Agenda and decisions

To receive and note apologies for absence.

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is 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 Decision Session held on 18 March 2025.

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Webcasting of Public Meetings

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During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we ran council meetings, including facilitating remote participation by public speakers. See our updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

This report focuses on the everyday tasks of street cleansing, parks, open spaces, and grounds maintenance.

Resolved:

That the Executive Member:

i.                Considered the two petitions received by the Council and considered if the actions already undertaken and proposals contained within this report address the concerns raised.

Reason: To inform the future direction in the management of parks, open spaces and the Bar Walls to ensure they are managed appropriately and that the council can work with relevant groups to deliver these changes.

ii.               Noted the outcomes of the weed treatment programme in 2024 and approved the recommended approach for 2025, and future years, to continue with two applications, as set out in the report, and work with contractors to reduce the amount of glyphosate used in the treatment of weeds across the city.

Reason: To note the progress towards reducing the amount of glyphosate used in the treatment of weeds across the city delivering on the Council Plan.

iii.             Noted the content of the report and supported the changes proposed in the report in respect of the management of verges and open space in selected areas.

Reason: To build climate resilience and adaptation to climate change and improve the biodiversity of our green spaces by determining how these spaces will be managed in the future; recognising the importance of maintaining and looking after our city but that not all changes can be made immediately.

iv.             Noted the content of the report and supported the expansion of sustainable planting across the city.

Reason: Sustainable and pollinator friendly planting is the Councils adopted policy.

v.              Noted that a separate report would be brought forward on the Parks Investment Fund detailing how this new budget would be used for the effective management and maintenance of the park’s assets. The fund would also be used to make improvements to parks and open space across the city but particularly to deliver the Council's ambition to have more Green Flag parks.

Reason: To inform the future direction in the management of parks, open spaces to ensure they are managed appropriately and that the council can work with relevant groups to deliver these changes.

Any other business which the Executive Member considers urgent under the Local Government Act 1972.