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 – Rosie Adams
Minutes:
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-19 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, agile and iterative 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 (April-June 2020), H2 post-peak recovery steps (July-December 2020) and H3 realising the recovery objectives (2021 onwards). 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.
It was highlighted that 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 during the remainder of 2020/21.
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 until it is possible to hold public events.
An update was provided in relation to the provision of grass cutting, 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.
The North Area Council Manager outlined the North Area Team's Response to the crisis, which initially was community mobilisation with Area Team support. Over 5000 leaflets were delivered across the area, Nestle Easter eggs were distributed to those in need and Community Responders stepped up, answering 84 requests for support.
Area Council contracts and grants have been flexed, including the Warm Connections Project, DIAL, Twiggs, CAB and YMCA and detailed information was provided of what this ‘flexing’ looked like. The Dementia Café and Emmanuel Churches Older Person Inclusion projects have had their start dates deferred. They will reopen when it is safe to do so in accordance with national guidance. The Area Council manager highlighted that it is a delicate balance of practical support and nurture and that the current North Area Priorities and Commissioning Intentions have a strong synergy with the 5 point plan outlined earlier.
Members were provided with detailed information on the North Area Council Budget. Those projects rated as ‘Green’ are continuing, those rated ‘Amber’ are being revised and those rated as ‘Red’ are being discontinued.
RESOLVED that Members note the presentation.