Agenda and decisions

To confirm arrangements for chairing the meeting as follows:

Councillor Douglas, Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Policy, Strategy and Partnerships – Agenda items 1-6.

Councillor Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency – Agenda item 7.

Councillor Webb, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education – Agenda items 8-9.

Councillor Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities – Agenda items 10-14.

To receive and note apologies for absence.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are

asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other

registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this

agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the

Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the

interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes

apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members].

To approve and sign the minutes of the Combined Executive Member Decision Session held on 2 December 2025.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Friday, 23 January 2026.

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Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

This report sets out the recommendations to adopt the corporate communications and engagement strategy which outlines how the council will communicate effectively with its core audiences.

Resolved: That the Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Policy, Strategy and Partnerships approved the Communications and Engagement Strategy to ensure:

i.      City of York Council (CYC) could use its communications resources in the most effective way to support the organisation’s priorities and ambitions.

ii.     The Council focused on relevant communication and engagement with all communities across the city in a fair and equitable way.

Reason: To support the delivery of the Council’s core commitments, corporate priorities and to ensure inclusivity, accessibility and to build confidence in the council’s delivery.

This report seeks approval for proposals to adapt how the ecology of the Bar Walls ramparts is managed to promote sustainability, biodiversity, and community engagement.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency:

·       Approved the Ancient Monuments Team to work with partners to adapt the management of the Bar Walls.

·       Approved the principles of site-based management plans reflecting the diverse ecology, heritage, and aesthetics of the City Walls, ensuring best-practice management is achieved.

Reasons: There are opportunities on the embankments to introduce locally native wildflowers which are suited to the soil conditions and current management arrangements. Although non-native species may produce visually appealing displays, they are of little benefit to the vast majority of our native invertebrates, which co-evolved with native plants; incorporation and enhancement of native plant diversity is paramount to dampening declines in plants and invertebrates.

This project will support the Council’s climate and net zero commitments, align with Historic England’s guidance on sustainable heritage management, and improve biodiversity at a nationally significant monument. It will also contribute to placemaking, enhance visitor experience and local amenity, while reducing the maintenance burden on the Council by fostering volunteering and community engagement.

This report seeks approval of the admissions policies and published admission numbers for community and voluntary controlled schools – schools for whom the City of York Council is the admission authority – for the school year beginning in September 2027.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education:

Accepted and supported the proposed changes to the Admission Arrangements for September 2027-2028, as seen in the report and annexes, based on the evidence shown in the Options Analysis and Evidential Basis section of the report.

Reason: To ensure that City of York Council (CYC) continue to meet their statutory duty as set out in the terms of the Education Act 1996 and also work collaboratively with Academy Trusts to meet that duty whilst also appreciating the financial pressure on schools and trusts.

This report provides an update on how City of York Council is meeting its statutory duty to secure sufficient early years and childcare provision for children aged 0 – 14 years (and up to 18 years for children with SEND).

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education approved the report to be published on City of York Council’s (CYC) website, and for a copy to be sent to the Department for education (DfE).

Reason: In order to meet City of York Council’s (CYC) statutory duty.

It is a legal requirement for Local Housing Authorities to publish a Tenancy Strategy under the Localism Act 2011. The Tenancy Strategy sets expectations for all social landlords in the city to take into account in their Tenancy Policies. This report outlines the proposed Tenancy Policy and Strategy for the City of York.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities approved:

i.                The Tenancy Policy and Strategy document.

ii.               Affordable Rent to be limited to below 80% of market rent through with the York Living Rent reflecting local lower quartile incomes and the Local Housing Allowance.

iii.             The use of Fixed Term and Flexible Tenancies to be used only in a set of defined criteria that represent exceptional circumstances, to balance security of tenure for tenants alongside making best use of social housing stock. There would be a presumption that Flexible Tenancies would be renewed, otherwise tenants would be offered an alternative suitable property provided they were not in breach of their existing tenancy.

Reasons: To achieve legal and regulatory compliance in respect of matters covered by the Tenancy Policy and Strategy, and to achieve the benefits from the proposed document as set out in the report.

This report seeks approval of a revised Anti-Social Behaviour Policy.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities approved the revised Anti-Social Behaviour Policy for Council Housing in York.

Reason: To meet statutory requirements and to ensure clearer language and terminology is used and is more comprehensive.

This report seeks approval of a Damp and Mould Policy for City of York Council’s housing stock.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities approved the Damp and Mould Policy.

Reason: To meet statutory requirements and ensure health and safety of City of York Council (CYC) tenants.

This report provides an update on the Housing Neighbourhood Improvement Programme (NIP) and seeks approval to engage members and communities in proposals for spending NIP annual funding, and approval of NIP HRA funded projects and expenditure as outlined in the report.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities:

i.      Approved the approach for engaging members and communities in proposals for spending NIP (Housing Neighbourhood Improvement Programme) annual funding.

ii.     Approved the NIP HRA (Housing Revenue Account) funded projects and expenditure as follows:

·       £10k initial funding to the Groves Residents Association in relation to the Groves Community Plan, resulting proposals to inform future NIP funding proposals;

·       £250k for Walmgate Proposals priorities;

·       To delegate the procurement of a condition survey of all housing communal areas to Director of Housing & Communities (to maximum contribution of £32k)

·       £30k contribution to an additional E-van for Communities team environment officers,

·       £40k Fund for Communities team environment officers/Neighbourhood Caretakers for community involvement equipment and to undertake repairs arising from walkabouts.

·       £40k contingency for off-programme ad hoc proposals delegated to Director of Housing & Communities in consultation the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities documented by published officer decision.

iii.   Delegated authority to the Director of Housing and Communities, in consultation with Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance:

·       To commence procurement from the market via an open, fair and transparent competitive process and evaluation criteria in compliance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules under Appendix 11 of the Council’s Constitution (the “Council’s CPRs”) and (where applicable) the Procurement Act 2023 or the Public Contract Regulations 2015:

o   the condition survey of all housing communal areas;

o   an additional E-van for Communities Team environment officers; and

o   any community involvement equipment for Communities Team Environment Officers and Community Caretakers and any required repair works arising from walkabouts,

·       and to determine the provisions of any contracts, and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto.

iv.   Approved that the Council would enter into a grant funding agreement with the Groves Residents Association on the terms set out in the Report, and to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance, to determine the provisions of the grant funding agreement, and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto, to ensure compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Council’s Financial Regulations under Appendix 10a of the Council’s Constitution (the “Council’s Financial Regs”) and the Council’s CPRs.

v.    Delegated authority to the Director of Housing & Communities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance, and subject to consultation with and approval by the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities, to commission and determine the provisions of any grant funding agreements and/or supply, services and/or works contracts relating to any off programme ad hoc proposals and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto, to ensure compliance with the relevant public procurement or subsidy control law (as applicable) and the Council’s CPRs and Financial Regs, to be documented by published officer decision.

Reasons:

i.      To ensure transparency and clear decision making around the NIP budget priorities and use of HRA expenditure for the benefit  ...  view the full decision text for item 13.

Any other business which the Chair considers urgent under the

Local Government Act 1972.