Agenda item

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 Council would also have to consider its priorities and probably make difficult and swift decisions to help the recovery phase move forward quickly.

            TheChairman thanked the Chief Executive for his presentation and invited questionsfrom Cabinet Members.

Firstly,the Chairman confirmed that the details of a new financial package fromGovernment were awaited and would hopefully be received by the end of this weekit was also hoped that further guidance might be received soon to establishwhen and how Leisure Centres could reopen alongside further revisions to socialdistancing rules, all of which would have significant impacts on the reopeningof certain Council facilities as well as retail and leisure businesses such as pubs/restaurants which were all key parts of the local economy.

The Chairman stated that he was pleased to be able to announce that West SussexCounty Council (WSCC) had confirmed that it would not levy its proposed tax onestablishments wishing to place tables and chairs outside of their premises. This would allow cafes and restaurants, whenthey did reopen, to be able to spread out and enable a safe reopening experience.

Cabinet confirmed that it was delighted with the help that the Council had given toshops and businesses in the District since they had re-opened on 15 June 2020. It was also pleasing toreport that shops had also positively fed back the assistance being provided bythe public in maintaining social distancing and how they had conformed to queuingand other stipulated measures. This alloweda very clear message to be passed on in that the District was a safe area tovisit and shop in.

The Cabinet then allowed non-Cabinet Members to ask questions and submit statements. These saw comments being made about the termsof reference proposed for the Covid-19 Recovery Working Party in that theseshould not be restrictive in any way whilst also acknowledging that it was justas important for Councillors to be able to look at what could have been handledbetter during the Pandemic looking at lessons learnt as this would assist theCouncil in the event of any second spike of the virus.

Non-CabinetMembers also sought Cabinet’s assurance that the support already provided to hospitalitybusinesses would continue as it was vital to get the local economy up andrunning again.

Discussion focused upon the business support grant and reaching out to those businesses who were entitled to receive the grant but hadeither refused or had not made an application. The need to continue processing appeal applications was also seen asvital.

Looking at the impactCovid19 had had on the social and well-being of some of Arun’s residents, an update was requested on the showering facilities at Flaxmean House. The Cabinet Member for Residential Services, Councillor Mrs Gregory, confimed that a written response had been provided on this issue.

Other comments on the report related to the public conveniences on the promenade atBogor Regis; the need to think about providing free wi-fi in Town Centres toassist social distancing; to ensure that a campaign was in place to market thepopular areas of the District as safe areas for tourists during a time offantastic weather; and would the new Working Party address such issues.

The Chief Executive responded confirming that the terms of reference of the new WorkingParty had been kept deliberately brief to ensure that a wide-ranging reviewcould be undertaken. The purpose of theWorking Party was to focus on looking forward in line with the short, mediumand long-term proposals that had been set out in the report.

Finally, the Chairman thanked the Council’s Officers for processing nearly £28 m of businesssupport grants. The Cabinet then

RESOLVED –That

(1)  Theaction taken to date be noted;

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

(3)  Aspart of the work in (2) above, support the establishment of a CoronavirusRecovery 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 theWorking Party – 10 Members with seats allocated as follows – Lib Dems [4]; Cons[4]; Ind [1] Green [1]

(c)  Nominations to the seats – to bemade by therelevant Group Leader and confirmed as Councillors Bennett, Chapman, Mrs Cooper,Cooper, Dendle, Mrs Haywood, Mrs Staniforth, Tilbrook, Ms Thurston and DrWalsh;

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

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

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

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

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

(b)Make any recommendationsto Cabinet based on the terms of reference – it will have no decision-makingauthority; and

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

The Cabinet then confirmed its decision as per DecisionNotice C/003/220620, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of theminutes.