To receive a report from the Corporate Director of Place.

The Executive Member for Covid-19 Recovery and Reform introduced the item and informed the Committee that the economic recovery plan had been developed to identify the actions the Council needed to take to ensure effective economic recovery and the delivery of a more inclusive economy within Trafford. A more detailed report was being developed and would be submitted to the Executive on the 22^nd February 2021.

Following the introduction the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services delivered the presentation that had been circulated as part of the agenda. The Committee were shown the governance arrangements for the recovery plan and how it aligned with the Council’s other pieces of work. Trafford were reviewing the national recovery plans to enable the area to align their local efforts with those plans. The recovery plan would also take into account Trafford’s economic concerns prior to the pandemic.

The plan looked at a series of themes to see where the Council could have an impact on the economic recovery. The first theme was business support and sustainable job creation which involved growing the Council’s contacts with existing business while looking at how to enable new businesses to flourish. The second theme was Transition Preparedness which looked at the impact of Brexit and helped businesses to adjust.  The third theme was Green Economy and Sustainable Job Creation which looked at opportunities to build a more green economy. The forth theme was Sustainable Jobs and Skills Growth for local residents which focused on providing the right support for education and training opportunities for residents and ensure that no communities were left behind. The fifth theme was Inward Investment and Sustainable Job Creation which focused on securing investment into the area and making Trafford an attractive place for businesses.

The sixth theme was Funding and Growth which focused on ensuring that the Council, residents, and organisations within the area were ready to apply for and secure funding if and when it became available. The seventh theme was Strategic Site Development which was an area that the Council had an opportunity to have an impact upon through developments such as Trafford Waters and regeneration across the area. The eighth Theme was Improved Town Centres for Residents and Businesses which focused on the recovery of town centres through town centre marketing and by supporting businesses in town centres. The ninth theme was Increase Visitor Economy which recognised that people would be looking to go out following the extended periods of lock down and ensuring that Trafford was ready to capitalise on that trend. 

Following the presentation Committee Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Councillor Holden raised questions on the production of adult education and training, and the wider regeneration of Sale West. Detailed responses were received from the Executive Member for Covid-19 Recovery and Reform and the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services. Within the response it was agreed that the Committee would be provided with details of the Councils training programme.

Councillor Williams noted that the plan was in its early stages and would change greatly as the true impact of the pandemic became clear over time, especially in terms of the impact on unemployment and youth employment. Councillor Williams also recognised the enthusiasm for community groups which had been seen during the pandemic and the importance of partnership working within the recovery.  Councillor Williams felt that the Council could improve its approach to partnership working and that it was an area Scrutiny could look at in greater detail. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded to Councillor Williams comments ensuring the Committee that partnerships were a key element of the Council’s plans and informing the Committee that the Council’s economic development team were going to be linked with the partnership and communities team.  The Corporate Director of Place added that the recovery plan was only one aspect of a wider strategy of work with links to all aspects of the Council’s Business. The Corporate Director of Place welcomed Scrutiny’s input on the Council’s partnership approach and offered to meet with Committee Members to discuss a possible timeline for that work.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the presentation be noted.

2)    That the Committee be provided with the Council’s training programme.

3)    That a meeting be arranged between Committee Members and the Corporate Director of Place to discuss a timeline for Scrutiny to look at the Council’s partnership approach.