City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Executive Member For Economy And Strategic Planning |
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Date |
24 May 2022 |
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Present |
Councillor Waller |
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45. Declarations of Interest
At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member was asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest that he might have in respect of business on this agenda, if he had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. None were declared.
46. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on the 26
April 2022 be approved as a correct record and
signed by the Executive Member.
47. Public Participation
It was reported that there had been two registration to speak
under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
Geoff Beacon suggested that new crimes be created to hold those accelerating climate change to account as it will lead to more people dying from climate changes causes. He noted that he felt that the Council was failing the young and poor in the housing market with homes that were too expensive and infrastructure to them encouraging things such as car use.
Cllr Douglas welcomed the good performance of York’s economy but noted concerns that traders were highlighting that spend per person was down. She asked the Executive Member to discuss with the planning department why commercial unit developments were being considered while not being accessible to those with disabilities.
48. Quarterly Economic Update
The health of York’s economy was discussed noting that unemployment was low, however, there were around 3,500 job vacancies. The pandemic and international effects on York’s economy were noted as having created a challenge to the labour market. It was confirmed that grant funding related to the pandemic had come to an end and the Council had granted all the money received to business in York and the Council had been acknowledged as one of the most effective Council’s in the delivery of grant funding related to the pandemic.
The Executive Member thanked the different teams across the Council working in collaboration with businesses in the city to support York’s economy. He noted specific work the Council was undertaking with the Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses to support businesses with the rise in energy prices.
The Executive Member thanked officers for their work on the report and in supporting York’s economy during his time as the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning.
Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.
Reason: To support York’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic work.
Cllr A Waller, Executive Member
[The meeting started at 10.00 am and finished at 10.23 am].