Agenda item

The Committee is invited to note the actions achieved to date as set out in the report and appendices, and make any comments to Cabinet.

The Committee considered a progress report on the Covid 19 Recovery Action Plan, which provided an update on the latest financial position, progress on the four thematic recovery plans, and an update on the efficiency review and the future services framework.

Mrs Shepherd outlined the report.  The Pandemic situation remained uncertain and was expected to continue for the remainder of the year.  The recent lockdown had created additional work for some teams in the Council and some staff had again been moved to priority service areas . Work was being undertaken to support any staff struggling with the ability to work at home, especially if they had children.  Despite these difficulties the Council continued to deliver day to day services and the Action Plan. 

The following corrections were made to page 21:

·  CHR02: Establish Pathways for Rough Sleepers: Status should be green

·  CHR05: Focus on support, Prevention and Fair Access to Social Housing: Status should be amber

·  CHR11: Embed Community Groups into Future Emergency Plans: Status should be green

Mrs Hotchkiss provided a progress update on the Southern Gateway project detailed on page 36 of the report. The Council was working with Henry Boot Developments on options for moving the business phases forward.  The market had significantly changed since the Council went out to tender, especially office space requirements, and leisure and entertainment.   An update meeting was due to take place with Stagecoach.  With regard to the health sector’s requirements for a community health hub, focus was currently on the provision of vaccination centres in response to the pandemic.

Officers responded to members questions and provided further updates:

·  The Council’s Car Parking Strategy was being reviewed and if demand dropped permanently other uses would be looked into. 

·  Mental Health and Wellbeing had been referred to the Community and Housing Recovery Group.  The issue has also been raised at the Public Health Working Group with partners including the County Council.

·  A full Southern Gateway Risk Register was attached to Cabinet and Council reports.  There were a number of areas where significant work was still required.  Members were aware that there had always been a significant funding gap and the delays to the grant funding requested by the project partners created difficulties in closing that gap.    There would be further clarity in the next month with a full update provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at a special meeting to be arranged.

·  The next three milestones on page 81, OR10: Supporting Local Businesses through Procurement, had also been completed.

·  Overall the results of the recent staff survey were positive and an improvement on the previous survey. A small proportion of staff (2.1%) were not coping well with working at home, although a small percentage of staff, the impact for the individuals could have a significant impact.  The number of staff commenting on the need for better IT support had reduced following VPN improvements.  Results to be shared with the Organisational Recovery Group and possibly this Committee at a future date.

·  The current lockdown was having an impact on some of the high street work. In particular there were difficulties in having dialogue with those businesses currently closed.  However, the actions in the Recovery plans were continuing to be progressed where possible.

·  Mr Palmer was advised to contact the Cabinet member for Growth, Place and Regeneration if he wished to add an item to the Economic Recovery Group agenda on the promotion of inward investment and was a key priority for the Group.  The Council’s Inward Investment Strategy would be published on the Council’s website.  Work was taking place with a number of organisations to bring in inward investment, currently commercially sensitive.  The Council was working with land agents to assess the District’s land availability and demand. Further details of the (Cove Communities (Bunn Leisure)) project work would be provided at the next Economic Recovery Group.  The Inward Investment Strategy had been circulated to members and could be discussed further at the Economic Recovery Group.

The Chairman thanked the officers for their report and update on the progress being made.