Issue - decisions

RESOLVED:(i) That the continuing good performance of the York economy and the very low unemployment rates seen in the City over the last 4 years be noted;

(ii)               That the interim arrangements recently announced, which will give major employers a direct channel to a senior contact within the Council to ensure that any issues relating to jobs are resolved quickly, be welcomed;

(iii)             That officers be requested, as part of their response report to the Future York proposals, to consider how the City Strategy Directorate resource allocation priorities can be refined to ensure prompt attention to major applications which are likely to result in significant additional jobs in the City and also to address the issues of job vacancies in the planning department;

(iv)              That, using the opportunities offered by the restructure of the Business Link support organisation, the Council and its partners consult further with small business representative organisations to understand whether more can be done to sustain the economic viability of the sector;

(v)                That the City’s approach to skill training and social inclusion issues (including relative wage rates) be progressed with partner organisations using the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and other appropriate interface mechanisms.

REASON:            To help shape the effectiveness of future action.