Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, it was

RESOLVED: That Cllr Taylor be elected to act as Chair of the meeting.

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on  Friday, 23 October 2009.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2009.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) meeting held on 12 October 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider the decisions taken by the Executive on 6 October 2009 with regard to the Green Jobs Task Force, which have been called in by Cllrs Scott, Gunnell and Potter in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for the call-in and the remit and powers of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) in relation to the call-in procedure, together with the original report to and decisions of the Executive.

Members received a report which asked them to consider the decisions made by the Executive at their meeting on 6 October 2009 in relation to the Green Jobs Task Force.

Details of the Executive’s decisions were attached as Annex 1 to the report.  The original report to the Executive was attached as Annex 2 and the comments made by the Shadow Executive on the item were attached as Annex 3.  The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Gunnell, Potter and Scott on the grounds that:

“The Executive:

• Did not respond to the advice of the Shadow Executive
• Failed to set itself objectives to meet
• Failed to set SMART objectives for CYC contributions
• Failed to address the issue of identification of a skills gap

Members were invited to decide whether to confirm the decisions of the Executive (Option A) or to refer them back to the Executive for re-consideration and / or amendment (Option B).

Cllr Scott addressed the meeting on behalf of the Calling-in Members.  He noted that the report to Executive did not define what was meant by ‘green jobs’, nor did it link to the 10:10 carbon reduction campaign to which the Council had recently signed up.  The Executive should have been more specific and imaginative in their resolutions, setting proper targets and firming up the proposals set out in the report.

In response to Cllr Scott’s comments and Members’ questions, Officers explained that the report followed the framework set by the Local Government Association (LGA).  No targets or definitions had currently been set by the LGA, hence the recommendation in the report that more work be carried out to establish the current position in York.  The results of this work would be the subject of a further report to the Executive in about three months’ time.

After a full debate, Cllr R Watson moved, and Cllr Waudby seconded, that Option A be approved and the Executive’s decisions confirmed.  On being put to the vote, this motion was declared LOST by 2 votes to 5.

Cllr Scott then moved, and Cllr Simpson-Laing seconded, that Option B be approved and that the decisions be referred back to the Executive for reconsideration, with a recommendation that they set clear SMART objectives for the Council’s contribution to the development of green jobs in the City.  On being put to the vote, this motion was declared CARRIED and it was therefore

RESOLVED: That Option B be approved and that the decisions be referred back to the Executive for reconsideration, with a recommendation that they set clear SMART objectives for the Council’s contribution to the development of green jobs in the City. 

REASON:      In accordance with the procedures set out in the Council’s Constitution for dealing with called-in decisions, and to address the points raised by the Calling-in Members.

To consider the decisions taken by the Executive on 6 October 2009 with regard to Swimming Facilities in the City, which have been called in by Cllrs Crisp, Scott and B Watson in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for the call-in and the remit and powers of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) in relation to the call-in procedure, together with the original report to and decisions of the Executive.

Members received a report which asked them to consider the decisions made by the Executive at their meeting on 6 October 2009 in relation to Swimming Facilities.

Details of the Executive’s decisions were attached as Annex 1 to the report.  The original report to the Executive was attached as Annex 2 and the comments made by the Shadow Executive on the item were attached as Annex 3.  The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Crisp, Scott and B Watson on the grounds that:

“The Executive:

• Did not respond to the advice of the Shadow Executive
• Has left an open-ended arrangement with £2m of taxpayers’ money with the University, which could mean that a pool never materialises
• Failed to start the process for delivering a city centre pool
• Failed to create a ‘leisure reserve’.

Members were invited to decide whether to confirm the decisions of the Executive (Option A) or to refer them back to the Executive for re-consideration and / or amendment (Option B).

Cllr Crisp addressed the meeting on behalf of the Calling-in Members.  She expressed the view that by supporting the University pool the Council would effectively be subsidising a ‘showpiece’ that was unlikely to benefit York residents.  Residents needed an accessible pool in the city centre, for which Hungate would be a suitable site.  She urged the Committee to refer the matter back to the Executive with a request that they fulfil the requirements of the motion approved by Council on 9 July, seek a firm completion date for the University pool and respond to the comments of the Shadow Executive regarding the city centre pool.

In response to Cllr Crisp’s comments and questions from Members, Officers confirmed that the issue was not one of demand for swimming but of available capital and what was feasible in practical terms.  He agreed that current swimming provision was insufficient, as set out in the report, and stressed that there was no evidence to indicate that the University pool would not move ahead within the next five years.

After a full debate, Cllr Scott moved that Option B be approved.  Cllr Simpson-Laing seconded the motion, which was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was therefore

RESOLVED: That Option B be approved and the decisions be referred back to the Executive for reconsideration.

REASON:      In accordance with the procedures set out in the Council’s Constitution for dealing with called-in decisions, and to address the points raised by the Shadow Executive and the Calling-in Members.