Agenda and draft minutes

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]

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, or other registerable interests, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 July 2024.

Resolved:   That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 July 2024 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider any announcements made by the Lord Mayor in respect of Civic business.

The Lord Mayor gave a summary of the activities of the civic party since her last update, which included:

·       Welcoming Lord Mayors and Mayors from all over the County on Yorkshire Day. The Lord Mayor expressed her gratitude to the staff who worked hard to make the day so special and uniquely York.

·       Recording a message in French to support and uphold the city’s connections with Dijon regarding the 80th Anniversary of their liberation from occupation.

·       Joining the Flightpath Association, a family of 3 nations: the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, for a service in remembrance of the memorial of the last German Warplane to crash on British soil.

The Lord Mayor also thanked staff for organising a magnificent Georgian Festival.

At this point in the meeting, any member of the public who has registered to address the Council, or to ask a Member of the Council a question, on a matter directly relevant to the business of the Council or the City, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Tuesday, 17 September 2024.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

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

www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we're running council meetings.  See our updates at www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that ten people had registered to speak at the meeting under the council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The first six speakers referenced Agenda Item 8, specifically the motion concerning community response to Israel-Gaza conflict.

Richard Murgatroyd addressed the ongoing genocide and crisis in Palestine and spoke on the council's position to support an end to the war in Gaza to secure peace and justice for Palestine.

Roger Kaufman addressed the crisis in Gaza, and he urged the council to call for an immediate, permanent, and meaningful ceasefire.

Josh Goldman spoke on the conflict in Palestine and addressed York’s status as a City of Sanctuary. He expressed his concerns regarding the council’s inaction over the escalated violence and he urged the council to acknowledge its humanitarian obligations to support justice for Palestine.

Naomi Wigley addressed York's status as a City of Human Rights and a City of Sanctuary in light of the crisis in Gaza. She called for the council to support justice for Palestine and recognise with compassion and understanding, the humanitarian disaster that has been taking place in Gaza and the wider occupied territories.

Mohamed El-Gomati acknowledged the petition that was submitted to the council calling for an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of essential services in Gaza and the release of all hostages and detainees. He shared some personal experiences and highlighted the crisis and genocides in Gaza, and he called on the council to act and impose sanctions.

Jane Carter thanked the council for the proposed resolution, and she addressed the crisis in Gaza. She urged the council to work collectively to influence the course of this genocide. 

Gwen Swinburn spoke on scrutiny improvements and governance matters. She supported the motion on streamlining and reviewing residents parking and she suggested that the report should consider introducing residents parking across the entire city.  

Flick Williams joined the meeting remotely and spoke on Agenda Item 6, Responses to the Leader’s Report and Agenda Item 8, motion concerning the Local Plan. She addressed the National Planning Policy Framework consultation and why accessible housing should be part of every housing development. 

Geoff Beacon spoke on Agenda Item 6, Report of Executive Leader, addressing the net zero 2030 targets and he advised how car free housing could cut housing costs and begin to address net zero.

Ben Ffrench spoke on behalf of David Alexander and addressed Agenda Item 5, Petitions. He acknowledged the petition to restore Hull Road Park to its former glory, and that a similar petition had been submitted by a local resident calling on the restoration of York’s parks and Bar Walls. He raised issues with Osbaldwick Beck in Hull Road Park and urged the council to consider the improvements required. 

The Lord Mayor thanked all public participants for their contributions.

To consider any petitions received from Members in accordance with Standing Order B5.  Notice has been received of one petition to be presented by:

i)                Cllr Myers, regarding Community Pharmacies.

Cllr Baxter moved a motion without notice, under Rule B14 (2) (j) of the Procedure Rules, in order to suspend Procedure Rule B5 (1). This was seconded by Cllr Waller and after being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

Under Rule B5 (2), the following petitions were then presented for reference to the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee, in accordance with the council’s petition arrangements:

i)                            Cllr Myers, relating to Community Pharmacies.¹

ii)                           Cllr Moroney, relating to Hull Road Park. ²

iii)                         Cllr Waller, relating to the Connexions number 16 bus.³

iv)                         Cllr Mason, relating to restoring Yorks Parks and Bar Walls.⁴

To receive and consider a written report from the Leader and ask questions on the work of the Executive, and to consider the Executive recommendations for approval, as set out below:

Before presenting her written report on the work of the Executive, Cllr Douglas paid tribute to two long serving council employees, Richard Douglas and Beverley Hills, who had sadly passed away.

Members were then invited to question the Leader on her report. Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed and replied to as indicated:

Improved support offer for Care Leavers

From Cllr Clarke: How has the council’s approach to supporting those in care changed so that it warrants praise from OFSTED? 

Response: It has been very important and heartwarming to see the improvements in children’s services over the past two years and particularly over the past 18 months. I’d like to thank Martin Kelly and his team for all the work they have done. Cllr Webb has been working very closely alongside them, particularly around corporate parenting where we’ve seen improvements in the housing offer that’s available to young people as they leave care. There will no longer be a cliff edge on the council tax support that was previously for one year. It will now be phased over 3 years, which is what the young people asked for as care leavers. A big part of the improvements is listening to care leavers and taking into account what they feel they need and delivering on that for them. Council employees and councillors are all corporate parents and should be working and thinking about our care leavers and our young people in care in the same way that we would want for our own children. I’d like to thank you all and encourage you to really take note of what is going on and how you can support that.

Supplementary from Cllr Rowley BEM: Can I ask the Leader to look at the possibility of giving a place on the Corporate Parenting Board to the Conservative Group?

Response: I am more than happy to take that away and look at it.

Supplementary from Cllr Clarke: What do you see as the council’s responsibilities as a corporate parent?

Response: I think I may have answered that previously. We all have our responsibility in that area, and it is to make sure that young people who have come into our care and leave the care of the City of York Council can go off into adult life with the skills, the confidence and with the amenities and services that they need to transition into adult life in whatever route that they take. It’s ongoing work and is tremendously important.

Combined Authority and Regional

From Cllr Warters: Regarding partnership working between the Combined Authority, City of York, and North Yorkshire Councils, why is it necessary to have three separate senior staff hierarchies at each authority costing taxpayers a fortune? Surely the current arrangements offer us the opportunity to investigate and hopefully instigate shared service delivery?

Response: It does give the opportunity for shared services where it is appropriate, and if it is to the benefit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

To receive and consider a written report from the Deputy Leader and, to question the Deputy Leader thereon.

A written report was received from the Deputy Leader, Cllr Kilbane.

Members were then invited to question the Deputy Leader on his report. Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed, and replied to as indicated:

Millenium Bridge

From Cllr Whitcroft: Can you explain to Council how we worked together to improve Millennium Bridge to ensure it was accessible even in the worst cases of flooding and what lessons we have learnt to make sure transport decisions are made quickly in the city?

Response: It was a complicated job as the initial spec that was pulled together wasn’t up to standard and it had progressed quite a long way down the line before it had to be pulled. There are difficulties with building these kinds of structures, but the huge advantage is we managed to find a solution that the Environment Agency was happy with and could sign off. That now means that the Fishergate side of the bridge and the Micklegate side of the bridge will still be accessible. It’s great to finally get it done. It’s been talked about for years and it’s been tried for years. It is an indication of this administration’s delivery.

Riots

From Cllr Melly: Can you tell us what steps the council took and what work you did with local partners at the time of the recent national unrest?

Response: During the right-wing riots that we witnessed in August, this was a very scary time for many people in the city. This also coincided with the Leader’s annual leave which meant that I was in charge as far as York was concerned. Working with colleagues in North Yorkshire and with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner we managed to know what was going on in York and North Yorkshire and we managed to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.Fortunately, the worst didn’t happen, and I would like to put on record my thanks to all of the officers across all of the local authorities and the officers at the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for the work that they did 24 hours a day to stay on top of the situation within our region. Many people went way above and beyond, and I would also like to thank the residents who turned out in their hundreds to offer their support and solidarity to communities in our city that were feeling very scared. Finally, it would be very remiss of me, especially seen as some of our friends from the mosque are in the room tonight, to not thank them for all the work they did at the height of the worry. As I say in my report, the right-wing tried to spread fear instead of which they spread solidarity, they spread hope, they increased friendships between communities and some of those friendships that were born at that time will be longlasting and will be for the benefit of our entire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order B13:

Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 22.1

(i)     From Cllr Whitcroft

[To follow]

(ii)    From Cllr Ayre

York’s Local Plan

“Council notes:

·       The continued progress with agreeing a Local Plan for York to deliver much-needed new homes and land for employment

·       The ongoing Government consultation on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and wider policy proposals

·       That the current draft Local Plan is meeting a need of 822 dwellings per annum (net average) for the City of York and the new standard method proposed by the Government would set a revised figure of 1,251, compared to the current standard method figure of 1,020

·       That the July 2020 letter from planning inspectors challenged the council for overdelivering on housing in the Local Plan

·       That the council’s independent evidence base said about the 822 dwellings per annum housing target in the Local Plan that “there would not be the level of household growth required to fill this number of homes.”

·       That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto set a target of building 380,000 homes each year across the UK, with the Labour and Conservative manifestos including similar figures

·       That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto promised to introduce ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build.

·       That whilst York’s housing targets have increased by 22%, London’s targets have seen a 20% reduction

·       That the council’s response to the Government consultation is due to be agreed at an Executive Member Decision Session on 23 September 2024.

Council believes:

·       That adoption of the Local Plan is a crucial step towards delivering much-needed new homes for York

·       That the draft Local Plan contains ambitious and deliverable targets which will meet the pressing need for more new homes, whilst preserving York’s unique setting and environment

·       That other measures can play an important part in improving the supply of homes for local residents, such as giving local authorities new powers to control second homes and short-term lets in their area and introducing ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build.

Council resolves:

·       To ask the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities to approve a council response to the Government consultation referred to above which expresses support for the retention of the housing target contained in the current draft Local Plan

·       To ask the Executive Member to reaffirm his commitment, as reported in The Press on 13 June 2023 (https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23583238.will-no-extra-new-housing-green-belt-says-york-labour/), that the only housing development allowed on green belt land will be on those sites already allocated for development in the draft Local Plan.”

(iii)   From Cllr Douglas

Community response to Israel-Gaza conflict

“We, the Council and people of York, in keeping with our city's status as the first Human Rights City in the UK, resolve to urgently call for:

·       An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Israel based on recent peace proposals.

·       Immediate access within Gaza to water, medical and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 34.

Under the Council Procedure Rules, Part B3 (2), the Lord Mayor varied the order of the Motions on Notice in order to bring forward the motion on community response to Israel-Gaza conflict.

(i)           Community Response to Israel-Gaza Conflict

Moved by Cllr Douglas, seconded by Cllr Kilbane.

“We, the Council and people of York, in keeping with our city's status as the first Human Rights City in the UK, resolve to urgently call for:

·        An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and

Israel based on recent peace proposals.

·        Immediate access within Gaza to water, medical and food supplies, restoration of electricity, and provision of proper shelters for all impacted by the war.

·        The immediate release of all Israeli hostages and

Palestinian detainees.”

Cllr Steward then moved, and Cllr Rowley BEM seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“In the last bullet point:

- insert ‘any’ before ‘Palestinian’

- insert an ‘s’ onto ‘Palestinian’ and then insert ‘detained otherwise

than in accordance with international law.’

- delete detainees.”

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

The original motion was then put to the vote and was declared CARRIED, and it was

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved.¹

[An adjournment took place between 8:23pm and 8:44pm]

(ii)         York’s Local Plan

Cllr Ayre sought consent to alter his motion to incorporate the amendment submitted by Cllr Rowley BEM.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was CARRIED, and the amended motion was then moved by Cllr Ayre and seconded by Cllr Orrell, as follows:

“Council notes:

·        The continued progress with agreeing a Local Plan for York to deliver much-needed new homes and land for employment

·        The ongoing Government consultation on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and wider policy proposals

·        That the current draft Local Plan is meeting a need of 822

         dwellings per annum (net average) for the City of York and the new standard method proposed by the Government would set a revised figure of 1,251, compared to the current standard method figure of 1,020

·        That the July 2020 letter from planning inspectors challenged the council for overdelivering on housing in the Local Plan

·        That the council’s independent evidence base said about the 822 dwellings per annum housing target in the Local Plan that “there would not be the level of household growth required to fill this number of homes.”

·        That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto set a target of building 380,000 homes each year across the UK, with the Labour and Conservative manifestos including similar figures

·        That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto

          promised to introduce ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build.

·        That whilst York’s housing targets have increased by 22%,

          London’s targets have seen a 20% reduction

·        That the council’s response to the Government consultation is due to be agreed at an Executive Member Decision Session on 23 September 2024.

Council believes:

·        That adoption of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

To question the Leader and/or Executive Members in respect of any matter within their portfolio responsibility, in accordance with Standing Order B11.

No questions were put, as the guillotine had fallen.

To receive a written report from the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing & Adult Social Care  and to question the Executive Member thereon, in accordance with Standing Orders B9 and B10.

A written report was received from Cllr Steels-Walshaw, the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

No questions were put, as the guillotine had fallen.

To receive a report from Councillor Fenton, Chair of the Customer Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee (CSCCSMC), on the work of the Committee.

A written report was received from Cllr Fenton, Chair of the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee, on the work of the committee.

To agree the proposed deletion of the Deputy Leader’s Report from the Council Procedure Rules.

The following recommendation contained in the report of the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer at page 60 of the agenda papers was deemed moved and seconded and was voted on without debate:

“To approve the deletion of paragraph B3 1 i) of the Council Procedure Rules, and the renumbering of the remaining items accordingly.”

Reason: In order to remove a report which was recognised as beingunnecessary.

On being put to the vote the recommendation was declared CARRIED, and it was

Resolved:  That the above recommendation be approved.¹

To consider the appointments and changes to membership of committees and outside bodies set out on the list attached to this summons.

Resolved: That the appointments and changes to memberships of Committees, Working Groups and Outside Bodies, as set out on page 61 of the agenda pack, be approved.