Agenda item

Resolved to commission the Regeneration Programme Board and Supporting People Board to consider the following - 

¾  the areas which should be given priority in terms of their importance to the people of Gwynedd in the areas for which each Board is responsible, giving appropriate regard to the direction of travel the Boards were considering before the emergency took hold;

¾  what actions need to be undertaken in those areas of activity in the short term and medium term and to report back to the Cabinet with recommendations,

¾  in accordance with the Council's Equality Plan, that we consider the needs of specific groups, e.g. people with disabilities, when making decisions in the recovery field.

Commissioning the Management Group to consider what corporate issues

require consideration in the short and medium term as we move forwards to the “new normal”, and to report back to the Cabinet if a need for the decision arises, as relevant.

The report was submitted by Dilwyn Williams

DECISION

Resolved to commission the Regeneration Programme Board and Supporting People Board to consider the following -

¾  the areas which should be given priority in terms of their importance to the people of Gwynedd in the areas for which each Board is responsible, giving appropriate regard to the direction of travel the Boards were considering before the emergency took hold;

¾  what actions need to be undertaken in those areas of activity in the short term and medium term and to report back to the Cabinet with recommendations,

¾  in accordance with the Council's Equality Plan, that we consider the needs of specific groups, e.g. people with disabilities, when making decisions in the recovery field.

Along with commissioning the Management Group to consider what corporate issues require consideration in the short and medium term as we move forwards to the “new normal”, and to report to the Cabinet if a need for a decision arises, as relevant.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted and it was noted that there were many lessons to be learned following this period and major challenges would continue if the restrictions continued. It was noted that, although the Council was continuing to try to cope with reacting to the crisis, recovery also needed to be discussed. It was stressed that the journey would be a long one in order to move on to a new 'normal' period for some departments and the new 'normal' may be completely different compared to the past having learned lessons during the crisis period.

It was explained that some fields needed to be prioritised, such as the economy, in order to have a specific focus as there had been a significant impact on the local economy. It was noted that the Government would look at the way forward but that the Council needed to be influencing these plans. It was added that the regional Group that was co-ordinating the reaction to the virus would create a regional Recovery Co-ordination Group which would co-ordinate the recovery but it was stressed that it was a matter for individual organisations to make decisions on what they wished to do.  It was noted that the Co-ordination Group had met the previous week and had outlined its remit and objectives involving ensuring a recovery programme across north Wales. It was explained that local aspirations needed to be considered and in that sense it was stressed that the Public Services Board would have a specific role. .

In relation to the arrangements in Gwynedd, various options were outlined and it was explained that it would be possible to ask the Regeneration Programme Board and the Supporting People Board, that had been looking at transforming services, to consider what the Council needed to to do enable it to return to the new 'normal'. It was stressed that this would be an opportunity for the Boards to focus on the regeneration and supporting people fields and then report back to the Cabinet to make any decisions.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾  It was noted that it had been a very challenging time that had highlighted different ways of working. It was explained that it was essential for the Council to note what had been learned and what would be used in the new 'normal'.

¾  It was stressed that the Government needed to give plenty of time to the Local Councils to re-open services in order to be able to focus on and ensure safety.

¾  It was emphasised that there was a need to prioritise equality as different groups faced different challenges.

¾  In relation to the Boards, it was noted that there had been mention of creating a Climate Board but that Covid-19 had been highlighted during the development period. It was noted that it was a part of the recovery and that there were plans to hold a virtual workshop with members in order to create a task-force to start to look into the work.

¾  It was noted that it was good that the new normal had not been defined by the Chief Executive and that the Boards would need to look further than the new normal as aspects such as Post-16 Education would need to look at alternative schemes following the Covid period.

A question was asked in relation to constitutional issues and any changes in committee procedures. It was noted that a piece of work looking at committees would be submitted to the Business Group.