Agenda item

a.    Strategic Approach to the Recovery Phase – Paul Castle

b.    Role of Area Councils and Ward Alliances in Recovery – Phil Hollingsworth

c.     Implications for the Area Council Planned Approach – Caroline Donovan

David Robinson, Service Director Customer Information and Digital Services, and Phil Hollingsworth, Service Director Stronger, Safer and Healthier Communities were welcomed to the meeting to deliver a presentation on BMBC’s Covid Recovery Plan

An overview of the strategic approach was provided, acknowledging that Covid-19 was different to previous incidents due to its length and ongoing impact and the requirement for responses to be agile and adaptive.

The pandemic also offered opportunities to realign values and to create a new ‘normal’. Members heard how the Government had drafted a recovery and renewal strategy, and a recovery plan was also in development at a South Yorkshire level, with Barnsley plans aligned and complementary to this.  It was noted future plans needed to be interactive, in order to respond to the need for services to be turned on and off in relation to further peaks and that responses would be different depending on the needs of particular groups of people, including those shielding.

Three horizons were considered – h1 immediate recovery steps, h2 post-peak recovery steps and h3 realising the recovery objectives.  It was suggested that Barnsley was moving into h2, with lockdown being lifted, and that this was a period of innovation. As Barnsley moves forward the h3 horizon will be the future that we want with the outcomes Barnsley desires.  Barnsley is Currently in the 'collision zone' where all 3 horizons meet.

A 5 point recovery and renewal strategy is proposed, encompassing:   Humanitarian (Health and Wellbeing), Business Economy, Building Resilience, Education and Attainment and finally Infrastructure and the Environment.  This will go to Cabinet over the next few weeks.  An impact analysis will be conducted, what's stopping, starting and continuing will be identified, the key recovery actions and plan will be set out, a 100 day recovery plan will be implemented alongside ongoing monitoring, learning, testing and adapting.  It was recognised that all of these need to be underpinned by the financial stability of the Council.

We have already seen how commissioned services and community organisations have flexed to adapt their service models and continue support to local communities.  However, there is a need to review funding assumptions made for all budgets in 2020/21.  Funding allocations for area councils remain unchanged but there is a need to consider whether the planned priorities remain the same.  There is likely to be an exacerbated impact on poverty and worklessness, education, mental health and emotional wellbeing, economic impact, coupled with a need to re-establish the fabric of society and the health and wellbeing impact from lack of service availability.

There is an opportunity to build on the digital agenda, inclusive economy, more agile working, changing support networks and examples of greater community spirit as exemplified by the Thursday night support for NHS and care workers.

Members were reminded of the guidance issued in relation to Ward Alliance Funds, and that the base budget of £10,000 per ward would remain but plans for an additional £10,000 had been paused due to the current financial situation.  It was emphasised that Ward Alliance expenditure should support recovery efforts, with the only exception being where finance has already been approved and local businesses have committed resources.

Although there was an interest in re-establishing community events, it was acknowledged that this was not appropriate in the current climate, but that this position would be reviewed for 2021/22.

Members noted the previous requirement for Ward Alliance Funds to match 50% of their budgets with external finance or volunteer time was to be relaxed for the current financial year.

An update was provided in relation to the provision of grass cutting, the schedules of which had been impacted on from prioritising domestic waste collection.  It was noted that that this would now recommence as staff return to substantive grass cutting duties from 8th June and the backlog being addressed in due course.

Caroline Donovan, North East Area Council Manager, outlined the local response to the pandemic.  Over 100 wellbeing boxes had been delivered to elderly residents, over 300 easter eggs distributed, 28 families provided with slow cookers and the ingredients for heathy meals on a regular basis, and currently over 400 activity packs for tots, juniors and teens are being made up.  Local volunteer Community Responders have worked with people who are either shielding or have been assessed as vulnerable. They have all been fully trained and provided with PPE to support shopping and befriending in their local communities.

Contracts and grants have been flexed and detailed information was provided of what this ‘flexing’ looked like.  Current priorities and commissioning intentions were outlined, together with contract end dates.  The Council was asked to consider the 5 recovery priorities; which initiatives align and can continue and which don't align. 

RESOLVED that Members note the presentation.