Agenda item

To consider and note the report.

During consideration of this item, Councillor Andy Fewings experienced technical difficulties in accessing the meeting.  The Chair requested that Rob Dobson respond to Cllr Fewings questions separately.

Rob Dobson advised of and presented a report to the Committee which was also to be presented to the meeting of the Executive on 15^th February 2021 and was seeking endorsement of the Strategic Plan, as attached to the report at appendix 1.

Rob highlighted the changes to plan that had previously been adopted by Full Council, outlining the impact of the pandemic and the commitment that the Council has made in the Economic Community Recovery Plan to assist the Borough and businesses in the recovery process.

The Executive was requested to recommend the Strategic Plan to Full Council.

Grounds for the recommendation were outlined within the report.

Members made the following points and received the following responses:

Long term empty properties. What do we commit to long term?  Will this come under PL3 or does it need to be more focussed.  I would like to see an action on that to come up with a solution, as this causes a lot of distress in our communities.

When the Executive Member for Housing reports on what is being delivered under that commitment, reference will always be made to actions under the empty homes scheme.  I will report to the Executive as to if they feel it would be appropriate to have a separate commitment under that.

Prosperity, Promoting Burnley as an investment opportunity and by improving travel connections.  What do we commit to?  There are still areas of the train station that are not as good as they could be?  We need that to be at the top to attract people.

Under PR2 the Executive Member for Economy and Growth will report on the progress being made.  I am aware that Manchester Road is a priority for Members.  I will investigate the possibility of a commitment under the time period of this plan.

Manchester Road Station – There is a project there under development around the platform and disabled access.  We are doing more work on costings and levelling up funding that will be coming out from the Government.  That is a potential project.

Performance, Delivering the digital strategy.  Becoming more efficient.  There will always be people who struggle with digital technology.  We always need to have someone to assist.  There are still many residents who do not own a mobile phone which is required to receive Covid-19 lateral test results. 

There are no plans to reduce the current ways in which residents can contact the Council.  There will always be a face-to-face telephony service.  We have seen a huge increase in residents transacting on-line.  Approximately 75% of transactions have been completed via the website.

Contract with Liberata commits them to maintain the face-to-face service.  During the pandemic we have maintained the Town Hall front facing service being open.  We recognise how important it is for residents who do not have access to key services.  This has been a great effort from our colleagues.

Please pass on our thanks at the way that the reception area has remained covid safer and open.  This has been much appreciated by many people.

PF4 – Delivering organisation development strategy, embedding hybrid working patterns to improve productivity.  Is that about different elements of working?  Is this all about different aspects of working patterns now?

This is to consider continuing to deliver remote meetings, legislation permitting, if Members find this an efficient way of working.  If we can get officers to work in partnership with other districts/County Council via the internet, it is a much more efficient way of doing business, working from home/office wherever the most productive place to be is.

IT WAS AGREED

That the report be noted.