Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor Hodgson declared a personal interest as a member of Unison, the Public and Commercial Services Union and as an ex-employee of the NHS Trust.

Councillor Firth declared a personal interest as part of the Civic Party elect for 2012/13.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2012 (to follow).

RESOLVED:                That the minutes of the last meeting held on 11^th January 2012 be approved with the following amendment:

                                      Minute Item 32 - be amended to acknowledge that the Chair had made a comment to the effect of that while he believed equality was important, he did not believe diversity was an important target for the Council.

                                      Following a vote, the Committee agreed that this comment should be included in the minutes of the last meeting.

                                      The Chair clarified his position and that he believed that diversity would be achieved as a result of the Council promoting/prioritising equality.

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

This report provides a summary of the finance and performance progress for the third monitor period of 2011-12.

Members considered a report which provided a summary of the finance and performance progress for the third quarter monitor period of 2011-12.

Officers outlined the report in particular that York continues to perform well against the national picture in areas such as youth unemployment and crime levels.

Members queried the terminology used in the report, in particular the way which monetary figures are expressed as some Members felt it is unclear.

Members asked that for future reports, survival rate information for business start ups would be useful.

RESOLVED: (i)            That Members noted the performance issues identified in the report.

REASON:                     So that corrective action can be taken.

RESOLVED: (ii)           That Members noted the current projected pressures of £921k and note that strategies are being prepared to mitigate this position.

REASON:                     In order to ensure expenditure is kept within budget.

RESOLVED: (iii)          That Members noted the use of £714k 2011/12 New Homes Bonus to support the revenue budget and delegate to the Director of CBSS authority to consider the final allocation as part of the outturn process.

REASON:                     In order to ensure expenditure is kept within budget.

Members will receive a presentation on the recent staff wellbeing survey results.

Members received a presentation on the recent staff wellbeing survey results.

Key highlights from the presentation were as follows:

·        The survey was based upon the 6 Health & Safety Executive stress indicators.

·        2 indicators, role and demands had been identified as areas with need for improvement.

·        Some bullying behaviour had been reported at the Council.

·        As a result of the survey, Corporate and Directorate Action Plan had been developed and will be monitored by the Joint health and Safety Committee.

·        A series of events and initiatives had been planned as a result of the survey and a Wellbeing Fair had recently taken place at the Guildhall and had been well attended by Council staff.

Members thanked Officers for the presentation and were pleased to note that action was being taken to improve areas of concern.

RESOLVED:                That Members noted the Staff Wellbeing Survey Results.

REASON:                     To keep Members informed on

This report will provide Members with an update on the current plans for the future use of the Guildhall in light of recent changes to the Administrative Accommodation Strategy and asks Members to consider whether or not they wish to proceed with their proposed scrutiny review of this topic.

Members considered a report which provided them with an update on the current plans for the future use of the Guildhall in light of recent changes to the Administrative Accommodation Strategy and asked them if they wished to proceed with a proposed scrutiny review on the topic.

The Director of City Strategy was in attendance to present the report and advised that he had been tasked to undertake a piece of work on heritage analysis but also on the future use of the Guildhall. The remit did not include an option for the Council not to continue to own the building and wider consultation on any resulting options would be carried out.

Members commented that it is important to keep the building for the people of York and to allow it to continue to be used for public events.

The Committee decided not to proceed with a scrutiny review as the Director of City Strategy will be continuing his work on the future use of the Guildhall, but noted that they would have the opportunity to comment at the consultation stage, should they wish to.

RESOLVED:                Members agreed not to proceed with a scrutiny review on the future use and options for the Guildhall.

REASON:                     Due to ongoing work being undertaken by the Director of City Strategy in response to the recent Cabinet decision.

Members are asked to consider the work plan for the Committee in particular any additions and/or amendments they may wish to make to the plan.

Members received a copy of the committees work plan for the forthcoming year. Members were asked to consider any additions and/or amendments they wished to make to the work plan.

Members noted that an additional meeting had been scheduled for 19 April to consider the Innovation, Work force, Customer and Procurement strategies.

RESOLVED:                That the work plan be noted.

REASON:                     In order to provide the committee with a programme of work for this municipal year.