Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare:

·        Any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        Any prejudicial interests or

·        Any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Cabinet Member was asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which he may have in respect of the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2014.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of 6 March 2014 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Wednesday 28 May 2014.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the Cabinet Member.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

It was reported that there were no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report proposes a change to the qualifying York Financial Assistance Scheme (YFAS) criteria to include a limited number of customers where financial hardship has been caused by a benefit sanction imposed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Resolved:  That the change to the qualifying criteria under the York Financial Assistance Scheme to consider “Emergency” awards for some customers whose Department for Works and Pension benefit had been subjected to a sanction, be approved.

Reasons:   (i)      To ensure there is no gap in provision of urgent

financial resources available to City of York Council’s most vulnerable residents at times of crisis.

(ii)      To mitigate the impacts of wide range welfare benefits changes.

(iii)     To meet the priorities set down in the Council Plan and Financial Inclusion Strategy.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which outlined reasons for proposing a change to the qualifying York Financial Assistance Scheme (YFAS) criteria to include a limited number of customers where financial hardship had been caused by a benefit sanction imposed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Cabinet Member was asked to consider whether or not to make the change proposed in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the report, which would allow awards to be made for “Emergency” assistance where a customer was formally challenging a DWP sanction.

Resolved:  That the change to the qualifying criteria under the York Financial Assistance Scheme to consider “Emergency” awards for some customers whose Department for Works and Pension benefit had been subjected to a sanction, be approved.

Reasons:   (i)      To ensure there is no gap in provision of urgent

financial resources available to City of York Council’s most vulnerable residents at times of crisis.

(ii)      To mitigate the impacts of wide range welfare benefits changes.

(iii)     To meet the priorities set down in the Council Plan and Financial Inclusion Strategy.