Agenda item

Consideration was given to a  report providing the annual update on progress with delivery of the Economic Recovery Plan. The Committee heard from the Economic Growth Team Manager who explained that, in December 2021 the Committee approved the West Lindsey Economic Recovery Plan, which identified a programme of pan-council activities that would contribute towards the District’s on-going recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Plan had the aligned purpose of informing both the next iteration of the Economic Growth Strategy, which was due by 2024, and the emerging Corporate Plan. As part of that approval, it was recommended that Members receive an annual update on progress against the agreed action plan.As such, appendix 1 of the report provided Members with a detailed update on progress, as of December 2022, against all of the actions within the Plan and a status position for each action.

It was noted that progress could be broadly categorised as ongoing, complete, superseded or deferred activity. Where an action had been superseded or deferred, reasons were provided. The progress update would provide Members with the assurance that progress was being made against each of the priority areas within the Economic Recovery Plan.

It had been recognised at the point of adoption that the Recovery Plan would be an ever-evolving document and since the plan was adopted the national policy environment had continued to evolve. The Council had developed and adopted a full UKSPF Investment Plan and this had reshaped how the Council would deliver against a number of the actions identified within the Plan.

Within the report papers, Members were referred to appendix 2, which provided an infographic summarising progress to date in a more digestible format, and appendix 3 provided an assortment of testimonials from local businesses that had benefited from ARG funded business support.

The Committee heard that the Growth Team were beginning to work on the development of the new Economic Growth Strategy and the paper under consideration at this meeting, also sought agreement that the final Economic Recovery Plan progress update be provided as part of the Economic Growth Strategy evidence base review, which would be presented to the Committee within the report to consider the new Economic Growth Strategy (by March 2024).

It was highlighted that the details within the report papers identified the significant, positive progress the Council had collectively made so far towards post-pandemic recovery, and the Economic Growth Team Manager extended his thanks to both Marina Di Salvatore and Claire Hill for their work collating the report, infographic and business testimonials. He also extended his thanks to the wider officer cohort for their cumulative effort in providing timely updates on progress towards the delivery of the plan.

Members of the Committee thanked the Economic Growth Team Manager for his clear and detailed summary, and echoed his thanks to all Officers involved. Members expressed their support for the paper, as well as noting the detailed environmental and climate related risks and opportunities, and praised the ease of use of the Infographic.

Having been moved, seconded, and voted upon, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that:

a)    the progress with delivery of the Economic Recovery Plan be noted and supported; and

b)    the final update on progress with delivery of the Economic Recovery Plan be received by the Prosperous Communities Committee as part of the Economic Growth Strategy, due by March 2024.