Agenda item

Chris Savage, Project Manager Markets and Town Centres, was welcomed to the meeting to provide an update on the Economy in Penistone.

Members heard how in terms of business support, teams were working collaboratively with Enterprising Barnsley, Public Health and Regulatory Services to ensure businesses get the support they need in order to keep trading through lockdown, to reopen on 12^th April or 17^th May and to help support business recovery.

Members were informed that Penistone Market had continued to trade throughout lockdown with a number of Traders supplying essential goods with a regular presence from Town Centre Ambassadors tasked with encouraging shopping safely and local and weekly visits from a Covid Development Officer, both activities provided from the Reopening High streets Safely Fund.  A Business Boost Skills Programme had been run by online workshops and one to one sessions and had been well attended by businesses such as retailers, close contact services and pubs and hospitality.  Grants had been distributed by Enterprising Barnsley.

Those present heard how Covid Development Officers had engaged with businesses face to face to advise on covid secure measures, marketing and running click and collect services safely plus referring any queries to Licensing, Regulatory Services and Public Health in order to act as a one stop shop.

In relation to reopening of services on 12^th April and 17^th May, members were informed that Penistone Market would be fully open from Thursday 15^th April and the weekly Covid Development Officer visits would continue, support would be provided to Public Health in visiting pubs and bars and refreshed guidance would be provided for close contact services, hospitality, licensed premises and retail.  Members were informed of a Consumer Confidence Campaign funded by the Reopening High Street Safely Fund with a key message around getting Penistone back in business.  Adverts would be on buses, bus shelters and flags on street lighting as well as business having a reopening back to encourage people to come back to shopping in a safe manner. 

Members were made aware of several initiatives business could get involved in such as the Barnsley Gift Card, MiRewards, Yoello, ShopAppy, all of which are free for business to sign up to.  The Barnsley Business Boost Programme is to return, the Shop Front Scheme run by Principal Towns is still active and Skills workshops will be run by Enterprising Barnsley.

Members raised questions around receipt of government funding towards this initiative and were informed that the Covid Development Officer, Town Centre Ambassador and Consumer Confidence Campaign were funded through the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund which is ERDF and NHCLG funded and is Borough wide.

RESOLVED that thanks be given for the presentation and that its contents be noted.