Executive
Set out below is a summary of the decisions taken at the Executive meeting held on Thursday, 14 January 2021. The wording used does not necessarily reflect the actual wording that will appear in the minutes.
Members are reminded that, should they wish to call in a decision, notice must be given to Democracy Support Group no later than 4pm on the second working day after this meeting.
If you have any queries about any matters referred to in this decision sheet please contact FionaYoung.
5. City of York Council Recovery and Renewal Strategy - January Update
Resolved: (i) That the contents of the report, and the steps taken to date to respond to the pandemic as set out in Annex 1, be noted.
(ii) That the following recommendations made by the Executive Member for Finance and Performance in November 2020 (as outlined in Annnex 1), be endorsed:
To:
i. implement a discretionary grants scheme providing support to the businesses outlined and at the levels indicated in the paper, to run until March 2022;
ii. instruct the Head of Economic Growth to develop more detailed proposals for a business support voucher scheme for consideration at a subsequent Executive Member Decision Session;
iii. allocate a preliminary budget of £200k from the Additional Relief Grant (ARG) funding to fund future activity aiming to accelerate economic activity during the next reopening; and
iv. ask officers to bring back a further report to the relevant Executive Member Decision Session to consider amendments to the ARG eligibility criteria.
Reason: To keep the council’s response to the pandemic under review, and to provide support to York businesses that are affected by the Covid-19 restrictions but not eligible for Local Restrictions Grant funding.
6. The York Business Improvement District Renewal Ballot
Resolved: (i) That the BID be supported in their campaign to secure a second term in York through a ballot of all businesses in the BID area set out in Annex 1.
(ii) That the Leader of the Council be requested to cast the Council’s ballot votes in support of a further term.
Reason: To allow the work of the BID and its partners to continue to boost the city centre economy, and to ease difficult trading conditions for retailers, particularly in a post-pandemic recovery environment.
(iii) That the content of the BID Business Plan and the council’s Baseline Service Level Agreements be noted.
(iv) That the role of the York BID, Make it York and other key city partners in supporting the city centre economy be noted.
Reason: To be clear on the role of all partners, as well as the commitments of the council, in maintaining statutory services.
7. Street Works – Changing from Noticing to a Permitting Scheme
Resolved: (i) That Option A be approved and the proposed permit scheme, fee levels and implementation set out in Annexes A, B and F to the report be adopted.
(ii) That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Housing, Economy & Place, in consultation with the S151 Officer and the Director of Governance or her delegated officers, to implement future changes to the scheme and associated fees.
Reasons:
· To improve City of York Council’s ability to manage applications to work on its road network, including the ability to refuse applications, enabling the council to better meet its Network Management Duty;
· to reduce disruption on the road network and delays for all road users; and
· to encourage a greater emphasis on safety on street and road works sites through an enhanced site inspection regime.