Agenda item

To consider a report setting out the current work underway to support Oxfordshire’s recovery in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Panel considered a report to the Growth Board setting out the collective approach being taken within Oxfordshire to support the local economy and the wider recovery in response to the pandemic. Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Bev Hindle, Growth Board Director, presented the report to the Panel and answered questions.

In discussion, the Panel noted that, as part of the recovery and renewal process, several well-attended online job fairs had been held. These sought to match vacancies with both current job seekers and those at risk of redundancy. It was acknowledged, however, that these did not yet fully cover staff who are currently furloughed but at risk of redundancy – this was thought to be a significant issue as both lockdown and the current support measures were wound down. 

The Panel, in questioning whether any of the fundamentals of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal had changed considering the pandemic, noted that the situation remained unclear. Conversations were ongoing with HM Government on several issues including the deliverability of the some of the programme timescales and potential options around extending the flexibilities for the use of Deal funding.

Nigel Tipple referred to the possibility of providing grants to support businesses to pivot towards the new situation created by Covid-19. This potential option was currently being looked into.

The Panel was supportive of the collective action set out in the report. They acknowledged that it represented a snapshot of activity in what was a complex and constantly evolving situation.

Members felt that the situation facing Oxfordshire had changed fundamentally (because of the pandemic and other issues e.g. the climate emergency) and that fresh thinking was now required. It was, therefore, suggested that there was a need to approach the Covid-19 response from the perspective of a genuine renewal of economic plans – the principles of recovery as set out by the C40 Mayors were highlighted as a potential option.

The Panel also emphasised its view on the importance of science and technology industries aiding economic recovery and renewal especially those sectors contributing towards the environment and healthy living in a post Covid-19 Oxfordshire.

With regards to the Active Travel Programme, Councillor Gray referred to what she felt had been the cancellation of the Thame to Haddenham cycleway without consultation with South Oxfordshire District Council.  Bev Hindle, Growth Board Director, and Susan Harbour, Strategic Partnerships Manager, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, agreed to update Councillor Gray on the specific circumstances of that individual scheme outside of the meeting. 

RESOLVED: That the Scrutiny Panel recommends:

1.    That the Growth Board, in considering its role in the Post-Covid-19 recovery, supports the principles of recovery as agreed by the C40 Mayors:

·                   The recovery should not be a return to ‘business as usual’ – because that is a world on track for 3°C or more of over-heating;

·                   The recovery, above all, must be guided by an adherence to public health and scientific expertise, in order to assure the safety of those who live in our cities; 

·                   Excellent public services, public investment and increased community resilience will form the most effective basis for the recovery; 

·                   The recovery must address issues of equity that have been laid bare by the impact of the crisis – for example, workers who are now recognised as essential should be celebrated and compensated accordingly and policies must support people living in informal settlements;

·                   The recovery must improve the resilience of our cities and communities. Therefore, investments should be made to protect against future threats – including the climate crisis – and to support those people impacted by climate and health risks;

·                   Climate action can help accelerate economic recovery and enhance social equity, using new technologies and the creation of new industries and new jobs. These will drive wider benefits for our residents, workers, students, businesses and visitors; 

·                   We commit to doing everything in our power and the power of our city governments to ensure that the recovery from COVID-19 is healthy, equitable and sustainable;

·                   We commit to using our collective voices and individual actions to ensure that national governments support both cities and the investments needed in cities, to deliver an economic recovery that is healthy, equitable and sustainable;

·                   We commit to using our collective voices and individual actions to ensure that international and regional institutions invest directly in cities to support a healthy, equitable and sustainable recovery.

2.         That the Growth Board, in considering its role in the Post-Covid-19 recovery, champions the role of the science and technology industries in delivering economic recovery and renewal, especially where those sectors can contribute towards our local environmental and healthy living ambitions; areas that the Panel felt were not sufficiently recognised within the report presented to them.