Issue - meetings

Report of the Corporate Director, Development & Growth, Nottingham City Council

Anthony May, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire County Council, delivered a presentation which is circulated with the initial publication of the minutes and included the following points:

a)  The County Council has already published its Economic Recovery Action Plan with 11 actions, but a few months ago a new committee was commissioned ‘Resilience, Recovery and Renewal Committee’ at which all matters related to COVID-19 are discussed. An Economic Recovery Pan has been approved, based on 2017 Council Plan aims, with the addition of a response to COVID-19, and  with consideration and inclusion of the national economic headwind;

b)  COVID-19 has slowed our town and shopping centre activity and whilst Central Government has responded with support schemes, this funding is soon to be reduced, and local action will also be necessary;

c)  The Economic Recovery Plan is proposed to be effective between now and March 2021. The three key focuses have been established as:

i.  Supporting people with job support schemes, job creation programmes, and advancing workforce skill development. This includes employability programs and a focus, via the joint City and County company ‘Futures’, for young people under the age of 25;

ii.  Develop and support inward business investment, including building resilience into town centres, focusing on Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and working with universities, whilst also managing carbon reduction opportunities;

iii.  Promote Nottinghamshire as a place, both as a visitor destination and as an attractive place to live and work with good infrastructure, logistics and digital accessibility. The market strategy is being reviewed but existing brands and heritage sites will be further promoted. (Nottinghamshire citizens now have 98.22% access to 5G broadband with gigabyte coverage up to 14%);

d)  Data provided by the Midlands Engine Economic Observatory is proving invaluable in understanding, tracking and monitoring up-to-date information on the impact and influence on the local economy. This is helping to direct and support the local recovery plan and provide statistical evidence which may be utilised in grant funding applications;

e)  With the decommissioning of the power stations, work continues with partners to provide viable future options and is progressing well with the aims of the recovery plan influencing other residential developments;

f)  Travel solutions are being considered within the County including the ‘20 minute neighbourhood’, particularly for new and evolving residential developments, whereby the main local facilities are within 20 minute’s sustainable travel from citizens’ homes;

Questions from the Committee were responded to as follows by Anthony May and Councillor Kay Cutts:

g)  Nationally, business grant fraud is becoming apparent, where grants have been submitted in the name of businesses without their knowledge. The County Council’s Trading Standards Team have been doing a lot of work during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on related fraud and scams, but for more specific details, a response can be provided to members following the meeting;

h)  The ‘20 minute town /city’ concept is gaining support across the world and the County Council is working with District Councils to promote it for new developments such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5