high workload for Officers as the pandemic continued could not be ignored nor could the spare capacity of Officers to undertake new projects. 

A specific point raised related to Theme 2 [Labour Markets, Unemployment and Skills].  The Council had supported the emergency provision of IT equipment to disadvantaged pupils and students and in recognition of this, the Cabinet had supported seeking clarification from West Sussex County Council about any plans it had to continue the supply of IT equipment to disadvantaged pupils.  It was confirmed that WSCC no longer supplied old IT equipment to students and so the Council was now looking at a more local approach.  An update was also provided on the recruitment of the post of Climate Change and Sustainability Manager. 

A debate took place on the provision of IT equipment to disadvantaged young people where it was hoped that some sort of local scheme could be progressed. Statements were also made with regard to the agreement to seek the approval of the Council to seek a commercial buyer of the Sussex by the Sea brand where it was confirmed that the results of the debates on this subject following meetings of the two Regeneration Sub-Committees would be fed into a future meeting of Cabinet. 

            Further debate focused on the Council’s green agenda [Theme 5] which had been confirmed as a  strategic aim of the Council and concern was expressed in terms of the remit of the new Climate Change and Sustainability Manager post in terms of the target set on green insulation and heating for homes as it had been highlighted that the theme 5(ii) was a medium priority and was not within the current remit of this new post.  It was explained that the new post’s ultimate task would be to form a carbon reduction plan for all of the Council’s operations.  It was highlighted by one Councillor that anything to with the climate emergency should not be a medium or low priority.

            The Cabinet

                        RESOLVED

That the report be noted, and Officers instructed to proceed with each of the proposals listed in Appendix A to the report.

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/028/16112020, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.