Wakefield Council looks to the future as it sets out recovery plans
Wakefield Council is working closely with partners and
local businesses to plan how the district can best recover from months of
lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Council has established a Recovery Board to work with
partners on how best to restart and diversify the local economy as Government
restrictions continue to lift.
The Board will include Wakefield Council, West Yorkshire
Police, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group,
Department of Work and Pensions, Wakefield College, Wakefield and District
Housing, Mid Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce, NOVA, Citizens Advice Bureau and
other business sector representatives. The members will work together to
respond to national decisions by the Government over the coming weeks and
months, to support the district in its recovery, and formalise the multi-agency
work that is already underway.
Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council, said:
“The coronavirus outbreak has resulted in unprecedented changes for my Council
and has a huge impact on local residents, businesses and is felt throughout our
communities.
“We have been supporting our communities in every way
possible during the pandemic and now we must begin to plan our recovery at this
time of uncertainty, to make sure this district is best placed to survive and
thrive following the crisis.”
Cllr Nadeem Ahmed, Leader of the Wakefield Conservative
Group, said: “I’m pleased to work with the Council and partners on how we can
best move forward to bring life back into our towns and city, and support local
residents and businesses.”
Cllr Jeffery added: “By working together, we can build back
better and stronger.”
The board will work together to:
Respond appropriately as Government restrictions lift, and
the impacts on Wakefield are better understood
Examine the local impact on employment
Ensure businesses have all they need to continue to operate
safely
Identify how best to support business recovery and
vulnerable residents
Assess the impact on the visitor economy including the
city’s culture, leisure, hospitality, events and night time economy offer,
including the challenges associated with social distancing
Sustain confidence in residential and commercial
development
Support the financial and social resilience of our
communities, to them the confidence to ‘get started’ again.
The first meeting of the Recovery Board will take place on 6 July and the group is expected to continue to meet regularly over the
next 12 months.