ECONOMIC GROWTH

Staying agile through the second lockdown

During 'Lockdown 2.0', resilient multi-agency systems and practices of support and enforcement are embedded throughout Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and the wider region, with councils working with partners closely and flexibly, says Sheila Oxtoby.

The second national lockdown has again brought into sharp focus the need for all councils to stay agile and connected with their partners, as we head through the second wave and hopefully, into supporting a national programme of mass vaccination in the New Year.

While some features of Lockdown 2.0 are very different, what has not changed is the critical role of councils as place leaders in supporting their vulnerable residents and businesses during very challenging times. This time round, when the Prime Minister made his announcement, resilient multi-agency systems and practices of support and enforcement were already embedded and operating at place level across Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and the wider region, with councils, NHS bodies, the police, business groups and voluntary community and social enterprise organisations all working together closely and flexibly.

As a multi-agency team, we successfully managed complex settings and responded swiftly to rising transmission rates within our wider community, implementing a plan of concerted communications and engagement which saw the spike stabilise in Great Yarmouth. We have shared our learning and communications materials with other Norfolk districts, which supported us in our time of need and have since faced similar situations.

During this second lockdown, while the Government has asked councils to specifically support the extremely clinically vulnerable and offer temporary accommodation to rough sleepers, multi-agency support remains available across Norfolk for anyone in need.

Back in the spring, and despite significant resource demands, we took the decision to drive ahead with our area-based agenda of economic regeneration and growth. We are awaiting the outcome of our bid to the Future High Streets Fund to regenerate our town centre and we're finalising our submission for a Town Deal of up to £25m to help deliver our town investment plan.

It is how councils recover that will make the biggest difference in the longer-term.

Sheila Oxtoby is chief executive officer of Great Yarmouth BC

@SheilaOxtoby

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Partnership working and collaboration will always be critical

By Caroline Green | 21 November 2024

Structural reform on its own won’t achieve strong and more inclusive local economies and a system-wide approach to public services – culture, relationships a...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Doing things differently

By Chris Rolph | 20 November 2024

Chris Rolph says that a group workshop and individual coaching approach to training social workers has led to transformed mindsets and a qualitative improvem...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Mayors and the devo dilemma

By Mark Sandford | 20 November 2024

Mark Sandford sets out the arguments made for and against mayors, and looks at ways to shift the balance of power between metro mayors and the council leader...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Local leaders are powering up for a revolution

By Christopher Hammond | 20 November 2024

A century on from the first electricity revolution, Christopher Hammond hopes the launch of a new charter encouraging fresh local and national partnerships w...

Sheila Oxtoby

Popular articles by Sheila Oxtoby