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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Executive Member for Finance and Performance in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods (for agenda item 4 Winter Grants Funding) |
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Date |
15 February 2021 |
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Present |
Councillors Ayre (Executive Member for Finance and Performance) and Craghill (Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods) |
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7. Declarations of Interest
The Executive Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that he might have had in respect of business on the agenda. They confirmed they had none.
8. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 18 January 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Executive Member at a later date.
9. Public Participation
It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak
at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
10. Winter Grants Funding
The Executive Members considered a report recommending that the funding shortfall in maintaining the winter grants scheme to 31 March 2021 was met through the extended York Financial Assistance (YFAS) scheme. This was supplemented in 2020/21 by £1m of council funds to support residents in hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Assistant Director Customer and Digital Services outlined the support that was currently in place noting that the government had confirmed that there would be further funding beyond 31st March 2021 available for food and activities through the school holidays. She then noted the take up of funding from families for food and utility bills and she encouraged families to claim the extra support if approved at this meeting.
The Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods supported the recommendations and whilst welcoming the support from the government, acknowledged that the original funding was insufficient and noted that she would like to see the government providing more ongoing support. The Executive Member for Finance and Performance also welcomed the report and it was:
Resolved: That approval be given to the funding the winter grants scheme through to 31st March 2021 through use of the extended YFAS funding at an estimated cost of £200k.
Reason: To provide financial support to the city’s most financially vulnerable residents through the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.
Cllr Ayre, Chair
[The meeting started at 10.00 am and finished at 10.08 am].