Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting the Cabinet Member is asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or pecuniary interests he may have in the business on the agenda.

The Cabinet Member declared a personal interest in agenda item 9, City Centre Access Scrutiny Review  as an honorary member of the Cycle Touring Club and a Member of the York Cycle Campaign.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th March 2013.

RESOLVED:                That the minutes of the last Decision Session held on 13^th march 2013 be approved subject to an amendment to the declarations of interest to state a personal interest as a member of the York Cycle campaign.

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

There were 7 registered speakers in respect of items on the agenda, as follows:

Councillor Ann Reid had registered to speak in respect of Agenda Item 6 – Public Rights of Way, Ashbourne Way, Acomb. She advised that the recommendations in the report were not supporting residents against anti-social behaviour at night and that a high number of minor incidents were having an impact on residents. The Police were aware of the situation and had tried to provide extra patrols but would not be able to keep these up in the long term. She urged the Cabinet Member to approve a Gating Order.

Councillor Brooks had registered to speak on Agenda Item 7, the petition for the relocation of a VAS sign at Holtby. She advised that following the removal of the sign in 2010/11 as part of speed reduction measures, residents were led to believe the sign would be reinstated with no mention of funding being required. She referred to the Monks Cross 2 development and the potential for increase in traffic in the area and asked that a VAS be reinstalled, even if it was some time in the future.

Lorna Evans, the Secretary of Duncombe Place Residents Group had registered to speak in respect of Agenda Item 4, Duncombe Place Taxi Rank. She advised that residents had seen a decrease in their quality of life since the rank was made 24 hours. She quoted incidents such as  17 people waiting for a taxi at 4.50am and no taxis serving the rank.

David Brooks, the Manager of the Dean Court Hotel also spoke on Agenda Item 4. He advised that guests at the hotel were being disturbed by people queuing at the rank and that use of the rank had increased dramatically over the past few years.

David Evans a Local Resident had also registered to speak on Agenda Item 4. He advised that while he recognised the need for late night taxi ranks, he would welcome any intervention to combat the anti-social behaviour and noise. Although CCTV assisted the Police he stated that it did not help residents and welcomed the taxi rank shelter being moved further along the street away from residents homes. He suggested that the Council may wish to look at trying to increase the use of the St. Leonards Place rank and Exhibition Square  by taxis.

Roger Pierce had registered to speak on Agenda Item 4 behalf of Duncombe Place Residents. He advised that a recent Licensing Hearing had restricted the operating hours of McDonalds Restaurant in respect of concerns raised by residents and requested that a midnight limit to the Duncombe Place rank be considered.

PC Adam Duffield had registered to speak on behalf of North Yorkshire Police on Agenda Item 4. He listed some statistics which highlighted the high level of crime and disorder in the City Centre. He advised that unfortunately  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

The purpose of this report is to review the operation of the Duncombe Place taxi rank in light of the anti-social behaviour that takes place in this area late at night and during the early hours.

RESOLVED                 That the Cabinet Member agreed:

(i)           That the Duncombe Place taxi rank should continue to operate as a 24 hour rank.

(ii)          That the head of the rank be relocated further towards the Museum Street Junction.

(iii)        That the existing shelter  near the existing head of the rank be removed.

(iv)        That the Council continues to work with North Yorkshire Police to aid their efforts in combating the anti social behaviour that takes place.

(v)         That Councillor Williams, the Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety be asked to look at issues in the area.

REASONS:

(i)           Due to demand for a taxi rank in that location and there being no practical way to prevent individuals from using it to seek a taxi.

(ii)          To enable clearer more reliable CCTV monitoring of the head of the rank.

(iii)        To remove a potential focus for rowdy activity and to improve the street scene.

(iv)        To try to resolve the concerns of residents.

(v)         To try to resolve the concerns of residents.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which reviewed the operation of the Duncombe Place taxi rank in light of anti-social behaviour taking place in the area late at night.

Officers provided an update and reported that Inspector Henderson who is responsible for city centre policing had confirmed that the Police have no issues with the rank. A further two letters had been received making similar comments to that of the residents.

The Cabinet Member advised that it is difficult to strike a balance between trying to manage the needs of the night time economy with that of residents and agreed option 3 as a first step. He recommended that the Police re-look at what they do in terms of enforcement at the rank and would ask the Cabinet Member for Crime and Stronger Communities to look into issues in the area.  He also suggested that Reinvigorate York could look at the relocation of the rank or alternative ranks for the city centre.

RESOLVED                 That the Cabinet Member agreed:

(i)           That the Duncombe Place taxi rank should continue to operate as a 24 hour rank.¹

(ii)          That the head of the rank be relocated further towards the Museum Street Junction.

(iii)        That the existing shelter  near the existing head of the rank be removed.

(iv)        That the Council continues to work with North Yorkshire Police to aid their efforts in combating the anti social behaviour that takes place.

(v)         That Councillor Williams, the Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety be asked to look at issues in the area.

REASONS:

(i)           Due to demand for a taxi rank in that location and there being no practical way to prevent individuals from using it to seek a taxi.

(ii)          To enable clearer more reliable CCTV monitoring of the head of the rank.

(iii)        To remove a potential focus for rowdy activity and to improve the street scene.

(iv)        To try to resolve the concerns of residents.

(v)         To try to resolve the concerns of residents.

As part of speed reduction measures implemented in 2010/11 the existing Vehicle Activated Sign on Straight Lane at Holtby was removed. This report sets out the current situation and provides officer recommendations on a way forward.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member approved Option D to take no further action in terms of implementation of a VAS sign at Holtby, but to task the Speed Review Partnership to re-assess the current Council criteria and policy for implementation of VAS signs.

REASONS:                  Engineering work due to take place at Holtby is anticipated to reduce speeds to below the threshold for requirements of VAS. The SID (Speed Indicator Device) scheme would be more appropriate for Holtby and has been offered and used in the past at Holtby.

                                      To council fund a VAS at Holtby would elevate Holtby to priority over 47 other sites waiting for speed reduction feasibility work and brings into question if a criteria led process of establishing priority should be introduced.

                                      The current City of York VAS policy requires updating in line with DfT recommendations.

                                      VAS signs are only one of the engineering tools available as per DfT criteria and the implementation of Speed Reduction Engineering would see any site previously eligible for Police enforcement removed from the enforcement list.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which presented a petition relating to the reinstatement of a Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) at Holtby.

The Cabinet Member noted the comments made earlier in the meeting by Councillor Brooks in particular the comments relating to the Monks Cross 2 development and the potential for an increase in traffic. He advised that he had agreed Option D, but this would not prevent the Parish Council from putting in a request for a VAS sign in future should funding become available.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member approved Option D to take no further action in terms of implementation of a VAS sign at Holtby, but to task the Speed Review Partnership to re-assess the current Council criteria and policy for implementation of VAS signs.

REASONS                i.  Engineering work due to take place at Holtby is anticipated to reduce speeds to below the threshold for requirements of VAS. The SID (Speed Indicator Device) scheme would be more appropriate for Holtby and has been offered and used in the past at Holtby.

ii.    To council fund a VAS at Holtby would elevate Holtby to priority over 47 other sites waiting for speed reduction feasibility work and brings into question if a criteria led process of establishing priority should be introduced.

iii.   The current City of York VAS policy requires updating in line with DfT recommendations. ¹

iv.  VAS signs are only one of the engineering tools available as per DfT criteria and the implementation of Speed Reduction Engineering would see any site previously eligible for Police enforcement removed from the enforcement list.

This report presents a petition submitted by a resident of Ashbourne Way, Acomb, York, requesting the night time closure of snickets off Ashbourne Way. The snickets in question are considered to be public highway and therefore a Gating Order(s) will be required to restrict public access.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member chose Option 1 and did not progress the  for the night time closure of the snickets.

REASONS:                  (i)Crime and Anti Social Behaviour is unlikely to be significantly reduced if the routes are only closed at night time.

                                      (ii)A reasonably convenient alternative route is not available for either route.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which presented a petition requesting the night time closure of snickets off Ashbourne Way to help reduce the level of crime and anti social behaviour which is occurring in the area.

The Cabinet Member noted the comments made by Councillor Reid and advised that unfortunately he could not progress the request at this time. He acknowledged the difficulty in managing such requests with limited funding.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member chose Option 1 and did not progress the request for the night time closure of the snickets.

REASONS:                  (i)Crime and Anti Social Behaviour is unlikely to be significantly reduced if the routes are only closed at night time.

                                      (ii)A reasonably convenient alternative route is not available for either route.

The purpose of this report is to consider a petition (see Annex A) representing 55 properties in the Heslington Lane / Heath Moor Drive area requesting co-ordinated action to resolve parking problems due to the local schools, businesses and University.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member approved Option 3 and the sites will continue to be part of a regular review of requests for restrictions across the city or as part of the agreement reached with the development of the University if their parking is demonsrated to have breeched agreed levels.

REASON:                     To tackle regular ongoing instances of highway obstruction by vehicles where they occur.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which presented a petition representing 55 properties in the Heslington lane/Heath Moor Drive area requesting co-ordinated action to resolve parking problems due to local schools, businesses and the University.

The Cabinet Member noted the report and agreed the following:

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member approved Option 3 and the sites will continue to be part of a regular review of requests for restrictions across the city or as part of the agreement reached with the development of the University if their parking is demonstrated to have breeched agreed levels.

REASON:                     To tackle regular ongoing instances of highway obstruction by vehicles where they occur.

City of York Council (CYC), as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), has a duty under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (FWMA) to investigate significant flood incidents in its area. Two investigations have been completed, at Badger Hill and Leeman Road, and are the subject of this report.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member approved the two flooding investigation reports.

                                      That an annual progress report be produced to update the Cabinet Member on the impact of further investment .and any outstanding actions to ensure they are followed through.

REASONS:                  So that the reports can be published in accordance with the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

                                      To keep the Cabinet Member informed.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which presented two flood investigation reports for approval following flooding at Badger Hill and Leeman Road, York in 2012.

The Cabinet Member noted the reports and asked for confirmation that the final reports would be sent to other risk management authorities. Officers advised the reports would be published and sent to all relevant authorities.

The Cabinet Member requested an annual progress report outlining the impact of further investment and any outstanding actions from the reports.

RESOLVED:      (i)       That the Cabinet Member approved the two flooding investigation reports.

(ii)      That an annual progress report be produced to update the Cabinet Member on the impact of further investment .and any outstanding actions to ensure they are followed through.¹

REASONS:         (i)      So that the reports can be published in accordance with the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

                            (ii)      To keep the Cabinet Member informed.

This report sets out the findings of the City Centre Access Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee and asks the Cabinet Member to take these into consideration when making further decisions on both the ongoing Footstreets Review and access to the city centre more generally.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member agreed the findings and concerns of the City Centre Access Ad Hoc Scrutiny Review.

REASON:                     In order that the views of the Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee are taken into consideration.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which set out the findings of the City Centre Access Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Gillies was in attendance to present the report.

The Cabinet Member stated that several of the outcomes relating to access and enforcement were being progressed by the Reinvigorate York project. He acknowledged the aspirations relating to cycling which had been raised by Paul Hepworth who had spoke earlier in the meeting, and confirmed that Officers are looking at increasing cycle parking following the removal of racking in Parliament Street.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member agreed the findings and concerns of the City Centre Access Ad Hoc Scrutiny Review.

REASON:                     In order that the views of the Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee are taken into consideration.

This report sets out the funding sources for the City and Environmental Services Planning & Transport Capital Programme, and the proposed schemes to be delivered in 2013/14. The report covers the Integrated Transport and CES Maintenance allocations.

RESOLVED:       That the Cabinet Member approved the proposed 2013/14 City Programme and Environmental Services Capital as set out in this report and Annex 1.

Reason:            To implement the council’s transport strategy identified in York’s third Local Transport Plan and the Council Priorities, and deliver schemes identified in the council’s Transport Programme.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which set out the funding sources for the City and Environmental Services Planning and Transport Capital Programme and the proposed schemed to be delivered in 2013/14. The report also covered the Integrated Transport and CES Maintenance allocations.

Officers outlined the key points of the report and the Cabinet Member confirmed he was happy to agree the Capital Programme as set out at Annex 1 of the report.

RESOLVED:       That the Cabinet Member approved the proposed 2013/14 City Programme and Environmental Services Capital as set out in this report and Annex 1.

REASON:          To implement the council’s transport strategy identified in York’s third Local Transport Plan and the Council Priorities, and deliver schemes identified in the council’s Transport Programme.