A ‘VISION statement’ for how the Leeds area’s economy should recover from the coronavirus pandemic has been launched.

Leeds City Council unveiled its Economic Recovery Framework at a meeting of the Executive Board on October 21.

The local authority acknowledges that COVID-19 has had an ‘unprecedented impact’ on the world economy with forecasts predicting that it may take up until 2024 for a return to pre-crisis levels.

On top of that the regional economy is also facing other challenges in the form of the UK leaving the EU single market and the West Yorkshire devolution deal.

Council officers have noted that ‘the shape of recovery will not be linear and the recent outbreaks across the North have highlighted the continued risk of further shocks and the need to be vigilant to local pressures’.

Due to the ever-changing picture - including the recent spike in coronavirus infection rates - Leeds has produced a flexible recovery framework, rather than a firm plan, so it can ‘adapt quickly to changing circumstances and pressures’.

Its approach is centred on the need to:

*Respond - by taking, when required, immediate action to support businesses, workers and the economy

*Reset and Renew - by ensuring there is a ‘clear focus...on the projects and partnerships that will address’ the challenges ahead

•Build Resilience - by maintaining a long term view of goals to deliver inclusive growth, address the climate emergency and health and wellbeing targets

Leeds City Council Leader Councillor Judith Blake said: “The pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for Leeds, including for everyone living in, working in and visiting our city.

“However, the response to this crisis from people all across Leeds has been inspiring.

“We have witnessed communities and organisations pull together like never before.”

The council says it wants the framework, which can be read in full at https://bit.ly/LeedsERF, to be the ‘start of a city-wide conversation’.