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, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or discloseable pecuniary interest that they might have in respect of the business on the agenda.

Cllr S Barnes declared a personal non prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (Attendance of Executive Member for Environment) in that he worked in renewable offshore wind.

Cllr Cuthbertson declared a personal non prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 (Attendance of Executive Member for Transport & Planning) in that he lived in Earswick.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic & Place Policy Development Committee held on 19 June 2018.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 June 2018 be approved as a correct record and then signed by the Chair subject to two changes in minute number 7, resolution ii) that Cllr Richardson be removed from the informal Task Group and that only one member of the Green Party was to take part.

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 Monday 16 July 2018.  Members of the public may speak on an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit. To register, please contact the Democracy Officers responsible for the meeting (the contact details are available at the foot of the 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 Officers (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.

The Executive Member will be in attendance to provide an update on his priorities and challenges for the 2018-19 municipal year.

The Executive Member for Environment gave an overview of his priorities and challenges for the 2018/19 municipal year and thanks were expressed to officers, councillors and residents for their support in promoting Clean Air Day.

As a result of questions raised by Members the Executive Member responded and it was noted that:

·        Clean Air Day was developing each year and hopefully there would be earlier engagement with residents and councillors next year.

·        Policies or initiatives within renewable energy, flood defence, air quality including fleet procurement, plastics and recycling could be scrutinised by this Committee.

·        Flood defences were regularly inspected by the Environment Agency (EA) and the EA worked in consultation with communities to consider a range of flood defence solutions. 

·         Flood defences at Naburn could be discussed with staff at the hub on Wellington Row.

·        The Bulky Waste Collection scheme was being reviewed and work with the Community Furniture Store was taking place to consider practical ways to reuse and salvage items.

·        The traffic and sustainable transport approach for York Central was being considered and the Executive Member for Environment would continue to campaign to reduce traffic numbers and improve accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians.

·        Anti-idling sat in the Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods portfolio but due to the air quality impact the Executive Member for Environment had suggested a policy should be created to allow fines to be issued. In the short term, messages would continue to be relayed to companies to ensure large diesel vehicles switched their engines off when stationary.

·        First York provided an anti-idling and cyclist awareness training programme to bus drivers.

·        Council policy was to move towards electric vehicles but more awareness was needed on the heavy goods vehicles to ensure the right investment was made. 

·        An approach was required to prevent opportunistic fly tipping in the city centre so businesses could recycle more.

·        York residents should receive communications regarding the recycling process by the autumn.

Following a discussion around clean energy, Members thanked the Executive Member for his update.

Resolved:  That the update from the Executive Member on his portfolio area be received and noted.

Reason:     To update the Committee on the challenges and priorities within the Executive Members portfolio area.

The Executive Member will be in attendance to provide an update on his priorities and challenges for the 2018-19 municipal year.

The Executive Member for Transport and Planning gave an overview of his priorities and challenges for the 2018/19 municipal year.

As a result of questions raised by Members the Executive Member responded and it was noted that:

·        Officers would continue to monitor rural bus services.

·        The parking prices in the city centre car parks would not be reduced so there would be no ‘free for all’ on parking which would undercut the business plans of bus companies.

·        Coaches were currently not permitted to use bus lanes and some coaches were not permitted to cross Lendal Bridge. Consultation would be required with operators should the bus lane policy be altered.

·        Officers were consulting with residents on proposals to improve the Haxby Road/Wigginton Road/Clarence Street area. 

·        He was not aware of any new orbital bus routes.

Following discussion and comments made by Members, the following policies or initiatives were flagged as possible areas this Committee could scrutinise:

·        Street Lighting Policy

·        Dockless Cycle Hire Scheme

·        Parking Strategy

·        Crossing Points

·        Cycling points outside the city centre

·        Bus Lanes

·        Traffic Regulation Orders

The Corporate Director of Economy & Place suggested that should Members decide to assist the Executive Member in his decision regarding a dockless cycle hire scheme, they could invite officers from Sheffield City Council to provide them with an overview of their cycle hire scheme experience.

Members thanked the Executive Member for his update.

Resolved:  That the update from the Executive Member on his portfolio area be received and noted.

Reason:     To update the Committee on the challenges and priorities within the Executive Members portfolio area.

This paper sets out a proposed timeline and outline process to review the economic climate, consider the challenges we face as a city, and enable the development of a refreshed Economic Strategy as an early priority in the 2019/20 work programme.

Members considered a report which set out a proposed timeline and outlined processes to review the economic strategy, consider the challenges which York faced as a city, and to enable the development of a refreshed Economic Strategy as an early priority in the 2019/20 work programme.

The Head of Economic Growth gave an update and confirmed that:

·        The York Economic Strategy was developed in 2015 and published in July 2016, just 26 days after the EU referendum.

·        The York Skills Plan was published in 2017.

·        Due to the Governments Industrial Strategy to encourage local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) to develop their own regional approach, the York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Enterprise Partnership Strategic Economic Plan and the Leeds City Region Strategic Economic Plan were under review.

He went on to advise that the current Economic Strategy was for the period 2016-2020, with its partner document, the York Skills Plan, covering 2017-2020.  Therefore, a new strategy would be needed for 2020 onwards, with drafting taking place in 2019, with an opportunity to bring economic development and skills together into a single framework.

The officer continued to outline the targets set for York and the progress against the York Economic Strategy priorities, focussing on the 8 essential ‘to-dos’ of which four were progressing well and assessed green, with the remaining four progressing more slowly and assessed amber.

He then discussed the following four headline targets:

·        Growing Wages to above the national average by 2025.

·        Meeting in full the requirements for business space and housing.

·        Growing priority high-value sectors at least 20% faster than baseline forecasts.

·        Maintaining comparative advantages in employment, skills and connectivity.

Members noted the priorities and challenges moving forward and that the Economic Strategy conference would link into York Business Week and would take place on 19 November 2018.

Following comments and further questions around inward investment, business space, housing targets, employment, wages and skills, the Head of Economic Growth, the Corporate Director of Economy and Place and the Assistant Director of Planning and Public Protection stated that:

·        Discussions with key players including the University of York regarding inward investment and commercial opportunities within York Central had begun and ongoing engagement with businesses across the city through Make it York was taking place to drive the economy. New opportunities and innovations that would be unique to York were being considered.

·        There was a good range of space in the Local Plan for industrial development.

·        The council did not have a huge amount of influence over employer’s wages and this would be a challenge going forward.

·        The economic development officers from the LEP’s could be invited to express their views on the regions economic function in order for Members to explore more broadly and ensure a fully formed debate.

·          Planning enforcement was only imposed as an appropriate and proportional response to something, such as an adverse impact on residents or an environmental issue. 

Members thanked the officer for his report and it was noted that this Committee could provide guidance to help  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

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

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for the 2018/19 municipal year.

Following discussion it was agreed that a presentation on the Street Lighting Policy would be received at the next meeting and that the Chair would consider all points raised and email Committee Members about potential items for business.

Resolved: That the work plan be approved subject to the above amendments/additions.

Reason: To keep the Committee’s work plan updated.