Budget to deliver on new priorities

Investment in free school meals, youth services and road and home repairs are to be considered at Full Council (Thursday 20 July).

At the meeting, councillors will consider budget changes for 2023/2024 that reflect the new administration’s priorities of equalities, affordability, the environment, and health and wellbeing.

Proposals include:

• Extra targeted youth services community support - £40,000 

• A free school meals pilot to Key Stage 2 pupils - £100,000 

• Work with disabled people’s organisations and blue badge holders to improve city centre access - £30,000 
• A York Climate Emergency Fund to raise cost effective capital and engage public, stakeholders and investors in climate projects - £10,000 

Money will come from cuts to executive member numbers (saving £40,000) and redirecting £250,000 of one-off ward funding.

Changes to the capital programme are also proposed with an extra £1.8m to improve council homes by tackling damp issues, bringing council houses back into occupation more quickly and £250,000 will be used to increase the number of structural repairs on York’s roads, ensuring these repairs last longer.

Councillor Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects and Equalities said: 

“We are focussed on delivering on our commitments to the city and these budget changes are just the start. We are targeting resource where it is needed most.

“We will invest in our young people with free primary school meals and additional youth service support. We will make our city centre accessible for everyone and we will work with residents and partners across our city to tackle the climate emergency.

“We will also be making necessary repairs to our council houses, banishing damp and mould which endanger lives and bringing significant health and environmental benefits as we tackle fuel poverty. We will ensure that council houses aren’t left empty for long periods, bringing them back into use for those who need them.”

The Full Council meeting will take place Thursday 20 July at 6.30pm. The meeting can be viewed live or watched back at: www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

See the agenda and associated reports at https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=331&MId=13925