Decision details

Purpose of Report: To present Members with a report of actions taken by the Financial Inclusion Steering Group (FISG) for 2014/15 and a review of the York Financial Assistance Scheme (YFAS) Local Welfare Provision.

 Members are asked to note the progress of FISG and to agree the approach proposed for the future shape of YFAS.

This decision will now be taken by Cabinet at their rescheduled meeting on 16 December.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree to:

(i)           Note the performance of the York Financial Assistance Scheme for the first 5 months of 2014/15 as compared to 2013/14.

(ii)          The changes to the scheme proposed in the report with the final detail to be approved by the Director of Customer and Business Support Services in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Finance & Performance before implementation by 1st April 2015.

(iii)        Commit to maintaining the YFAS funding at its current levels (inclusive of grant) and considering in principle (subject to the full budget approval), the use of additional council tax from technical changes introduced 1 April 2014 being directed towards the YFAS scheme from April 2015.

(iv)        Approve the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (s13) at Annex C of the report.

Reason:   To ensure Cabinet can properly plan for future financial pressures relating to the York Financial Assistance Scheme.