Decision details

Purpose of report: To update the Executive Member on the findings of the Council’s York Business Perceptions Survey, a survey carried out with city centre retailers, hospitality and tourism businesses to understand their experiences of complying with the Council’s regulatory services and issues around general business performance. This project was funded by the Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The Executive Member is asked to note the findings of the Council’s York Business Perceptions Survey and consider appropriate follow-up action.

Resolved:

                      i.         That the findings of the York Business Perceptions survey be noted.

                     ii.         That the creation of City of York Council’s Business Services e-leaflet as a method of communicating the support offer to local businesses through the council and its strategic partners be approved, with a update on responses to the e-leaflet being brought to the July Decision Session for Economy and Strategic Planning.

                    iii.        That support was given to the creation of a business support providers meeting group made up of intermediaries and business organisations, facilitated by City of York Council and Make it York, to collectively share information on the business landscape in York, subject to a update on how this will function, being brought to the July Decision Session for Economy and Strategic Planning.

                   iv.        That the Executive Member will raise the eligibility barriers to support provided by the Local Enterprise Partnership’s faced by York Business with the Local Enterprise Partnerships.

                     v.        Due to Brexit being cited as a major challenge to business growth in the results of the York Business Perceptions Survey, the Executive Member requested that officers enquire about accessing funding from the Brexit Contingency Fund, to support follow up work resulting from the York Business Perceptions Survey.

Reason:     To further support the business environment in York.