Decision details

After consideration of a report of the Corporate Director for Strategic Resources outlining the Government support available for Early Years’ providers as a result of COVID-19 and further proposals from the local authority to provide additional financial support to Early Years’ Providers within North Yorkshire as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and after consultation with Executive Members, the Chief Executive Officer agreed that

(i) NYCC proceed with Options 1, 3 & 5 (see below).
(ii) NYCC not proceed with Options 2 and 4 although Option 4 might be revisited in due course.
(ii) The Assistant Director Strategic Resources be authorised to take all steps necessary to implement the recommendations set out above.

Option 1 – Provide 80% upfront payment of summer 2020 funded places for private, voluntary & independent (PVI) Providers. This payment would be made to ensure timely cashflow. The remaining balance (20%) would be paid August 2020.

Option 3 – develop proposals to provide up to £1.4m of financial support to providers remaining open during the summer term and financial support to “key providers” enabling NYCC to fulfil its statutory responsibility to ensure sufficiency of provision across the county.

Option 5 – Provide additional funded places for “open” provision during Easter – decision taken by Corporate Director – Children & Young People’s Services.

*PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.*

Decision taken by Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his emergency delegated powers and in consultation with Executive Members.

Early Years providers generally have very thin operating margins and those who have remained open during Covid-19 face a unique potential financial disincentive. The report contains an overview of the rationale behind the proposed three options to be taken forward to support those providing childcare for key workers during COVID-19.

Early Years providers are a strategic asset to the local economy through the provision of childcare.

In regard to the first stage of collecting data, the Application based financial support process needs to be made as simple as possible in order to progress the distribution of payments quickly.

It was decided that NYCC should not proceed with Options 2 and 4 although Option 4 might be revisited in due course.

Option 2 - Consider rent holiday for private, voluntary & independent providers who rent NYCC premises
Rationale – NYCC decision. Financial support to EY local EY sector.

Option 4 - Autumn 2020
Consider offer of 80% up-front payment of Autumn 2020 EY funding payment for PVI
Rationale - to support cash-flow for “restarting” business