Issue - meetings

Covid-19 Recovery Strategy

Meeting: 07/07/2020 - Cabinet (Item 8)

8 Covid-19 Recovery Strategy pdf icon PDF 258 KB

Report of the Chief Executive

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The consultation on the Draft Recovery Strategy be noted;

2.    The changes to the document as a result of engagement and feedback be noted;

3.    Cheltenham Borough Council’s Recovery Strategy in Appendix A be approved;

4.    The review of the Recovery Strategy be delegated to the Executive Director People and Change as part of wider recovery group of officers and partners under specific workstreams;

5.    A report on the Recovery Strategy to be provided to Overview and Scrutiny and other local or county-wide partnership boards and meetings where appropriate.

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council presented the report, acknowledging that these were still very difficult times despite positive steps towards recovery. The example of Leicester showed there was no guarantee that the road out would be easy.

The Covid-19 recovery strategy was originally published back in May at the first virtual Cabinet meeting, where it took the unorthodox approach of being published before consultation had taken place. He welcomed the feedback, particularly from Vision 21 on the topic of climate change, and stressed it was a living document with the ability to evolve as the situation changed. The changes made after consultation included strengthened climate change commitments, an increased emphasis on working with partners to improve green spaces and the High Street, and a greater focus on cultural elements of the economy.

He stressed that the council had an opportunity to lead with its New Deal for Cheltenham, but acknowledged that the amount it could progress depended on the financial situation. Further guidance was needed from the government on what local authorities could expect.

The Cabinet Member Healthy Lifestyles echoed the Leader’s point about working with cultural partners, and reported that they continued to be in constant contact.

The Cabinet Member Housing added that he had found it heartening that the exit strategy was taken into consideration at the very beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. The Cabinet Member Development and Safety agreed that they had been ahead of the pack in preparing its strategy, and their example had since been followed by other councils. He praised the strategy for building on Cheltenham’s existing strengths rather than making unrealistic commitments.

The Leader moved to a vote, which was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The consultation on the Draft Recovery Strategy be noted;

2.    The changes to the document as a result of engagement and feedback be noted;

3.    Cheltenham Borough Council’s Recovery Strategy in Appendix A be approved;

4.    The review of the Recovery Strategy be delegated to the Executive Director People and Change as part of wider recovery group of officers and partners under specific workstreams;

5.    A report on the Recovery Strategy to be provided to Overview and Scrutiny and other local or county-wide partnership boards and meetings where appropriate.