Issue - meetings

Cabinet is asked to approve support from the Place Shaping and Capital Feasibility Fund for six projects.

Councillor Peter Butlin (Deputy Leader – Finance and Property) explained that the fund had been set up early in 2020 with four areas of focus and a four-stage approval process. Covid-19 is particularly impacting on young people and it had been identified that more needs to be done to assist them in finding employment. The second element of the report covered climate change.

Councillor Heather Timms welcomed the proposals around climate change stating that it was indicative of the commitment being shown by the County Council in this field. Community groups should be encouraged to come forward and more should be done to change people’s minds around climate change.

Councillor Keith Kondakor welcomed the climate change element, stressing the need for high quality climate change schemes to be pursued. He noted that some people may not be good at bidding for funds. They will need additional support if they are not to miss out.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe commented on the role of the digital market place for securing jobs. She recognised that climate change could be a channel for new job creation adding that Warwickshire needs to emerge from the Covid-19 Pandemic in a strong position.

A vote was held.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1) Support the progress made on the Economic Recovery Strategy with a new Digital Marketplace project approved by Corporate Board under the under the authorisation delegated to Chief Executive at a cost of £0.050m.

2) Approve the creation of an external Community Investment fund using £1m funds from the Revenue Investment Fund for Climate Change, to be managed by the Climate Change Delivery Group and allocated as per the process detailed in this report.