Report of the Managing Director and Head of Programme Management Office.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee received the report of the Managing Director and Head of Programme Management Office.  This set out the plan to lead the renewal of the town and council following the impact of Covid-19 and was one of a package of strategies, which included the Council Plan, Delivery Plan and Organisational Development Strategy.

The Head of Programme Management Office introduced the report using a short presentation which summarised the key issues around the Renewal Plan’s governance and work streams.  The presentation was circulated to members after the meeting. 

During discussions, committee members highlighted a number of issues:

•           the council’s long term strategy to tackle homelessness in Watford, including access to central government funding to help deliver the authority’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

•           plans to develop the council’s on-going relationship with the voluntary and community sector which would use specialists in the sector to build on the work the council had undertaken during Covid-19

•           how the proposed reflective space in the Peace Garden was to be funded

•           the need to ensure the survival of Watford’s cultural venues

•           the suggestion that a memorial to mark the pandemic might include a plaque near to Watford General Hospital listing the names of those who had lost their lives serving others in the front line

•           what steps were being taken to ease the difficulties of retailers in the town e.g., rent and rates relief, and whether information on businesses which were in difficulties and/or not planning to reopen was available

•           whether the council had longer term plans to assist businesses in difficulties with their rates payments

•           the council’s relationship with the local Chamber of Commerce, which remained strong along with partnerships with WENTA, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Business Improvement District

•           future plans to allow councillors to access the Town Hall and any specific arrangements which would be required e.g., wearing of face masks

•           arrangements around enabling staff to resume working at the Town Hall, including any risk assessments undertaken, the measures taken to mitigate any risks identified and whether union representatives had been consulted

•           the demand from the public for face to face meetings with officers

•           staff sickness levels during lockdown, noting that these had fallen, health and wellbeing arrangements and the possibility of providing Covid-19 antibody tests for officers.

The Group Head of Transformation agreed to provide a copy of the risk assessments used for staff and to determine whether union representatives had been consulted.

The Chair acknowledged the enormous work which had gone into preparing the council’s Road to Renewal Plan, which she believed would greatly benefit both residents and businesses in the town.

RESOLVED –

that Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

•           Notes the report and Road to Renewal Plan

•           Provides comments and feedback on the Road to Renewal Plan

•           Approves the quarterly reporting of the plan and its progress to Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Action: Group Head of Transformation