Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes from the meeting held on 10 February 2020, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

The Board received the Employment, Learning and Skills and Community Policy and Performance Board’s Annual Report for 2019-20.

The Chair wished to convey his thanks to the Vice Chair and all Members of the Board and Officers for their support throughout the year.

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Report for 2019-20 be received and recommended to full Council.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which set out the range of services that had been provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were relevant to this Policy and Performance Board.

            The report outlined these services and included:

Business Support – services provided by the Business Improvement Team which included: raising awareness of support available to 2,500 local businesses; call handling and delivery of the Discretionary Grants Fund.

Employment, Learning and Skills – services provided by the Employment, Learning and Skills Division which included: information on the Library Services and Leisure Centres; details of community activities undertaken, an update on the Brindley Theatre; the status of planned events; and Community Centres updates.

Further to Members queries, the following was noted:

·         Residents who were self-employed were provided with several options of Government grants available to them.  Many enquiries had come from Halton People into Jobs which were then passed onto Business Support.  The Chamber of Commerce was also providing assistance with grants for self-employed people via the Government directly.

·         Some activities/classes in the Community Centres had been suspended; however social distancing was now being observed in the swimming pools and gyms and some classes were able to continue this way as well; and

·         A bicycle scheme for staff was planned for later in the year but nothing has been confirmed yet.

On behalf of the Board the Chair thanked all Officers for their hard work in dealing with the demands that COVID-19 had brought upon them and the Borough.

RESOLVED:  That the Board notes the report and comments made.