Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Executive (Calling In) meeting held on 10 November 2009 and the Executive meeting held on 17 November 2009.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Executive (Calling In) meeting held on 10 November 2009 and the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 17 November 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or a matter within the Executive’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Monday 30 November 2009.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To receive details of those items that are listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings.  This information is based upon the latest version of the Forward Plan, published on 13 November 2009.

Members received and noted details of those items that were currently listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings.

The Chair reported that, since publication of the Executive agenda, a number of items had been added to the Forward Plan for the meeting on 15 December and there were now ten items listed for that meeting.

This report sets out progress on improving the Council’s fairness and inclusion policy and practice and seeks approval for a refreshed corporate Fairness and Inclusion Strategy and Single Corporate Equality Scheme for the period 2009-12.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the Corporate Fairness and Inclusion Strategy and Single Corporate and Equality Scheme 2009-12 be approved.

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to review the scheme to ensure that faster progress is made and that this be included in the report to Executive with the April 2010 review of outcomes from the Strategy, with an indication of the prioritisation of activities.

                        (iii)       That progress be reported at least twice per year to the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, with outcomes that improve local life for all of York’s residents.

                        (iv)       That Officers be requested to review the collation of data and details provided to the Executive, the policies behind the questions included in surveys issued by the Council and how the information so gathered is used to review Council policy.

REASON:      To meet statutory requirements, to realise the strategic vision of ensuring that, as the City changes and continues to prosper, everyone is included and no-one is left behind, and to ensure that progress on the Strategy is properly monitored.

Members considered a report which outlined progress towards improving the Council’s fairness and inclusion policy and practice and sought approval for a refreshed corporate Fairness and Inclusion Strategy and Single Corporate Equality Scheme for the period 2009-12.

The refreshed Strategy document, attached as Annex 1 to the report and summarised in Annex 2, had been drafted after extensive consultation with the relevant communities, the Social Inclusion Working Group, partners and staff.  Details of consultation were provided in Annex 3.  The Strategy set out the corporate framework to be used by each Directorate to put in place Directorate Fairness and Inclusion (equality) single schemes and plans.  It addressed the areas for further improvement identified by the self-assessment against the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) carried out in April 2009, at which time the Council had reached the first level -‘Developing’ - of the three-level Framework.  The aim was to achieve the third level – ‘Achieving’ – by April 2011.

Progress on the Strategy and Scheme would be reported annually each summer, with further refreshes if necessary.  There would be a major review in May 2012, by which time the Single Equality Act and associated Codes of Practice were expected to be in place.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the Corporate Fairness and Inclusion Strategy and Single Corporate and Equality Scheme 2009-12 be approved.¹

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to review the scheme to ensure that faster progress is made and that this be included in the report to Executive with the April 2010 review of outcomes from the Strategy, with an indication of the prioritisation of activities. ²

                        (iii)       That progress be reported at least twice per year to the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, with outcomes that improve local life for all of York’s residents. ³

                        (iv)       That Officers be requested to review the collation of data and details provided to the Executive, the policies behind the questions included in surveys issued by the Council and how the information so gathered is used to review Council policy. ⁴

REASON:      To meet statutory requirements, to realise the strategic vision of ensuring that, as the City changes and continues to prosper, everyone is included and no-one is left behind, and to ensure that progress on the Strategy is properly monitored.

This report presents the minutes of recent meetings of the LDF Working Group, Young People’s Working Group and the Social Inclusion Working Group and asks Members to consider the advice given by the Groups in their capacity as advisory bodies to the Executive.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the minutes attached at Annexes A, B and C to the report be noted.

                        (ii)        That the recommendations to Executive contained in Minute 5 of the LDF Working Group and Minute 12 of the Social Inclusion Working Group, as set out in paragraphs 6-8 of the report, be approved.

REASON:      In accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution in relation to the role of Working Groups.

Members considered a report which presented the minutes of the meetings of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Working Group, the Young People’s Working Group and the Social Inclusion Working Group held on 7 July, 24 September and 19 October respectively.

Members’ attention was drawn in particular to the recommendations of:

• The LDF Working Group, that the Biodiversity Audit be approved for publication as part of the LDF evidence base (Minute 5, Annex A);¹
• The Social Inclusion Working Group, that a representative from Higher York be appointed to serve on the Group as a non-voting co-opted member (Minute 12, Annex B). ²

RESOLVED: (i)         That the minutes attached at Annexes A, B and C to the report be noted.

                        (ii)        That the recommendations to Executive contained in Minute 5 of the LDF Working Group and Minute 12 of the Social Inclusion Working Group, as set out in paragraphs 6-8 of the report, be approved. ^1-2

REASON:      In accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution in relation to the role of Working Groups.

This reference report asks Members to consider the recommendation of the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services to approvethe service plans for food law enforcement, health and safety law enforcement and animal health enforcement.

RESOLVED: That the service plans for food law enforcement, health and safety law enforcement and animal health enforcement be approved.

REASON:      In accordance with the recommendations of the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services and to meet statutory obligations with regard to service planning for environmental health and trading standards services.

Members considered a reference report which presented the recommendations of the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services in respect of the service plans for food law enforcement, health and safety law enforcement and animal health enforcement.

The Executive Member, at a Decision Session held on 15 September 2009, had recommended that the service plans be approved.  The original report to the Decision Session was attached at Annex 1.

RESOLVED: That the service plans for food law enforcement, health and safety law enforcement and animal health enforcement be approved. ¹

REASON:      In accordance with the recommendations of the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services and to meet statutory obligations with regard to service planning for environmental health and trading standards services.