Decision:
RESOLVED that
a) the draft Economic Recovery Plan be approved with the proviso that the Plan is updated accordingly as circumstances change;
b) work be undertaken to consider establishing a scheme to recognise local businesses that have excelled at adapting to guidelines and providing a COVID-secure environment for customers, in conjunction with key partners such as Discover Ashfield;
c) the Council continues working toward the establishment of a Key Workers Memorial, including consultation with Ashfield residents and key partners;
d) the Council’s established Business Support Hub offers support for those looking to set up new businesses or reinvent existing businesses as a result of the pandemic;
e) Cabinet be commended for the decision to implement 2 hour free parking in all town centre car parks to aid the longer-term recovery of Ashfield’s local economy;
f) congratulations be extended to the Planning and Economic Development Team, the Environmental Health Team, and the Discover Ashfield Board for their continued efforts to ensure that local businesses sufficiently adapt to COVID-19 measures and survive the ongoing economic difficulties brought about by the pandemic;
g) that the Council looks at all options to use all of the ring-fenced ‘Reopening High Streets’ Fund innovatively.
Minutes:
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Panel gave an update to Cabinet regarding the work undertaken at the latest meeting of the Panel.
Key Worker Memorial
The Vice Chairman of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Panel reported on progress regarding the potential development of the Key Workers’ Memorial.
Following discussions with officers, it had been acknowledged that there was potential for allocating funding from S106 monies to fund the installation of the memorial and a communications strategy had also been agreed to place an article in the next ‘Ashfield Matters’ publication to encourage residents to offer their views regarding the potential style and location for the memorial thus enabling the Council to gauge public opinion and progress the project accordingly.
Residents would be asked to respond via a dedicated email address and complete a short questionnaire and in addition, letters would also be sent out to local schools, colleges, voluntary groups, churches and faith groups asking for their involvement in the process. The publication was due to be circulated (to around 120,000 residents) with the annual bin calendars week commencing 23 November 2020.
It was hoped that firm proposals would be submitted to Cabinet in January 2021 with a view to unveiling the memorial in the autumn of 2021. The Council’s Place Team Leader would also be in attendance at the next Scrutiny Panel meeting in 5 November 2020 to discuss the proposals further.
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Panel Meeting – 6 October 2020
The third meeting of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Scrutiny Panel was held last Tuesday, with a primary focus on small business recovery in Ashfield. The meeting was very well attended by officers and the Panel also welcomed attendance from Martin Rigley, the Chairman of Discover Ashfield and the owner of an engineering firm in Sutton in Ashfield.
Discussions centred on difficulties businesses faced during lockdown, the work of the recently established Economic Development Team and the purpose of the draft Economic Recovery Plan in supporting businesses within the District.
Following discussions, the Panel unanimously agreed to approve a set of recommendations for submission to Cabinet and these were read out accordingly.
Preparations were already being made for the next meeting of the Panel, which would again focus on small business recovery due to Panel Members identifying it as a key theme of the recovery process. The Panel were hoping to welcome attendance from the Director for Public Health Nottinghamshire, Jonathan Gribbin, to be advised in relation to the development of a countywide response to the pandemic, subsequent recovery plans and details of a potential local lockdown.
Invitations were also being extended to representatives from businesses in Ashfield operating in a diverse range of sectors, as Members seek to gain a further understanding of the challenges facing businesses and the role the Council can play in assisting recovery.
RESOLVED that
a) the draft Economic Recovery Plan be approved with the proviso that the Plan is updated accordingly as circumstances change;
b) work be undertaken to consider establishing a scheme to recognise local businesses that have excelled at adapting to guidelines and providing a COVID-secure environment for customers, in conjunction with key partners such as Discover Ashfield;
c) the Council continues working toward the establishment of a Key Workers Memorial, including consultation with Ashfield residents and key partners;
d) the Council’s established Business Support Hub offers support for those looking to set up new businesses or reinvent existing businesses as a result of the pandemic;
e) Cabinet be commended for the decision to implement 2 hour free parking in all town centre car parks to aid the longer-term recovery of Ashfield’s local economy;
f) congratulations be extended to the Planning and Economic Development Team, the Environmental Health Team, and the Discover Ashfield Board for their continued efforts to ensure that local businesses sufficiently adapt to COVID-19 measures and survive the ongoing economic difficulties brought about by the pandemic;
g) the Council looks at all options to use all of the ‘ring-fenced ‘reopening High Streets’ Fund, innovatively.