Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the Inclusive Growth evidence base and the Inclusive Growth Initiatives Fund, last reported to the Decision session on 21 October 2020.

Resolved:

(i)           That the contents of the update, and in particular the emerging impacts on mental health and unemployment be noted.

(ii)         That the approach set out to develop revised Poverty Commission and Mental Health projects for these themes of the Inclusive Growth Fund be agreed.

Reason: So that the Council nurtures a pipeline of projects that positively addresses inclusive growth in the City of York, and focusses funding where it is most needed.

The Executive Member considered a report that provided an update on the Inclusive Growth evidence base and the Inclusive Growth Initiatives Fund.

The Head of Economic Growth and the Interim Director of Place were in attendance to provide an update and answer any questions.

The Executive Member noted that:

·        The voluntary group that was promoting the Poverty Truth Commission had struggled to raise the additional funding required for the work and had not been able to progress the project. Given the importance of this work for the Inclusive Growth agenda, officers were seeking alternative partners to lead on this, which would help support the development of the Council’s Economy Strategy and Skills Plan.

·        The Council were unsuccessful in its bid to become a ‘Good Help’ organisation, largely due to a formal external funding bid made to the National Lottery and the Government failing at the final hurdle. The £25k set aside to support mental health remained unallocated. Officers had liaised with the Director of the University Counselling & Mental Health Clinic at York St John University and they planned to develop a rapid delivery project in partnership with business networks and membership bodies to provide practical help to those who were experiencing new or additional pressures on their mental health through the economic impacts of Covid-19.

·        The Kickstart scheme was still progressing with LNER taking on 16 new recruits through the scheme and officers continued to work with small businesses to offer impartial information on applying for Kickstart.

The Executive Member thanked officers for their report and he welcomed an update at a future Decision Session. He noted the importance of ensuring projects such as the community jobs fairs continued and that those families who had found themselves in significant financial difficulties were supported.

The Executive Member welcomed the proactive work taking place to support the mental health and wellbeing of business owners and their employees and he supported the proposals highlighted in the report.

Resolved:

(i)           That the contents of the update, and in particular the emerging impacts on mental health and unemployment, be noted.

(ii)         That the approach set out to develop revised Poverty Commission and Mental Health projects for these themes of the Inclusive Growth Fund be agreed.

Reason: So that the Council nurtures a pipeline of projects that positively address inclusive growth in the City of York, and focusses funding where it is most needed.