Issue - meetings

The Directors of Customer & Communities and Housing, Economy & Regeneration to present a report which provides an update on the use of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme funding and asks Executive to approve plans for further expenditure up to March 2025.

Resolved:  (i)      That the activities and allocations of funding to date be noted.

                   (ii)      That the plans for further significant expenditure to March 2025 be approved.

                   (iii)     That budget be allocated to the respective Housing and Customer and Community teams as set out in the report for the purposes identified.

                   (iv)    That the authority delegated to the Assistant Director / Director of Customer & Communities to make grants to partner organisations to support the programme in consultation with the Executive Member for Culture, Leisure & Communities, as granted by the Executive Member on 19 April 2022, be maintained.

Reason:     To continue to support York’s Ukrainian guests and make appropriate arrangements for ensuring their welfare, in line with human rights requirements and the priorities of the Council Plan.

The Director of Customer & Communities and the Service Manager, Housing Options & Homelessness, presented a report which provided an update on the use of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme (HfU) funding in 2022/23, and asked Executive to approve plans for further expenditure up to March 2025.

Spend up to January 2023 date amounted to £554k, as detailed in paragraph 24 of the report.  This was lower than anticipated, due to underspends on projected host checks and property repairs, and because some management and administrative functions had been covered by existing posts.  It was clear that York would continue to host Ukranian guests for some time to come and additional spending would be required, as explained in paragraphs 27-44.  Anticipated expenditure over the next 3 years was detailed in the tables under paragraph 44 and totalled £3.4m. This would be covered by grant funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC).

The Chair noted that the first year anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine had taken place last month.  He placed on record his gratitude to those who had opened their homes to refugees fleeting the conflict, and thanked staff, partners and volunteers for their support. The Executive Members for Culture, Leisure & Communities and Housing & Safer Neighbourhoods echoed those thanks in supporting the recommendations, and it was

Resolved:  (i)      That the activities and allocations of funding to date be noted.

                  (ii)     That the plans for further significant expenditure to March 2025 be approved.

                  (iii)     That budget be allocated to the respective Housing and Customer and Community teams as set out in the report for the purposes identified.

                  (iv)    That the authority delegated to the Assistant Director / Director of Customer & Communities to make grants to partner organisations to support the programme in consultation with the Executive Member for Culture, Leisure & Communities, as granted by the Executive Member on 19 April 2022, be maintained.

Reason:     To continue to support York’s Ukrainian guests and make appropriate arrangements for ensuring their welfare, in line with human rights requirements and the priorities of the Council Plan.