Plans Set Out For Life After Covid-19 In Staffordshire

The impact of Covid-19 on Staffordshire and how the county will recover and shape a brighter future have been set out by the county council today.

The council’s plans aim to help reboot the economy, support people back to work and education and help families rebuild their lives, while recognising too the legacy the coronavirus will leave on many areas for months to come.

Phillip Atkins, Leader of the Council, said, “From the outset of this pandemic as a council we have focused on the response to the crisis, but also kept a watchful eye on the lasting impact it will have and how we can shape a stronger Staffordshire post Covid-19.

“Life as we all knew it is unlikely to ever be the same and we have to recognise the impact of the virus on businesses, families, a fragile care market and our own finances in our recovery, but if this crisis has shown anything it is that this council and this county can pull together and mobilise efforts to make an incredible difference.

“We will of course not forget the huge toll Covid-19 has already taken on individuals and their families across the county, but our priority now must be to contain the spread of infection and also to look to the future, kick starting our economy and reopening this county for business, for investment, for growth and ultimately for the benefit of Staffordshire families.”

As part of rebuilding the county, the council plans to detail its new priorities including the key areas of:

• Health and care

• Families and communities

• Economy and skills

• The digital agenda

• Climate change.

Philip added: “Throughout this pandemic I have been truly humbled by the incredible response from our communities as they stepped up to help family, neighbours and people who were strangers before this crisis.

“We have shown as a county we can be flexible, we can adapt and we can endure. These will be huge strengths as we continue to build on our response and look more to the future and a different way of life after Covid-19.”

The report on the “Impact of COVID-19 on SCC Communities, Economy, and Organisation and Recovery Approaches” will be discussed by Cabinet on June 17.