Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Members are asked to

declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of

Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that he might have had in respect of business on the agenda. They confirmed they had none.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 13 December 2021.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 13 December 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Executive Member.

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meetings and decisions.

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This report presents the Executive Member for Finance & Performance in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing & Safer Neighbourhoods with the following matters:

·        To consider and approve the renewed Service Level Agreement with the Welfare Benefits Unit for the next three financial years;

·        To receive an update on the Financial Inclusion Steering Group (FISG) 2022/23 grant scheme;

·        To consider and approve the funding of a Community Involvement Officer to deliver actions relating to food poverty priorities in the city including priorities set down in the Right to Food Motion approved at Full Council in October 2021;

·        To approve an amendment to the Executive decision made on 30 September 2021 for digital inclusion funding for a year, to extend this for 18 months at no extra cost.

Resolved:

                     i.        That the Service Level Agreement for the Welfare Benefits Unit at Annex A for a period of 3 years 2022 to 2025 at a cost of £22,700 per year (as detailed in paragraphs 3-6 of the report) be approved;

                    ii.        That the criteria and progress of the 2022/23 FISG grant scheme including the approvals of awards at the next Executive Member Decision Session for Finance & Performance on 16 March 2022 (as detailed in see paragraphs 7-12 of the report) be noted;

                  iii.        That £39k funding for a Community Involvement Officer role to deliver actions relating to food poverty priorities in the city be approved.  This will be funded from the existing York Financial Assistance Scheme Emergency Fund for one year  (as detailed in see paragraphs 13-17  and 26 of the report);

                  iv.        That the use of funding previously agreed by Executive on 30 September for a 100% Digital York Project Co-ordinator, over an 18 month period rather than a year (as detailed in see paragraph 18 and 19 of the report) be approved.

Reason:     To ensure councillors, residents and stakeholder groups are aware of the ongoing financial inclusion activity across the city and use of associated funding and approvals.  

The Executive Members considered a report that detailed a number of financial inclusion activities. The Director of Customer and   Communities gave an overview of the activities, explaining the

renewed Service Level Agreement with the Welfare Benefits Unit, updating on the Financial Inclusion Steering Group (FISG) 2022/23 grant scheme, and detailing the proposed funding of a Community Involvement Officer to deliver actions relating to food poverty priorities.

The Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods welcomed the proposals noting that the Welfare Benefits Unit did crucial work in York and she commended their advisors for this. She noted the progress of the financial inclusion grant scheme, adding that she was happy to extend the work of the digital advisors. She also welcomed the funding of the Community Involvement Officer post in addressing the right to food motion at Council. She added that the York Food Poverty Alliance brought together grass roots groups and volunteers in providing a way into more formal networks. The Executive Member for Finance and Performance noted the work of the Welfare Benefits Unit in supporting individuals and communities. It was then;

Resolved:

                     i.        That the Service Level Agreement for the Welfare Benefits Unit at Annex A for a period of 3 years 2022 to 2025 at a cost of £22,700 per year (as detailed in paragraphs 3-6 of the report) be approved;

                    ii.        That the criteria and progress of the 2022/23 FISG grant scheme including the approvals of awards at the next Executive Member Decision Session for Finance & Performance on 16 March 2022 (as detailed in see paragraphs 7-12 of the report) be noted;

                  iii.        That £39k funding for a Community Involvement Officer role to deliver actions relating to food poverty priorities in the city be approved.  This will be funded from the existing York Financial Assistance Scheme Emergency Fund for one year  (as detailed in see paragraphs 13-17  and 26 of the report);

                  iv.        That the use of funding previously agreed by Executive on 30 September for a 100% Digital York Project Co-ordinator, over an 18 month period rather than a year (as detailed in see paragraph 18 and 19 of the report) be approved.

Reason:     To ensure councillors, residents and stakeholder groups are aware of the ongoing financial inclusion activity across the city and use of associated funding and approvals.  

[Cllr Craghill left the meeting at 10.10am]

This paper provides the Executive Member for Finance & Performance in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy & Strategic Planning with the new Omicron business grants schemes for approval. The paper also includes the officer decisions on the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) and the new Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) made on 21 January and 2 February respectively for ratification.

Resolved:

a)   That the adoption of the Government’s Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant (OHLG) made at Executive on 13 January 2022 (as detailed in paragraphs 6 – 10 and Annex A of the report) be noted;

b)   That the Officer Decision of 2 February in delivering the new Omicron ARG scheme (as detailed in paragraphs Paragraph 11 – 14 and Annex B & C of the report) be ratified;

c)   That the Officer Decision of 21 January in delivering the new CARF scheme(as detailed in paragraphs Paragraph 16 – 20 and Annex D & E of the report) be ratified;

d)   That the delegation of any future changes resulting from government guidance in relation to all schemes in this report be given to the Chief Finance Officer (s151), Director of Economy & Place and Director of Customer & Communities in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

Reason:     To provide financial support to the city’s businesses during the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and the impact of the Omicron Variant.

The Executive Members considered a report that presented with them with the new Omicron business grants schemes for approval. The report also includes the officer decisions on the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) and the new Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) made on 21 January 2022 and 2February 2022 respectively for ratification.

The Head of Customer and Exchequer Services explained the funding received for each of the schemes. He noted that all reliefs will need to have been applied by 30 September 2022 and the council would be writing to businesses to inform them of their eligibility.

The Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning noted that the system had become complex and he thanks officers for their work on this. He also noted the work of the Economic Growth team in providing advice to businesses. He thanked the Federation of Small Businesses, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, York Business Improvement District, Traders Associations and York Retail Forum for putting messages across to businesses. He noted the importance of the inclusion of many businesses in receiving the grants. The Executive Member for Finance and Performance noted the importance of getting funding to businesses speedily and he thanked staff for their work. It was then;

Resolved:

a)   That the adoption of the Government’s Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant (OHLG) made at Executive on 13 January 2022 (as detailed in paragraphs 6 – 10 and Annex A of the report) be noted;

b)   That the Officer Decision of 2 February in delivering the new Omicron ARG scheme (as detailed in paragraphs Paragraph 11 – 14 and Annex B & C of the report) be ratified;

c)   That the Officer Decision of 21 January in delivering the new CARF scheme(as detailed in paragraphs Paragraph 16 – 20 and Annex D & E of the report) be ratified;

d)   That the delegation of any future changes resulting from government guidance in relation to all schemes in this report be given to the Chief Finance Officer (s151), Director of Economy & Place and Director of Customer & Communities in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

Reason:     To provide financial support to the city’s businesses during the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and the impact of the Omicron Variant.

[Cllr Waller left the meeting at 10.20am]

This report details an application to list Holgate Allotments, York as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), for consideration by the Council. The application has been received from Holgate Allotment Association.

Resolved: That approval be given to the renewal of the listing of Holgate Allotments, York, as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

Reason:     To ensure the Council meets its legislative requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and promotes community access to community facilities.

The Executive Member considered a report that detailed an application to list Holgate Allotments, York as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), for consideration by the Council. The application had been made by Holgate Allotment Association.  The Asset Manager explained that the allotments had been removed from the ACV list after 5 years from date of listing. This application was a request to re-add the site onto the Council’s ACV list (for a further period of 5 years). He added that the council legal team had confirmed that the application was valid, that no objections had been received, and that the application had received support from York Allotments CIO (YACIO) and the Headteacher of St Paul’s CE Primary School. The Executive Member confirmed ne was happy to accept the recommendation to approve the renewal of the ACV listing and then;

Resolved: That approval be given to the renewal of the listing of Holgate Allotments, York, as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

Reason:     To ensure the Council meets its legislative requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and promotes community access to community facilities.