Agenda item

** Please note this report will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To set out the council’s approach to post covid recovery

Resolved

(1)           That the contents of the report be noted and  the approach to planning for recovery for the immediate, transitional and longer term be endorsed.

(2)           That officers be requested  to continue to work within the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum (TVLRF) framework with a specific place-based focus on the needs of Cherwell District within that context.

(3)           That it be agreed that the Joint Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Council’s Member Partnership Working Group co-ordinates all partnership related recovery work.

(4)           That  the financial impacts be noted and officers be requested to prepare financial and transformational plans which align with the organisation’s policy response to COVID and its impacts and should include refreshing the medium-term financial plan and savings targets, renewing the Council’s corporate plan and undertaking consultation and impact assessments as required.

(5)           That it be noted that the Council’s workforce has been key to the Cherwell response to the pandemic and senior officers be asked to ensure there are effective organisational development plans in place to engage, support and develop the workforce to address the short, medium and long-term consequences of COVID-19.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to set out Cherwell District Council’s approach to post COVID-19 planning and recovery following the national period of lockdown and a prolonged period of operation within an emergency response context. 

In introducing the report, the Chief Executive explained that the council was  planning to adopt a three phased approach to recovery planning, considering the immediate horizon and how services are restarted, the transitional horizon, how we adapt and implement preparedness plans for a local outbreak and the longer term including the economic and social consequences of the pandemic.

At the discretion of the Chairman, Councillor Woodcock addressed Executive. In response to Councillor Woodcock’s comments regarding financial uncertainty and ongoing financial challenges, the Chairman commented that it was important to continue planning despite the ongoing financial uncertainties and the report set out the way forward.  

Resolved

(1)           That the contents of the report be noted and  the approach to planning for recovery for the immediate, transitional and longer term be endorsed.

(2)           That officers be requested  to continue to work within the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum (TVLRF) framework with a specific place-based focus on the needs of Cherwell District within that context.

(3)           That it be agreed that the Joint Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Council’s Member Partnership Working Group co-ordinates all partnership related recovery work.

(4)           That  the financial impacts be noted and officers be requested to prepare financial and transformational plans which align with the organisation’s policy response to COVID and its impacts and should include refreshing the medium-term financial plan and savings targets, renewing the Council’s corporate plan and undertaking consultation and impact assessments as required.

(5)           That it be noted that the Council’s workforce has been key to the Cherwell response to the pandemic and senior officers be asked to ensure there are effective organisational development plans in place to engage, support and develop the workforce to address the short, medium and long-term consequences of COVID-19.

Reasons

This report sets out an overarching approach for the Cherwell District Council to shape and coordinate its approach to immediate, transitional and long-term recovery. The council is recommended to continue to work within the Thames Valley resilience forum framework (TVLRF) and contribute to the Oxfordshire response to COVID-19 as part of the Local Health Protection Board. Appendix 4 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) sets out the emergency response, council recovery and Oxfordshire Health Protection Board governance structures to ensure transparency and assurance.

The council recognises that the pandemic will have far reaching consequences in terms of social, economic, health and community impacts and will seek to develop new policy and service delivery arrangements in response. The strategy by which it will do this is set out at appendix 1 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

The council’s staff are essential to the successful delivery of services and as part of recovery and renewal relevant support and organisational development will need to be undertaken. Likewise, the financial impacts of the pandemic are significant, and the council will need to respond with budgetary plans and proposals including a new medium-term financial plan.

The council will seek to engage with partners, communities and stakeholders as part of its response, and the report sets out the use of customer and community engagement as well as impact assessment as part of the process.

Finally the report provides an overview of the current operational status at appendix 3 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and proposes a policy at appendix 2 (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) with regards to how the council’s buildings will be opened.

Alternative options

No alternative options have been set out. Recovery, service restart and renewal are essential to the long-term sustainability and wellbeing of the district, failure to plan effectively will likely increase the risk faced by the Council to its long-term sustainability and operational effectiveness.