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.

Cllr Waller declared a personal, non prejudicial interest in agenda item 7 (Review of Flood Defence Trial in Clementhorpe), as a member of the Regional Flood Defence Committee.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 2 March 2010.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 2 March 2010 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 15 March 2010.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Simon Fogden spoke in relation to agenda item 7 (Review of Flood Defence Trial in Clementhorpe), as a Director of Waterfront House Management Co. (York) Ltd.  He expressed concern at the proposal to cancel the Aquabarrier flood trial and the Council’s failure to consult with the Management Company and residents on the proposal.  He referred to a letter sent to the Council by the Company’s Chair and the response received from Officers and queried why no consideration had been given to reinforcing the road surface behind the Aquabarrier site to address the problem of seepage.

To receive details of those items that are listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings.

Members received and noted details of those items that were listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings at the time the agenda was published.

This report, which was deferred from the meeting on 16 February 2010, responds to the Council motion of October 2009 on the national 10:10 Campaign, sets out how City of York Council will look to achieve a 10% reduction in CO₂ emissions in 2010 as required by the campaign and provides updates on some of the major projects being carried out across York with the Sustainability team.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the 10:10 projects, and the preferred reporting mechanism of regular updates to the Executive Member for City Strategy, be endorsed.

                        (ii)        That the good progress being made with other sustainability projects be noted and that engagement be offered with the Without Walls Green Streets project.

REASON:      In order to respond to the Council motion and clarify the way in which the Council aims to reduce its carbon emissions in line with the 10:10 campaign.

Members considered a report which responded to a Council motion approved in October 2009, signing up to the national 10:10 Campaign.

The report, which had been deferred from the Executive meeting on 16 February, set out how the Council would seek to achieve a 10% reduction in CO₂ emissions in 2010, as required by the campaign, and provided updates on some of the major projects being carried out across York with the Sustainability Team.

Based upon 2008/09 figures, the Council would need to reduce its CO₂ emissions by about 1,220 tonnes between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011.  This target excluded schools and outsourced services.  Projects that would deliver a reduction of about 930 tonnes in 2010/11 were detailed in paragraph 8 of the report.  Further potential projects to meet the total required saving were listed in paragraph 11 and Appendix 1.  A report would be prepared for the Executive Member for City Strategy once these additional projects had been confirmed.  Progress on other sustainability projects in the City, including the Climate Change Framework and Action Plan being prepared by the Without Walls Partnership, the Renewable Energy Viability Study and the Without Walls Green Streets Challenge, was highlighted in paragraphs 14 to 40.  Further details were provided in Appendices 2 and 3.

A further appendix, setting out a draft outline communication plan for the campaign, had been published online with the agenda; copies were circulated at the meeting.  The Chair presented some notes of a recent meeting between himself and the National Head of Campaigns with Friends of the Earth regarding support for Officers in reaching the 40% reduction of emissions by 2020 set by the Covenvants of Mayors and the Friends of the Earth ‘Get Serious’ campaign, as referred to in paragraph 20 of the report.

Having noted the comments of the Labour Group on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the 10:10 projects, and the preferred reporting mechanism of regular updates to the Executive Member for City Strategy, be endorsed.¹

                        (ii)        That the good progress being made with other sustainability projects be noted and that engagement be offered with the Without Walls Green Streets project.²

REASON:      In order to respond to the Council motion and clarify the way in which the Council aims to reduce its carbon emissions in line with the 10:10 campaign.

This report, which is the third update to Members on the progress of the Cycling City York Programme, highlights works carried out over the last 6 months and successes to date and outlines proposals for the 2010/2011 revenue arm of the programme.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the progress made on the Cycling City York programme be noted and that the programme’s aims and achievements continue to be supported.

                        (ii)        That a further update report be received in September.

REASON:      To ensure that the programme stays on track and delivers the measures necessary to increase levels of cycling and ensure that funding is allocated to schemes most likely to deliver the programme’s aim and further strengthen the case for future years’ funding.

                        (iii)       that Officers be requested to arrange a survey of public opinion, on the conclusion of the present Cycling City programme, aimed at assessing both the success of the new cycling facilities that have been provided and any changes to public attitudes on the use of cycles as a means of transport in the City.

REASON:      In order to gauge the effect of the programme to date.

Members considered a report which provided an update on the progress of the Cycling City York Programme, highlighting works carried out over the past six months, successes to date and proposals for the 2010/11 revenue arm of the programme.

Progress since the last update report, in September 2009, was set out in paragraphs 6 to 40 of the report and included:

• A second stakeholder meeting held in October, combined into a Cycle Forum and attended by about 80 people
• Preparation of a call-off contract to allow better delivery of the revenue element
• Procurement of service to develop the CYC website to provide a one stop shop to all things cycling in York
• Recruitment of 15 new casual cycle trainers for schools
• Good progress on participation projects and workplace initiatives
• Strong partnership working with the Police (Operations Image and Spoke).

The revenue and capital programme for 2010/11 was detailed in paragraphs 41 to 54, with a further breakdown of the revenue schemes provided in Annex A.  Revenue works would remain a high priority, with a proposed revenue spend of £600k, £1,055,000 for capital spend and £65k for the Bike It project.

Having noted the comments of the Labour Group on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the progress made on the Cycling City York programme be noted and that the programme’s aims and achievements continue to be supported.

                        (ii)        That a further update report be received in September. ¹

REASON:      To ensure that the programme stays on track and delivers the measures necessary to increase levels of cycling and ensure that funding is allocated to schemes most likely to deliver the programme’s aim and further strengthen the case for future years’ funding.

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to arrange a survey of public opinion, on the conclusion of the present Cycling City programme, aimed at assessing both the success of the new cycling facilities that have been provided and any changes to public attitudes on the use of cycles as a means of transport in the City. ²

REASON:      In order to gauge the effect of the programme to date.

This report advises Members on the progress made with the trial use of the Aquabarrier flood defence system and seeks guidance on the future response to flooding from the River Ouse in the Clementhorpe area.

RESOLVED: (i)         That approval be given to terminate the trial of the Aquabarrier system and implement a revised action plan of introducing a sandbag bund across Clementhorpe to offer residents some assistance in times of flooding from the river Ouse in the Clementhorpe area.

REASON:      To overcome the potential health and safety risks associated with the seepage flow through the ground causing road failure and flooding behind the line of defence and to offer some measure of assistance to residents of the Clementhorpe area.

                        (ii)        That the Environment Agency be requested to report on how the Clementhorpe area, and other parts of the City, will be provided with permanent flood protection and to make this information, and programme installation dates, available to affected communities and Ward Councillors.

REASON:      To secure the long term protection of this area from flooding and to ensure that residents are kept informed.

Members considered a report which advised them of progress made on the trial use of the Aquabarrier flood defence system and sought guidance on the future response to flooding from the River Ouse in the Clementhorpe area.

On 8 June 2006, the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services had approved the acceptance of an offer by Aquabarrier Systems Ltd. to pilot a demountable flood defence system in Clementhorpe, at minimal cost to the Council.  The Aquabarrier had since been deployed during a river flood event in September 2008, when problems with seepage had occurred, as illustrated in the diagram at Annex B to the report.  Aquabarrier Systems Ltd. believed the problem fell outside the scope of their commitment to the pilot project, due to the poor ground conditions and the unknown extent of remedial works.

Members were therefore invited to consider the following options:

Option 1 – continue with the trial of the barrier.  Not recommended, due to health and safety implications, as detailed in paragraphs 10-15 of the report.

Option 2 – provide underground seepage cut-off.  Not recommended, as it would be very expensive (with the Council bearing the cost) and difficult to install due to the number of utility services in the area.

Option 3 – terminate the trial of the Aquabarrier system and provide a sand bag bund across Clementhorpe pending the provision of a permanent flood alleviation scheme by the Environment Agency (EA).  This was the recommended option, as the EA had plans to study the feasibility of a permanent scheme for this area, starting in the 2012/13 financial year.

In response to the issues raised under Public Participation, Officers explained why the geology of the area meant that reinforcing the road surface would not be an appropriate response and why a permanent solution, as provided by the EA’s scheme, was required.  Having noted the comments of the Labour Group on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That approval be given to terminate the trial of the Aquabarrier system and implement a revised action plan of introducing a sandbag bund across Clementhorpe to offer residents some assistance in times of flooding from the river Ouse in the Clementhorpe area. ¹

REASON:      To overcome the potential health and safety risks associated with the seepage flow through the ground causing road failure and flooding behind the line of defence and to offer some measure of assistance to residents of the Clementhorpe area.

                        (ii)        That the Environment Agency be requested to report on how the Clementhorpe area, and other parts of the City, will be provided with permanent flood protection and to make this information, and programme installation dates, available to affected communities and Ward Councillors. ²

REASON:      To secure the long term protection of this area from flooding and to ensure that residents are kept informed.