Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are 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.

Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic & Place Development Committee held on 22 November 2017.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting held on 22 November 2017 be approved as a correct record and then signed by the Chair.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5pm on Tuesday 23 January 2018. Members of the public can speak on specific planning applications or on other agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including 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 http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

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

This paper concerns the process for entering into a new contract between the Council and Make it York (MIY) for the period 2018-21.

Members considered a report which provided details of the process for entering into a new contract between the Council and Make it York (MIY) for the period 2018-21. The Assistant Director, Communities and Equalities, advised that they were seeking Members views on issues that they would like to see considered within the process for negotiating a new contract with MIY, ahead of a report being presented to the Executive and then onto the Executive Member for approval.

Members commended MIY for their work over last three years and expressed the view that they had made some strong achievements, especially in relation to Visit York.

It was suggested that the renewal of the contract would provide the opportunity to create clear lines of communication and accountability between MIY and the Council, which could benefit from clarification.

Officers confirmed that it was CYCs role to drive the Economic Strategy, set priorities and appoint relevant agencies and that it was important to maintain a balance of responsibilities but give MIY clear leadership. The Chair advised that he would prefer to refer to strategic leadership rather than a military command model and use the terminology “Strategic, Tactical and Operational” rather than “Gold, Silver, Bronze” as detailed in the report.

It was agreed that a workshop be organised to enable committee Members to consider the renewal of the MIY contract in the next couple of weeks, and arrangements for this would be discussed during consideration of the work plan item.

Resolved:  That the report be noted and members comments, on issues that they would like to see considered within the process for negotiating a new contract with MIY, be taken into account.

Reason:     In order that Members views on the contract with MIY be taken into account.

This report presents proposals on the process for fleet replacement.

Members considered a report which put forward proposals for improving the decision making process around fleet replacement. The Assistant Director, Transport, Highways and Environment, was in attendance to present the report which set out proposals based on suggestions made and options discussed by members following a presentation they had received at a previous workshop.

He then responded to questions asked and provided more information in response to particular issues raised by Members. He stressed the need to consider the whole life cost of vehicles and the importance of using expertise to ensure the council got the best value out of equipment purchased over a 7 year term.

Members expressed their support for the conclusions reached in the report and noted that this would be developed in to a paper to put forward recommendations to the Executive.

Resolved:  That the report be noted and Members comments on the proposals be taken into account.

Reason:     To improve the decision making around fleet replacement.

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s draft work plan for the municipal year.

The committee considered its work plan for the 2017-18 municipal year.

The Scrutiny Officer proposed some potential dates to hold a workshop to discuss the Make it York contract renewal, and the majority of Members expressed their preference for 20 February, subject to the Managing Director of Make it York being able to attend on that date.  The Scrutiny Officer agreed to send confirmation of this date to Members.

In addition the Scrutiny Officer proposed the addition of the following items for the next meeting of the Committee in March 2018:

·        Asset Management Strategy – Following up on the Committee’s informal meeting in November 2017 at which they received a presentation on the refreshed and updated Strategy, it was proposed that the Committee now needed to agree a formal response to the Executive.

·        Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LWCIP) – At its meeting in November 2017, the Committee had expressed an interest in the Council’s LWCIP and requested that it be considered at a future meeting. The Scrutiny officer informed Members that at present the Council only had a cycling strategy in place and no LWCIP.  Members agreed to examine the Council’s current cycling strategy and examples of any available LWCIPs from elsewhere, before deciding how to move forward on the issue.

Also for the March meeting, the Chair suggested the Committee have an initial discussion around Creative Industries. Reference was made to a recent motion to Council in December 2017 submitted by Cllr Hayes on the importance of Arts, Culture and the Creative Industries for the City’s future, both from a social wellbeing and economic development perspective, which recommended that a cross party group of members be established to move the debate forward.  As Members were not aware of any work that had taken place in relation to Councillor Hayes’ motion, it was agreed that this item be added the agenda for the March meeting.

In regard to possible topics for scrutiny review, it was suggested that the committee consider a Zero Plastic Strategy/Policy, to look at ways to minimise its own use and promote a reduction in use of plastics in the city. Members again referenced a recent council motion on non recyclable materials which requested the appropriate Scrutiny Committee consider the merits of undertaking a scrutiny review on that subject. Members noted that the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee were also considering looking at recycling and performance, and it was agreed that the two scrutiny chairs should liaise to determine the remits of both proposals before deciding how to more forward, in order to ensure no duplication of effort.

Finally, river usage and the use of water buses/taxis was suggested as a possible scrutiny topic. However, following advice from officers, the majority of Members agreed it was not a priority for the committee and agreed not to progress the topic at the present time.

Members agreed that it would be beneficial to look at the Council’s policy forward plan to help them decide what areas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.