Issue - items at meetings - Covid-19 Recovery & Renewal Programme Update

Report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached)

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

58.1      The Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture introduced the report which provided an update on the progress of the Covid-19 Recovery Programme. He noted that the focus would now be on the recovery and renewal programme to restart services and re-open the city.

58.2      The Committee welcomed the report and raised questions in relation to the support for volunteers, the long-term situation for addressing homelessness, catch-up funding and how the council’s own buildings would be opening up.

58.3      The Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture stated that the sustainable model to support volunteers and organisations going forward. He noted that officers were working with the Business Improvement District and Economic Partnership to look at how businesses could begin to re-open.

58.4      The Executive Director or Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities stated that the government had announced further grant funding opportunities to help address homelessness matters and officers would be preparing bids for this. She was not able to confirm what the government’s long-term vision was, but positive action was being taken with the provision of additional housing units in the city.

58.5      The Chief Executive stated the Ways of Working Project Group was looking at how to re-open the council’s office space and enable staff to return to working in the office. It was likely that staff would be encouraged to continue working from home until September and then there would be a need to look at how a return to work was phased in and how it would work going forward as it was likely that it would be a mixture of home and office working.

58.6      The Chair noted the comments and put the recommendation to note the report to the vote.

58.7      RESOLVED: That the report be noted.