Issue - meetings

This report sets out proposals for engagement with businesses, residents and partners to inform the development of a new Economic Strategy and Skills Plan for York.

Resolved:

(i)            That the plans for public engagement on York’s economy set out in Annexes 1 and 2 be approved.

Reason: To support economic recovery and growth and the development of a new economic strategy and skills plan.

(ii)          That the recommencement of the My City Centre project form May 2021 be approved.

Reason: To generate a strategic vision for the City Centre through public engagement, to respond to place-based challenges and opportunities.

(iii)         That the revised My City Centre project scope and thematic approach in response to the changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic be approved.

Reason: To ensure that the project responds to the pandemic’s impacts and prevailing (updated) challenges and opportunities.

(iv)         That the amended My City Centre project engagement plan set out at Annex 4, which responds to changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic be approved.

Reason: To ensure effective and inclusive engagement, particularly during the period where some form of lockdown will still exist.

(v)          That the budget proposals set out in Annex 3 be approved.

Reason: To ensure that project activity is resourced appropriately to delivery project outcomes.

(vi)        That regular updates on the Engagement Strategy – Economic Strategy, Skills Plan and My City Centre work be received at future Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning Decision Sessions.

Reason: To allow the Executive Member to remain informed of the progress of the Engagement Strategy.

The Executive Member considered a report which set out proposals for engagement with businesses, residents and partners to inform the development of a new Economic Strategy and Skills Plan for York, and high level vision for the future of York city centre.

During discussion of the item, officers:

·        Thanked the business community for their help and support in co-ordinating York’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

·        Emphasised the Engagement Strategy’s joined up approach in which data is collected from multiple access points in order to create a more complete picture of the city.

·        Explained the different stages of the Engagement Strategy which were laid out in the report.

·        Stated that the My City Centre project engagement begun last year before the Covid-19 pandemic caused a pause and will begin again in May with a more specific focus on certain communities, especially those usually underrepresented.

·        Clarified, regarding concern that there was a lack of engagement with the Bishophill area, that the map within Annex 5 to the report was a representation of people’s opinions on various areas of the city, and not a representation of the location of the respondents.

The Executive Member thanked officers for their reports and stated that:

·        Care must be taken to join the consultations together to prevent the public being asked multiple times about similar issues.

·        It should be ensured that residents who were not on social media were represented in the data collected.

·        Officers should demonstrate that underrepresented groups which had not previously been well engaged with the Council, were being consulted, especially microbusinesses and young people.

Resolved:

(i)            That the plans for public engagement on York’s economy set out in Annexes 1 and 3 be approved.

Reason: To support economic recovery and growth and the development of a new economic strategy and skills plan.

(ii)          That the recommencement of the My City Centre project from May 2021 be approved.

Reason: To generate a strategic vision for the City Centre through public engagement, to respond to place-based challenges and opportunities.

(iii)         That the revised My City Centre project scope and thematic approach in response to the changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic be approved.

Reason: To ensure that the project responds to the pandemic’s impacts and prevailing (updated) challenges and opportunities.

(iv)         That the amended My City Centre project engagement plan set out at Annex 4, which responds to changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic be approved.

Reason: To ensure effective and inclusive engagement, particularly during the period where some form of lockdown will still exist.

(v)          That the budget proposals set out in Annex 3 be approved.

Reason: To ensure that project activity is resourced appropriately to delivery project outcomes.

(vi)         That regular updates on the Engagement Strategy – Economic Strategy, Skills Plan and My City Centre work be received at future Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning Decision Sessions.

Reason: To allow the Executive Member to remain informed of the progress of the Engagement Strategy.