Issue - meetings

This report an update on the findings from City of York Council’s York Business Perceptions Survey. The survey was undertaken 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.

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.

The Executive Member considered a report that provided an update on the findings from City of York Council’s York Business Perceptions Survey. Officers introduced the report noting that the survey showed that the majority of York businesses that participated had a stable or increasing headcount, turnover, and overall business performance. However, a significant number of businesses were cautious about the future, with national economic issues such as Brexit being the major cause for concern. A smaller number of local issues also exist that were challenging businesses’ growth potential. The survey also identified that three quarters of the businesses that participated had sought information or advice in the last 12 months with regulatory support the most common area mentioned. The businesses surveyed value the advice and support that the Council’s regulatory services provide however, it was noted that the Council could be more proactive in terms of their engagement with businesses.

Discussion took place regarding concerns that York businesses in the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors were unable to receive business support from York’s two Local Enterprise Partnerships due to the eligibility criteria imposed by this funding. The Executive Member enquired as to how the creation of City of York Council’s business e-newsletter and business support providers meeting group would function and provide feedback, officers confirmed that they would bring an update on these functions back to a future decision session. Noting the concerns raised around Brexit the Executive Member also requested that the Brexit Contingency Fund be used to support follow up work resulting from the York Business Perceptions Survey.

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 an update on responses to a business focused Council e-newsletter 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 an 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 faced by York businesses when accessing the support offer provided by York’s two Local Enterprise Partnership’s 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.