Issue - meetings

*RESOLVED -

1.    That the Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan be approved.

2.    That the allocation of additional funding for the activities set out in Section 9 of the officer’s report and in the Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan be approved.

3.    That the proposal to establish two new posts, of Town Centre Engagement Officer and Skills Apprentice, be approved.

4.    That the Assistant Director - Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Economic Growth, be granted delegated authority to develop detailed proposals for administration of the new Entrepreneurial and Business Start-up Programme.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

To drive the economic recovery phase of Chesterfield’s

response to Covid-19 and to support Chesterfield’s residents,

communities and businesses.

The Assistant Director – Economic Growth submitted a report seeking approval for the Covid 19 – Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan.

The Covid-19 pandemic represented an unprecedented risk to economies at a local, national and international scale.

The structure of Chesterfield’s economy had been assessed as having a higher degree of economic resilience to the impact of Covid-19, relative to the national position.

Members and officers had been working closely with key partners, including D2N2 and SCR Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Government, as part of a strategic approach to economic recovery which would influence and be influenced by the recovery work in Chesterfield.

The Economic Recovery Plan responded to the impact anticipated at the current point in time which had been influenced by the Government support provided so far and which was likely to change in the next few months. The Plan needed to be a flexible document to allow for future changes.

The key objectives and outcomes of the Economic Recovery Plan were identified as:

·      Minimise the negative impact of Covid-19 in terms of business closures and jobs lost by ensuring that businesses would be able to continue to open and operate in the short term.

·      Create conditions for entrepreneurial activities to support start-ups and retention of businesses in a more resilient economy.

·      Support the reskilling of our residents to enable them to compete in the changed economy.

·      Enable the Town Centre to progress through recovery phases and thrive while maintaining a high level of occupancy.

·      Support the Council’s Climate Change programme and the continuing modal shift towards active travel and public transport.

·      Continue to deliver against agreed programmes for key economic growth projects.

The Covid 19 – Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan proposed the establishment of two new posts, Town Centre Engagement Officer and Skills Apprentice, to support the delivery of recovery actions.

*RESOLVED -

1.    That the Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan be approved.

2.    That the allocation of additional funding for the activities set out in Section 9 of the officer’s report and in the Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan be approved.

3.    That the proposal to establish two new posts, of Town Centre Engagement Officer and Skills Apprentice, be approved.

4.    That the Assistant Director - Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Economic Growth, be granted delegated authority to develop detailed proposals for administration of the new Entrepreneurial and Business Start-up Programme.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

To drive the economic recovery phase of Chesterfield’s

response to Covid-19 and to support Chesterfield’s residents,

communities and businesses.