Agenda item

The Chairman invited Sonika Sidhu, Principal Policy Adviser, to introduce the update.

Sonika introduced the report which enabled Board members to review the current work programme. It outlined the key issues likely to influence the work areas of the People and Places Board in 2021 and provided members with an opportunity to flag up future areas of interest or any additional focus which they would like within the current work programme.

Members made the following comments:

• Whilst people migrating from cities and suburbs into rural areas to live and work is welcome, as it develops, it is going to put pressure on rural schools, rural services, and the finances of the local authority.
• In relation to Broadband, can we ensure that the debate continues regularly?
• Could you provide more information in relation to COVID-19 recovery where the LGA will have a reflection on the resilience of local government and the capacity to continue providing services in all areas of the country?

The Chairman and Sonika responded to the comments made by members:

• There is an ongoing piece of work which focuses on rural and coastal resilience and recovery, we could take migration into rural areas from cities and suburbs into account as part of that work. This will be discussed at the next Lead Members meeting.
• As Chairman, I will ask Justin Leese to report back to the People and Places Board in 3 months’ time in relation to Broadband and project progress.
• In relation to service delivery in COVID-19 recovery, the Chief Executive of LGA and SMT are already looking at this. We could provide an update to the next Lead Members meeting to ensure that we feed into that.

Decision:

Members noted the report.

Actions:

Officers to increase the focus on rural migration in the ongoing piece of work on rural and coastal resilience and recovery.

Officers to ensure that the ongoing piece of work on rural and coastal resilience and recovery is discussed at the next Lead Members meeting.

Chairman/Officers to ask Justin Leese to report back to the People and Places Board in 3 months’ time in relation to Broadband and project progress.

Officers to ensure that feedback from the Chief Executive of LGA and SMT in relation to service delivery in COVID-19 recovery is discussed at the next Lead Members meeting.