Agenda item

This report presents, at Annex 1, the Council’s Recovery and Renewal Strategy, outlining the proposed approach to support York’s recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic over the coming year. Committee Members have the opportunity to look forward and comment upon the recovery work and plan endorsed by the Executive.

Members considered a report that presented the Council’s Recovery and Renewal Strategy, outlining the proposed approach to support York’s recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic over the coming year.

The Chair confirmed that at its meeting on 25 June 2020, the Executive considered and broadly approved a strategic recovery approach and the Committee noted that at this evenings meeting, officers would be providing an introductory overview and would highlight the key elements of York’s recovery in line with the agreed Strategy.

The Interim Head of Paid Services updated Members on the Recovery and Renewal Strategy, including the underpinning plans and strategies that were annexed to the report.  It was noted that alongside the Strategy, a 10 year City Plan was being discussed with partner organisations and would be reported to Executive in future reports.

The Director of Health informed Members that the new Covid Outbreak Management Plan would provide a central framework for the Council and its partners to ensure a city wide response to managing and minimising any further waves of coronavirus across the city. She highlighted the core part of the plan, including the seven themes and she stated that the City of York Outbreak Management Advisory Board would monitor and challenge the Outbreak Management Plan to ensure good communication and engagement across the city. 

The Head of HR provided Members with an overview and it was noted that staff had adapted and changed their way of working to ensure the Council could continue to support residents through the pandemic. She confirmed officers were still focusing on the ongoing health, safety and wellbeing of staff and that a dedicated staff helpline had been created.  Members noted that the Organisational Development Plan had also been adapted to support staff in delivering the services across the city through new or amended operating models. She confirmed that West Offices was undergoing risks assessments and that an induction program was being devised for staff.

Officers answered Members questions relating to the 10 year recovery plan and Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 data and it was noted that a supplementary response to some questions would be annexed to the minutes.

The Director of Public Health, Head of HR and Interim Head of Paid Service left the meeting at 18:27.

The Head of Economic Growth, the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Asset Management, the Head of Regeneration Programmes and the Corporate Director of Economy and Place briefed Members on the One Year Transport and Place Strategy Plan. Members noted the frameworks and strategies being developed to support the city’s economic recovery.

Officers then answered Members questions relating to employment and skills, the 12 sector roundtables, the retail sector and partnership working.  Members noted that updates would continue to be reported to Executive and officers agreed to provide Members with further details on the 12 sector roundtables.¹

The Chair thanked officers for their update and an adjournment took place at 19:20 until 19:27.

The Head of Corporate Finance & Commercial Procurement (interim s151 officer) presented Members with an update on the Council’s immediate financial response to the pandemic, the ongoing issues and the financial implications and strategies moving forward. Members noted that the Council’s finances, the pressures anticipated and the plans put in place to aid recover would be regularly monitored and reported to Executive and that  the draft statement of accounts for 2019/20 and the key corporate risks would be considered by the Audit and Governance Committee.

In answer to Members questions regarding the Council’s financial challenges, the procurement strategy and the financial support and grant schemes offered to businesses, officers agreed to provide Members with further information on the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and confirmed that the procurement strategy would be refreshed as part of the recovery phase.²

The Chair thanked the Head of Corporate Finance & Commercial Procurement (interim s151 officer) for her update and she left the meeting at 19:46.

The Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer provided a presentation on governance and she highlighted the amendments made to the Constitution (council procedural rules). Members noted that all temporary arrangements remained in place and were under constant review. It was also noted that decision-making had largely returned to business as usual, with a comprehensive range of Member meetings taking place remotely.

The Director answered Members concerns regarding the transparency of the emergency decision making process and in answer to Members questions, it was confirmed that it was likely that a remote Full Council meeting would take place later in the year.

The Chair thanked all officers for their updates and in summary and in noting the work undertaken to date, he highlighted some key areas for the Committee to consider, including residential care homes, a referral rise in children’s services, the wider reopening of schools, ongoing budget monitoring, economic recovery, as well as, the Organisational Development Plan and Member involvement in decision making.

Resolved:

(i)           That the information received, at Annex 1 and from the presentations made at the meeting, be noted.

(ii)     That the various key areas identified by the Chair for future consideration, be noted and addressed as appropriate at future meetings.

Reason: To ensure that proper and effective scrutiny was in place in relation to the Council’s response to Covid 19.