Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member was asked to declare if he had any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that he might have had in the business on the agenda.

He declared that he had none.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 15 April 2016.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 15 April 2016 be approved and then signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is Thursday 23 June 2016 at 5.00 pm.

Members of the public may register to speak on :-

·        an item on the agenda

·        an issue within the Executive Member’s remit;

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Philip Crowe spoke in regards to Agenda Item 4 (Review of Arboricultural Management of Trees). He represented Treemendous, a volunteer group, whose main role was the planting of trees in the city. He supported the Council’s proposed policies for the management of trees in the city and hoped that it would lead to a fully formed tree strategy within the Local Plan. He urged the Executive Member to give Officers more support when they had to explain to members of the public why trees had been felled.

This report sets out a proposed policy for the management of the Council’s own “public” tree stock. It also responds to the recommendations made by the Learning & Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Pre Decision Calling in) on 15 June 2016.

Resolved: That the policy for the management of the Council’s public trees be agreed subject to the following  amendments;

Tree Removal and Pruning

·        Policy Statement 6: The removal of the word retain so that it reads-To increase light levels or change the view in or out of a private property.

·        Clarification of Policy Statement 16 (Funding of Tree Work by Third Parties) to define the nature of the work and outline under what circumstances it should be approved.

Reason: (i) To ensure that the Council’s duty of care toward tree management and protection remains consistent and transparent and that resources are used to the best effect.

   (ii)    To give a better understanding of tree management practices in York

 (iii) To protect valuable trees from unnecessary damage, inappropriate work or removal.

The Executive Member received a report which set out the proposed policy for the management of the Council’s own “public” tree stock.

The report also responded to a number of recommendations made by the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Pre Decision Calling In) Committee on 15 June 2016 in respect of this policy.

Officers introduced the report and informed the Executive Member that the Pre Decision Call In had provided assistance when revising the policy.

The Executive Member established that the policy was a positive move and after questioning Officers he was minded to approve the it with the following amendments;

·        Policy Statement 16- to remove the word retain

·        Clarification of Policy Statement 16- to define the nature of the work and outline under what circumstances it should be approved.

Consideration was given to written representations which had been received. It was noted that;

·        The tree at Burgess Walk has a Tree Protection Order on it.

·        The footpath at Hamilton Drive West had been repaired.

·        The tree at Cedarwood Close was situated in a resident’s garden and there had been an agreement reached to prune the tree back.

Resolved:   That the policy for the management of the Council’s public trees (as outlined in Annex 1 to the Officer’s report) be agreed subject to the following  amendments as above.

Reason: (i) To ensure that the Council’s duty of care toward tree management and protection remains consistent and transparent and that resources are used to the best effect.

   (ii)    To give a better understanding of tree management practices in York

 (iii) To protect valuable trees from unnecessary damage, inappropriate work or removal.

This report re-presents the final report from the Goose Management Scrutiny Review and asks the Executive Member for Culture, Leisure & Tourism to reconsider the review recommendations, in light of the additional information presented in this report.

Resolved:     That the Goose Management Scrutiny Review recommendations be approved.

Reason:        To assist in the development of a suitable long term strategy for the management of geese in York and to conclude this scrutiny review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols.

The Executive Member received the final report from the Goose Management Scrutiny Review which asked him to reconsider the review recommendations.

Officers introduced the report and gave a number of updates in respect of some of the reviews recommendations namely that;

·        An order had been placed for additional fencing at War Memorial Gardens to fill in a gap in the original boundary fencing between the river and Gardens as well as a new gate in to see if this reduces geese accessing and grazing the Gardens.

·        The Friends of Rowntree Park had offered to contribute 25% of the costs of fencing one area of the formal gardens near Mercury.  This can be progressed subject to the ward committee funding the remaining 75%.

·        Officers are in the process of arranging a paddock cleaner test.

It was noted that one resident at the Palmer Street development which overlooked the Foss Islands geese nesting site, was interested in pursuing carrying out high frequency tests.

The Executive Member felt that other residents needed to be consulted before a high frequency test was carried out at Palmer Street. He commented that opinion remained unclear how to manage geese in the city. It would be up to each Ward to decide on their use of devolved funding  to develop appropriate local measures.

Resolved:     That the Goose Management Scrutiny Review recommendations be approved as detailed at Paragraph 2 in the Officer’s report.

Reason:        To assist in the development of a suitable long term strategy for the management of geese in York and to conclude this scrutiny review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols.

This report sets out the strategic direction of York Learning and presents a one year service / business plan for the academic year commencing in September 2016.This forms a key part of the governance arrangements for the service. 

Resolved: That the York Learning Strategic/Service plan be approved.

Reason:    To provide a sound governance arrangement for York Learning Services.

The Executive Member received a report which set out the strategic direction of York Learning and presented a one year service/business plan for the academic year commencing in September 2016.

Officers informed the Executive Member that the previous Action Plan associated with this Strategic plan was periodically monitored by the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee.

Updates were given to the Executive Member on a number of actions included in the annex to the report.

Resolved:That the York Learning Strategic/Service plan be approved.

Reason:   To provide a sound governance arrangement for York Learning Services.