Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting the Executive Member is asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests she may have in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 15 March 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 15 March 2011 were signed by the Cabinet Member.

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

The purpose of this report is to provide the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods with an update on Financial Performance, progress against service plan improvement actions and performance measures for Environment.  Status cards for actions and performance measures are attached at Appendix 1 and 2.

RESOLVED:       That the Cabinet Member noted the progress that has been made and agreed the revised timescales for those actions that are in progress but where the original estimated timescale has slipped for completion.

REASON:           To keep the Cabinet Member informed.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which provided an update on financial performance, progress against service plan improvement actions and performance measures for Environment. Status cards for actions and performance measures were attached at Appendix 1 and 2.

Officers outlined the report and drew the Cabinet Members attention to revised timescales where estimates had slipped.

The Cabinet Member queried the figures for missed bins as detailed at paragraph 9 and Officers advised that the numbers were now back at acceptable levels.

The Cabinet Member commented that Municipal Waste was something that she would like to look at in more detail in the future.

RESOLVED:       That the Cabinet Member noted the progress that has been made and agree the revised timescales for those actions that are in progress but where the original estimated timescale has slipped for completion.

REASON:           To keep the Cabinet Member informed.

To inform the Cabinet Member of the Health and Safety Executive’s consultation about  proposals to allow the HSE and local authorities to recover the cost of their regulatory work. To seek approval of a response to the consultation on the proposed changes.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member approved option 21a to respond to the Health and Safety Executive’s consultation and not support the proposal to make cost recovery for Local Authorities mandatory.

REASON:                     To allow the Council’s Health and Safety team to continue to provide free support to help local businesses meet health and safety requirements.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which outlined a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consultation on proposals to allow the HSE and Local Authorities to recover the cost of their regulatory work. The report sought approval for the response to the consultation.

Officers outlined the report, in particular the fact that if cost recovery is introduced it would be a statutory duty and as a consequence,  Local Authorities would have no discretion on whether to charge or not. Officers advised that at present they  tend to work alongside local businesses to help them comply with and understand legal requirements and a move towards a more formal approach in the first instance may harm relations with businesses.

The Federation of Small Businesses and the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce had been consulted and both opposed the proposed charges.

The Cabinet Member commented that she agreed with the Officers views and felt that the charge may deter local people and businesses coming to the Council for advice and make the Health and Safety situation worse.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member approved option 21a to respond to the Health and Safety Executive’s consultation and not support the proposal to make cost recovery for Local Authorities mandatory.

REASON:                     To allow the Council’s Health and Safety team to continue to provide free support to help local businesses meet health and safety requirements.