£370k windfall to help economy
COUNCILLORS are recommending that a £370,000 cash windfall is used to boost employment in Ryedale.
Ryedale District Council’s Policy and Resources Committee agreed to plough the money into a Ryedale Development Fund at its meeting on Thursday.
They supported the recommendations of council officers to split the money between a Ryedale Employment Initiative (£150,000), Ryedale District Council Apprentice Scheme (£100,000), Ryedale Business and Skills Initiative (£20,000) and Ryedale Major Projects fund (£100,000).
The money has come from the council’s 2012/13 New Homes Bonus allocation.
The final decision on how the cash will be spent is due to be made at the next full meeting of Ryedale District Council on March 7.
In his report to councillors, Julian Rudd, the council’s head of economy and infrastructure, explained how the authority had drawn up the suggestions for the development fund.
“Officers held discussions with the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Economic Partnership (LEP) and other key economic partners and considered funding and other initiatives that are currently available for economic purposes,” he said.
“Consideration was also given to lessons learnt through earlier initiatives, such as the council’s Business Grants scheme in 2010.
“Officers have considered these priority areas and have taken account of members views. Further discussions have been held with a number of partners and with some local businesses, and some expressions of interest were received for potential projects.”
The Ryedale Employment Initiative will invite companies and organisations to compete for funding in return for a guaranteed delivery of employment, such as apprenticeships, with the cash used to support the employment of an apprentice - or could be used to buy equipment or capital expenditure.
The £100,000 put aside for the council’s apprentice scheme would see the creation of up to 10 apprenticeship posts within the authority over a two year period.
The Ryedale Business and Skills Initiative would use its £20,000 to support events such as the Ryedale Skills Summit, Ryedale Business Week and a Rural Innovation Summit, in partnership with Food and Environment Research Agency and the LEP.
And the final scheme, Ryedale Major Projects, would see the council work with partner organisations to undertake the necessary investigatory work and project development to advance major capital projects to the point that they are “shovel-ready.”
The cash would be used to provide the detailed information needed for such projects, such as technical, transport and highways studies, design work and more. Among projects which could be considered include the re-location of Malton Livestock Market, an engineering park in Kirkbymoorside, improvements to the A64, the expansion of Derwent Training Association.
Any schemes for consideration would come back to the Policy and Resources Committee for further discussion before a final decision is made.
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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