A new York must be a more liveable city – Yorkshire Post Letters

YORK’S economy has taken a knock. But our city is resilient, with a vibrant independent retail sector, a skilled workforce and extraordinary levels of community and voluntary endeavour.

We now need the city council to demonstrate the leadership and sense of purpose that’s vital to building a better York.

This is an opportunity to work with businesses and residents to create a cleaner, more inclusive and collaborative economy. A more liveable city with better paid, more secure jobs, increased affordable housing and less air pollution.

Labour believes there are a few things the council can commit to now:

* Establish a safe city pledge;

* Offer advice to help businesses reopening;

* Set up a restart funding scheme for businesses;

* Agree safe use of more outdoor space:

* Back a buy local, shop local campaign;

* Create a comprehensive, collaborative network to re-skill our workers;

* Get everyone online for full access to education;

* Strengthen our communities by funding local hubs to harness local volunteer capacity.

By enacting such a plan, York can pride itself on its environmental and financial sustainability. Together, we can harness the city’s innovation and creativity in technology, commerce and education to create an inclusive economy that’s able to cope with future shocks such as this.

Disadvantage gap in North

From: Henri Murison, Director, Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

THE investment of an extra £1bn in education by the Government, including £300m for catch up tutoring over two years, responds to the calls that those like Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner, and Rob Halfon MP, the Chair of the Education Select Committee, recognised when backing the Catch Up Premium.

The disadvantage gap affects many Northern communities hardest.

If we are to give the chance of a better future to those who have faced the greatest barriers with no access to a laptop, internet connection at home or pens and paper to learn, then our teachers need extra support.

Northern universities, including Sheffield Hallam, have already established a mentoring programme to enable those graduates from some of our most disadvantaged communities to contribute to this effort. Alongside the Tutor Trust, the North of England needs to pull together, and we will be calling upon the Government to 
ensure we have the capacity we need in all our communities to avoid schools not having the choice of local, high quality support.

From: Coun Judith Blake (Lab), Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board.

IT is positive that the Government has announced this funding to help children catch up on lost teaching time.

Teachers have done a fantastic job keeping schools open to vulnerable families and children of key workers during the coronavirus pandemic and more recently expanding schools to more pupils.

Councils want to work with schools and government to help children catch-up on any school work they may have missed, 
and ensure as many pupils as possible return to school in September, as it is absolutely vital that children do not fall further behind in their development.

We now look forward to seeing the guidance for this plan.

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James Mitchinson

Editor