Issue - meetings

The Interim Head of Paid Service to present a report which provides an update on activities both directly in response to Covid-19 and work to support recovery and renewal, together with an update on the financial context for the council.

Resolved:  (i)      That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)      That officers be authorised to commence engagement with disabled groups and delivery drivers to understand how the changes to the highway layout in response to the current pandemic has impacted upon them and how these can best be mitigated, including longer term considerations (paragraph 14 of the report refers).

(iii)     That approval be given to use £25k of Local Transport Funding to support the engagement in (ii) above.

Reason:     To ensure appropriate action is taken to mitigate the effects of these changes.

The Interim Head of Paid Service presented a report which provided an update on activities in response to Covid-19 and work to support recovery and renewal, following the decisions by Executive on 25 June and 23 July 2020 to approve the Recovery and Renewal Strategy and associated plans.

The report included updates across the three recovery themes; Economy (paragraphs 8-14), Communities (paragraphs 15-18) and Corporate, together with the financial context (paragraphs 19-27).  Detailed updates on the work of Health, Housing & Adult Social Care, and on the opening and operation of schools and early years settings, were provided in Annexes 1 and 2 respectively. The report highlighted that the forecast number of job losses in York had been revised down to 8,500 and that footfall in the city centre was now at around 70% of normal levels and rising.  The forecast budget gap in this financial year remained at c£4m, and shortfalls in Council Tax and Business Rates could affect next year’s budget.  Claims for Job Seekers Allowance and Council Tax Support had risen significantly. 

Responses to the ‘Our Big Conversation’ survey indicated residents’ support for changes to the city centre to help economic recovery, including extending the footstreets.  However, since these measures could be in place for some time, engagement had begun with those who would be most affected on how best to mitigate those effects.  Funding was sought to support this.

Members welcomed the work carried out in their respective portfolio areas and, having acknowledged the comments made on this item under Public Participation, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)      That officers be authorised to commence engagement with disabled groups and delivery drivers to understand how the changes to the highway layout in response to the current pandemic has impacted upon them and how these can best be mitigated, including longer term considerations (paragraph 14 of the report refers).

Reason:     To ensure appropriate action is taken to mitigate the effects of these changes.

(iii)     That approval be given to use £25k of Local Transport Funding to support the engagement in (ii) above.

Reason:     This is considered appropriate, as the engagement will provide useful information for work on a future local transport plan.