Agenda item

To receive a written report from the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion and to question the Cabinet Member thereon, provided any such questions are registered in accordance with the timescales and procedures set out in Standing Order 8.2.1.

Council received a written report from Cllr Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion.

 

Notice had been received of eighteen questions on the report, submitted by Members in accordance with Standing Orders. The first four questions were put and answered as follows and Members agreed to received written answers to their remaining questions, as set out below:

 

 (i)     From Cllr Gillies

“Will you be allocating extra funding for Illuminating York, and if so how much?”

 

Cabinet Member replied:

“No.”

 

(ii)      From Cllr Burton

“Can the Cabinet Member inform Members what is happening concerning public art at West Offices?”

 

Cabinet Member replied:

 “The developer’s contribution has enabled the public art element of the new headquarters to be secured. I have ensured that this contribution is used to support and develop the work of our local creative sector.  From the inception of the public art work we have focused on ensuring that new and emerging talented artists from York and Yorkshire have the opportunity and support to contribute works to our new headquarters.  Their brief is not only to make the public spaces welcoming and friendly but also to delight. 

 

We are working with six York and Yorkshire artists and John Newling, Emeritus professor of Public Art at Nottingham Trent University.  While I cannot yet unveil the details of the works I can say that they range from glass pieces through to digital and light works.  I am a member of the Public Art Steering Group and have been closely involved since the selection of the artists in steering the work and ensuring the budgets are kept to.  There have been some delays as there inevitably are with building projects but I have been working with the staff team and the artist to make sure all obstacles of this nature have been overcome. 

 

John Newling is working with the Staff team at the council to continue the creative legacy of this project.  He has kindly offered to organise a session for Council Members if we would like to attend.”

 

(iii)     From Cllr Aspden

“Can the Cabinet member outline which events in the York 800 programme would not have happened if it had not been York 800 and which would have occurred anyway?”

 

Cabinet Member replied:

 “While I have many powers I cannot see into alternative universes.  As a City of Festivals we have many fantastic events year on year but the response in support of York 800 has been fantastic from all across the creative cultural and voluntary sector in terms of new events. 

 

As we are only a third of the way through the year it will be hard to answer this accurately but I would hope by the end of 2012 everyone in the city and a good many of our visitors will have experienced and enjoyed York 800 activities.  This morning I launched the York Stories project and we have already got the website populated with stories from across the city.  Cllr Aspden could check out the website for this www.yorkstories2012.com  or the York 800 page on the City of Festivals website www.york800.com.  I can assure him that the York800 anniversary has inspired a great many people to be come involved in events and activities in the city.

 

We do have at least three new events coming in each week so given we are only in March it is impossible to know how many events will be added for York 800 alone.”

 

 

(iv)     From Cllr Gillies

“As Blackpool was being actively promoted in respect of Illuminating York, why is there no update or has the link been deemed inappropriate due to the criticism of the illumination offer by the residents and landlady’s of the resort last year?”

 

Cabinet Member replied:

 “The link has not been deemed inappropriate, other than by the Leader of the main opposition.

 

There has been no update as yet to Members as I have been working with officers to establish the extent to which York will benefit from our Blackpool collaboration.

 

To date, I can confirm Blackpool will be working with us to provide lightworks and projectors for Illuminating York 2012, worth at least £15k.

 

So there is an obvious benefit to the city.”

 

 (v)    From Cllr Barnes

“What does the Cabinet Member consider to be the main pressures for leisure and culture, both locally and nationally?”

 

Reply:

“This is a challenging time for culture both nationally and locally. The government's deficit reduction plan is going too far and too fast.  And my fear is that arts and culture will suffer incredibly from those cuts.

 

The protection of my own portfolio is made especially difficult:

 

•    by cuts from the Arts Council, whose own budget has been cut by 30%

 

•    with the abolition of the Regional Development Agencies, which helped draw in investment and stimulate creative growth in our regions - putting great financial pressure on our tourism partners Visit York and Welcome to Yorkshire.

 

•   with the ending of the Future Jobs Fund which helped young people get work in the creative industries.

 

Public spending cuts will potentially mean that some children just won't ever get the chance to develop their creative potential.   

 

The reality is that local government has to make really tough choices.  Some will argue that, now the good times are over, arts are a luxury we can no longer afford.

 

We must sustain our commitment to tourism, sports, culture and the arts as they are at the heart of young people's lives, and the life of our communities.

 

The Olympics are a huge boost to participation in sport and so it’s disappointing – after the build up of children and young people playing sport in school – to see the School Sport Partnership abolished and central government funding for school sport cut by 60%. 

 

That is so short-sighted, especially when you consider the importance of sport not just for enjoyment but for health and in bringing families and communities together.

 

We must do what we can locally to support our schools and communities as they try and make up for the axing of the school sports partnerships.

 

There is a clear need especially in difficult times to encourage and nurture York’s burgeoning creative industries which are key to our economic vitality and a key driver for tourism – which is a huge provider of jobs, 1.3 million nationally and worth £105 billion to the UK economy each year.

 

This administration is working closely with the creative industries in York to ensure we do our bit to support the aspirations and growth of that industry and medium for the future.”

 

(vi)     From Cllr Gillies

“What Government cuts have you implemented?”

 

Reply:

“I have implemented my portfolio’s share of the Government’s funding cuts to the council for the period 2012/13 – 2013/14. 

 

Members attending the Budget Meeting in February will recall clearly how the budget was set and if they don’t, can easily reference this information on the council’s website. I don’t intend to take up Members’ time going through how the Government cuts have impacted York as it would take too long.”

 

(vii)    From Cllr Gillies

          “Give an example of being outward looking and innovative and what have you contributed?”

 

Reply:

“There are a number of areas in which we have been outward looking and innovative, from the sharing of ideas and best practice with tourism, leisure and culture leaders beyond York’s boundaries to our collaboration with Blackpool. 

 

Whilst the main opposition Leader might scoff, the collaboration is a mutually beneficial one.  However, if he has any inspirational ideas for collaborations with the likes of Gothenburg, then I’m all ears.  I’m happy to work with anyone if I think it will benefit our city.

 

I have contributed to York being seen as a city awakening after having had no involvement in influencing regional and national decision-making for a number of years. York is innovating in the way we do things, and I am speaking regularly with people to tell them about how York is open for business, particularly to those in the arts and tourism sectors.”

 

 (viii) From Cllr Doughty

“On Page 332 of the Council Agenda, you indicate that the Council has supported 55 Voluntary Sports Clubs in the City through Officer time and expertise to gain nationally recognised accreditation. Can you give an indication of how many of these were supported by Ward Committee funding?”

 

Reply:

“Two of the 55 accredited sports clubs have received ward committee funding this year (Heworth Cricket Club and Carr Vikings Junior Football Club), a total of £2,500.  Wards will of course still be able to use their ward allocation to fund their local sports clubs in the future if they consider it a local priority.”

 

(ix)     From Cllr Ayre

 

“Given the Cabinet Member’s previous comments to The Press that, “We have a concessionary policy in place whenever we make a charge for something which aids those who are disadvantaged, so I cannot see why this would be any more complicated if people put their minds to it. The elderly and disabled should be included because many of them enjoy their trips out, and it would benefit them by ensuring they do not feel isolated,” can she confirm how many residents have received a concessionary discount for York Cards since May 2011?”

 

Reply:

“The current YorkCard system was put in place by Cllr Ayre so he will recall deciding not to provide any concessions when the council was in a position to do so. I am pleased to say, however, that active promotion of the YorkCard since May has ensured excellent take up with more than half of all young people in the city now having YorkCards.

 

I will review the budgetary position periodically to see if the concession can be introduced at any stage in the future.”

 

(x)                 From Cllr Orrell

 

“We welcome the introduction of cafes to York and Acomb Explore and the investment in refurbishing and the addition of self issue machines to branch libraries.  Can the Cabinet member confirm when this was agreed and who was Cabinet Member at the time?”

 

Reply:

“The refurbishment is an investment by this administration which has resulted in the cafes now making a profit, when previously they did not.

 

I have made sure that the installation of self-issue machines has been accompanied by additional improvements to the layout of libraries; part of our commitment to ensuring high customer service standards.

 

As to when the cafes were introduced, it may have been during the time as Executive Member of the former Member for Wheldrake ward. His time as Executive Member was one of very few highlights for the former administration.

 

However, my focus is on the positive changes this administration is making to the way the council runs its services after the electorate passed its own judgment on the previous administration’s record.”

 

(i)           From Cllr Reid

“How can the Cabinet Member claim to have supported 55 voluntary sports club when her budget will strip DRR from many costing them thousands?”

 

Reply:

“There will be no change whatsoever for voluntary sector sports clubs arising from the budget set in February.  They will continue to receive DRR as normal.”

 

(xii)    From Cllr Barton

“What is the value of the voluntary sector Transformation Fund and what criteria will be used to decide upon the recipients and values of the awards?”

 

Reply:

“The value of the fund was £100k.  The following criteria were established:

Neighbourhood Working grants – up to £5k

New ways of Neighbourhood Working

·        Extend access and participation by encouraging more people to become actively involved in the delivery and shaping of community or neighbourhood services.

·        Improve volunteering initiatives / infrastructure, encouraging residents to give up their time for the benefit of the community.

Addressing Gaps in Provision

·        Supporting voluntary and community organisations to provide valuable new services and activities locally.

·        Enabling voluntary and community organisations to trial new services and approaches at a neighbourhood level.

Improving the Quality of Life

·        Supporting schemes that significantly improve people’s opportunities, welfare or quality of life through voluntary action, local projects or initiatives.

·        To support other capacity building activities by which local community and voluntary groups can contribute to the regeneration of their local area.

Bursary Grants – up to £3k

Consortia / Collaboration

·        Support for voluntary and community sector organisations to ‘supersize’ themselves, e.g. to form consortia, to bid for larger contracts, to become contract ready.

·        Support for consortia of voluntary and community sector organisations to access social impact bonds and other new forms of community investment and finance. 

 

Service Restructuring

·        Support for voluntary and community organisations to demonstrate and implement cost savings through co-location reducing the burden of rents and running costs.

·        Support for voluntary and community organisations to consider restructuring, including consolidation of services, or formalised mergers with other bodies or groups.

Income Generation

·        Support for voluntary organisations to undertake ‘market testing’ in preparation for the launch of a new type of service or activity.

·        Support for activities that develop new, sustainable income streams for charities or voluntary sector organisations over the longer term.

·        Support the creation of new Community Interest Companies, Co-operatives and Social Enterprises that  are able to offer alternative, viable service delivery models and mechanisms.”

 

 (xiii)  From Cllr Gillies

“What tangible change has been achieved since York became a City of Sanctuary?”

 

Reply:

“York has not yet become a City of Sanctuary, though I hope it will; rather it is seeking City of Sanctuary Status from the National City of Sanctuary Movement.

 

Good progress has been made so far. The City of Sanctuary Working Group has now been formally established, and constituted as an independent community organisation in its own right -  City of Sanctuary York. Over the next year there will be a clear workplan of events and activities promoting the objectives of City of Sanctuary York and encouraging new members to join the movement.

 

The Council is likely to be able to help in a number of practical ways, for example:

·        Providing access to information and signposting people to help

·        Providing meeting space with resources such as PCs and telephones

·        Displaying signs to welcome people seeking sanctuary

·        Creating a central drop-in as a focal point for friendship, food, support and practical advice

·        Facilitating access to leisure and cultural activity

·        Creating fact sheets for officers, members and the public

·        Creating a pool of people with a range of languages to act as voluntary interpreters.

·        Ensuring access to good quality legal support

·        Facilitating community conflict resolution services for areas experiencing tension over new arrivals (already happening)

·        Civic receptions for new arrivals in the City (already happening)

·        Designing workshops for schools on sanctuary issues

·        Facilitating speaker events for local people to hear from those seeking sanctuary directly about their experiences

·        Providing ways for people to feel involved in the community

None of this will cost much at all but could make a real difference to newcomers arriving in the city who don’t know where to turn.”

(xiv)   From Cllr Gillies

“Give an example of local community tensions and how Community Conversation training will assist?”

 

Reply:

“Following the training colleagues in York Racial Equality Network are currently using community conversations in an area of Heworth as there have been some tensions there. Discussions have started with some foreign students at York St John University to explore whether a community conversations approach can usefully improve their experience of living in York as they have had some experiences that were isolating and racially abusive.” 

(xv)    From Cllr Doughty

“I am interested to learn more about the Voluntary Sector Transformation Fund that has been set up (refer page 335). Can you tell Council more about the innovative schemes you claim have benefited, who/what each scheme is and by how much each has benefited financially?”

 

Reply:

“The following bursary grants have been made:

Brunswick Organic Nursery:   Developing a variety of new social enterprise opportunities for people with learning disabilities – £3k

 

York Mind:  Expanding the York Mind design and print social enterprise, supporting people with mental health problems to access employment opportunities - £3k

 

York Wheels:  To investigate new forms and mechanisms of voluntary sector led community transport solutions - £760

 

Healing Clinic:  The lead organisation of a consortia of voluntary sector groups - the bursary grant supported the launch of the new Social Enterprise Pop-Up Shop on Micklegate - £3k

 

Melbourne Centre:  In support of the Micklegate Pop-up Shop - to provide managerial input, and supervision / support for clients with learning disabilities - £3k

 

Disabled Workers Co-operative:  A grant to enable the co-operative management team to be mentored by expert social enterprise advisors, and also to secure expert mentoring around sales and marketing strategies - £3k

 

The following neighbourhood grants have been made:

York Unifying and Multicultural Initiative:  To map the activities and actions of all BME organisations in the City and develop a coherent, multi agency approach to addressing cohesion in York, shaping and developing new services and solutions - £3,525

 

YREN:  To raise residents’ awareness of harassment, victimisation and discrimination – and how to develop new community led solutions to combat these issues - £4,920

 

One&Other:  To launch and develop a new electronic community and voluntary sector e-zine, investigating how different mechanisms by which CYC and other agencies are able to address resident concerns and shape services accordingly - £5k

 

York City of Sanctuary:  To help launch and establish the resident-led City of Sanctuary initiative in York -  and to investigate potential new way of delivering a variety of CYC services supporting marginalised and vulnerable people - £5k

 

Millers Yard:  To establish and develop new neighbourhood schemes and community events and services led by a community interest company - £3,175k

 

Wilberforce Trust:  To launch a number of new social enterprises led by people who are blind or partially sighted - £5k

 

Space 109:  To establish a new stitching / sewing co-operative and social enterprise working with marginalised groups and individuals - £5k

 

Friends of St. Nicholas Fields:  To create Community Greenspace Champions across the City, working closely with the CYC Environment team to enhance, monitor and preserve green spaces throughout the City - £5k

 

In addition, £30k was allocated to York CVS to sustain the activities of the Volunteer Centre.

 

We were therefore able to pay out a total £82,380 – this was as much as was practicable during this financial year.”

 

(xvi)   From Cllr Healey

 

“Regarding the Voluntary Sector Transformation Fund, can the Cabinet Member describe how this fund’s aims and awarding of funds guidelines have been developed and implemented since she took office in May 2011 and how these actions have met the original purpose, as outlined in the 2011/12 Budget Council papers of a £93,000 provision(plus a subsequent increase of £7,000), which was to fund “pump-prime initiatives in the voluntary sector which will enable council costs to be reduced in future years?”

 

Reply:

“In July this year Cabinet established this as a ‘pump priming’ fund for the voluntary sector, with the aim of building the capacity of the sector to deliver against priorities identified in the Council Plan.  The objectives set were:

·                    To create a strong, successful volunteering centre:  To enable the continued work of the Volunteer Centre operating at 3 days per week and to provide new services such as “time banking”, volunteering pilots,  support for volunteering as a route into employability, and volunteering programmes for vulnerable adults.

·                    Voluntary Sector Bursary Scheme - New Business Models:  To enable voluntary organizations to trial or develop new business models including trading companies and fundraising initiatives, including for groups who need to expand existing activity.

·                    Voluntary Sector Projects – Neighbourhood Based Initiatives:  To enable the voluntary sector to establish projects and initiatives that directly respond to community need evidenced through area working. 

In operating the fund I established a voluntary sector steering group to give me expert advice on developing the criteria, and to advise on both individual applications and on opportunities to encourage the voluntary sector to work together and to stimulate appropriate bids.

 

The grants have made a significant impact on growing the voluntary sector especially through the creation on new social enterprises and the support provided for volunteering.”

 

(xvii)  From Cllr Ayre

 

“Given the Cabinet Members aim to  gain “Excellent” status in EFLG will she confirm whether after 50% of the equalities staff are cut there will still be a named equalities officer?”

 

Reply:

“I have no idea where Cllr Ayre gets the idea that half of the staff who deal with equalities will be cut.  On the contrary, the review of the NMU will ensure that equalities becomes an integral part of the function of that team.  All of the team will be concerned with equalities whether or not it appears in their job title (as I’m sure in some cases it will).  I intend to introduce Community Contracts with all our communities of interest to ensure that their needs are identified and met in the future.  The NMU will be instrumental in this.”

 

(xviii) From Cllr Ayre

 

“Will the Cabinet Member please confirm how much has been spent by this administration on external “equalities consultants” as part of her plan to reach level “excellence”?

 

Reply:

“This administration has not used “equalities consultants”.  We have, however, had some vacancies in our business support team and a long-term sickness absence in the equalities team and this has meant that we needed to bring in an extra pair of hands.  We have used the funding freed up by vacancies to employ a single specialist, Arif Sain, to help us put together a work plan to get us to Excellent level.  This (£16.5k) has proved an excellent use of our resource as Arif was able to bring skills and insights not available within the Council.”