Affordability progress snapshot
Our Equalities and Human Rights 'snapshot of progress' will be updated every 6 months to provide details of our activity, as we work to deliver the Council Plan; One City, for all.
For our core commitment to Affordability and tackling the cost-of-living crisis, we'll find new ways so everyone who lives here benefits from the success of the city, targeting our support at those who need it most, supporting communities to build on their own strengths and those of the people around them.
Priority actions
Find out more about progress on each priority action relating to affordability:
- Start the journey towards becoming an anti-poverty city within a decade, including supporting young people and families, reducing food insecurity and exploring the benefits of free school meals for all primary school children
- Create pathways to learning and skills development leading to good quality jobs and improved life chances
- Realise the economic opportunity provided by devolution, York Central and the bioeconomy
- Provide affordable transport for residents to access education, jobs, health and wellbeing support. delivering fare concessions identified in the Bus Services Improvement Plan
- Increase the percentage of affordable homes (exploring opportunities through planning, travellers’ sites, community led projects, social housing, etc.) and seeking to exceed Planning policy on affordable homes
- Reduce energy consumption and generate more local sources of renewable energy
- Target a range of funding sources and service delivery to where they are most needed
Priority action: Start the journey towards becoming an anti-poverty city within a decade, including supporting young people and families, reducing food insecurity and exploring the benefits of free school meals for all primary school children.
Progress by March 2024:
- Executive approved free school meals pilots at Westfield School and Burton Green School.
- Burton Green School pilot launched. See: News story - Free School Meals pilot extended to second school.
- The Free School Meals campaign group (York Hungry Minds) launched with activity planned throughout the year.
- York Community Fund has been established to raise funds for free school meals and other community projects. See: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 12 October 2023 (Item 40).
- Financial support was promoted to low income families.
- A Food insecurity summit was held with partners and North Yorkshire Council to explore alternative food provision.
Priority action: Create pathways to learning and skills development leading to good quality jobs and improved life chances.
Progress by March 2024:
- York Learning, the Council’s adult education learning and training organisation, won national recognition and renew it’s nationally-recognised quality mark. See: News story - Top marks to York Learning for national quality award.
- York’s first hospitality and retail industry forum was held at the council’s West Offices. See: News story - York’s hospitality and retail sectors attend first industry forum.
- In Partnership with NatWest, the Council facilitated the Empowering and Inspiring Women in Business event to celebrate female business leaders. See: News story - York set to celebrate female business leaders.
- During National Apprenticeship Week, York promoted 'Skills for Life'. See: News story - York promotes ‘Skills For Life’ during National Apprenticeship Week.
- Students in Year 11 learnt more about careers in the construction industry. See: News story - Local construction partnerships help York students build the future.
- Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership held a webinar on NHS and Career Sector Careers Pathways; 'Careers in the Curriculum' was held - the session showed how careers can become a part of any lesson in the curriculum.
- The Allied Health Professionals promoted careers in health and care to young people, teachers, careers staff and parents/carers with more information in the refreshed website.
- £300k of apprenticeship levy transfer requests was provided to support new recruits and existing employees to develop their skills in York businesses.
Priority action: Realise the economic opportunity provided by devolution, York Central and the bioeconomy.
Progress by March 2024:
- York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was established in January 2024, with the mayoral elections taking place in May 2024, unlocking at least £540m of investment for the region.
- The Economic Framework for York and North Yorkshire was approved at the Joint Committee and discussed at Scrutiny. See: Portable document format PDF) file - Agenda for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, 18 March 2024, from yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk.
- Strategic developers, McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate,have been selected by Homes England and Network Rail as their preferred developer partners for York Central, with a reserved matters planning application approved for Museum Square - a brand-new piece of public realm at York Central. See: A new space at the heart of the city, from the York Central website.
- York Central has £132m government investment secured to deliver key infrastructure, already underway.
Priority action: Provide affordable transport for residents to access education, jobs, health and wellbeing support. delivering fare concessions identified in the Bus Services Improvement Plan.
Progress by March 2024:
- Bus concessions for children and young people were provided as part of the Bus Service improvement Plan, extending the offer to include 16 to 18 year-olds, almost doubled the number of £1 bus tickets sold per month. 13,887 £1 First bus tickets were sold to 16 to 18 years old in February 2024. See: Bus fares for £1 or free, for children and teenagers on York services, from York Press.
Priority action: Increase the percentage of affordable homes (exploring opportunities through planning, travellers’ sites, community led projects, social housing, etc.) and seeking to exceed Planning policy on affordable homes.
Progress by March 2024:
- Executive approved the proposal to secure 100% affordable homes on council land. See: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 16 November 2023 (Item 12).
- Executive approved an extra 16 low energy 100% affordable homes at the Ordnance Lane site. See: News story - More low-energy, affordable homes proposed for Ordnance Lane.
- 100% affordable homes off Fulford Road increases from 85 to 101.
Priority action: Reduce energy consumption and generate more local sources of renewable energy.
Progress by March 2024:
- An Energy Hackathon held with North Yorkshire Council and energy providers, suppliers, innovators in October explored how to accelerate the local area energy plan.
- Solar for Schools continued, with 4 schools now in the scheme.
- Nearly £3m Net Zero Funding to explore renewable energy and put in place measures to reduce energy consumption.
Priority action: Target a range of funding sources and service delivery to where they are most needed.
Progress by March 2024:
- A new £100k fund launched to deliver projects which supports communities in the most need. See: News story - New fund to help lift inequalities from York’s communities.
