The Scrutiny Programme Committee met with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive on 16 March to discuss the Council’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan ‘Swansea – Achieving Better Together’
The Committee was pleased to hear that the continued lockdown measures have helped in the steady decline of COVID-19 cases.
The Committee was also pleased with the speed of the vaccination programme across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
The Committee heard that the Recovery and Transformation Plan has replaced the ‘Sustainable Swansea – Fit for the Future Strategy’. This new Plan has been borne out of the effects of the pandemic, the new challenges and opportunities arising from the new Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 and out of the changing national political landscape and economic uncertainty from COVID-19 and post-Brexit risks.
The report presented to the Committee provided a project progress update and description of planned activities / decisions in relation to five workstreams which focus on Care Services, Education & Learning, Economy & Environment, Community Support, and Future Workforce & Equalities. Overall the Committee noted that the recovery phase is well underway and that the workstreams are in place and working through actions associated with their agendas and that reporting mechanisms and governance boards were also in place.
The Committee queried the role of councillors other than executive members and was informed that each workstream and individual projects would include the involvement of councillors through Policy Development Committees and workshops for wider awareness and engagement.
The Committee praised and thanked the workforce across the authority again for their work as it is what has kept people safe, kept Council services going, supported those in need, and will deliver the recovery and transformation.
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