Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

The Committee noted apologies from Cllr Whitcroft who was substituted by Cllr Baxter.

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.

Members were 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 the agenda. None were declared.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the Committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Friday 15 June 2026.

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 meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

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

Flick Williams stated that pavement parking was a bane to disabled people in the city and asked that the Council use enforcement to end pavement parking. With the installation of floating bus stops she also asked that enforcement to ensure zebra crossings are observed correctly.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2026.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Place Scrutiny Committee on 26 Janaury 2026 be signed as a correct record of the meeting.

To consider an update on the first seven months of implementation of the Neighbourhood Caretakers and the future development of this work.

Officers introduced the report seeking the Committee’s feedback and input into the progress of the Neighbourhood Caretakers model, 7 months after its implementation and how it could be developed further. It was confirmed that the Caretakers team had with done walkabouts in every Council ward with Ward Councillors, community groups, and public works teams to identify work that was required.

The Committee broadly welcomed the work undertaken as part of the Neighbourhood Caretakers model in the past 7 months and thanked officers involved for the work undertaken. Members raised several areas where the Committee felt improvement could be made, including around the promotion of work that had been undertaken. Members asked whether Ward Councillors could be informed of when work was completed and whether before and after photographs could be shared. Officers confirmed that both suggestions should be the case and that they would seek to ensure Ward Councillors were updated on work that was undertaken following Neighbourhood Caretaker walkabouts, so that Councillors could further promote the work that had been undertaken. Members also asked that when the Council advertised work that had been undertaken by the Neighbourhood Caretakers team, that it include information on how other residents and community groups can get involved.

Members raised challenges of undertaking walkabouts in several of the city’s larger wards, particularly in rural areas. Members noted that while the walkabouts in these wards had been useful, due to the geography of the ward, the walkabouts had focused on a smaller section of the ward and not all its villages and communities. Therefore, for bigger wards Members suggested the idea of central meeting in the ward with maps to identify areas where work was required. Officers agreed with the challenges posed by larger wards in capturing all the work that was required on a walkabout and noted that they would explore the idea of a central meeting bringing together those with local knowledge to identify areas for potential work by the operations teams. Members also asked about whether the Council was exploring upgrading to a GIS mapping system. Officers noted that York map was currently used, and upgrading was under consideration with the cost of set up and running cost of any system part of that consideration.

The Committee enquired about what would happen with work that did not meet the required level for intervention this year or work that feel outside of the Neighbourhood Caretakers scope. Officers confirmed that any work that was outside of the team’s scope would be passed onto other relevant teams, while work which was un scope but would not be completed this year would be included as part of future years workstreams. It was also confirmed that the wider public realm team continued with there scheduled work as the Neighbourhood Caretakers were a planned resource for specific work identified.

Resolved:

                         i.         To recommend that the Council ensures that the work Neighbourhood Caretakers team is shared with Ward Councillors and to explore how to further promote the ability for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

To consider and agree the proposed approach to a Task and Finish Group review in relation to Section 106 Agreements Process Improvements.

The Committee agreed to move ahead with a task and finish group into Section 106 Agreements Process Improvements. It was confirmed that Councillors Steward, Merrett, Orrell and Vassie would be on the task and finish group. Members noted that Veritau were undertaking an internal audit around Section 106 agreements and enquired whether the work of the task and finish group would interfere or duplicate the work of Veritau. The Council’s Scrutiny Officer confirmed that they had spoken with Vertiau and that the task and finish group work would work alongside the work of Veritau, without duplicating any work. The Committee also noted previous audits and suggested the task and finish group have these made available to them. On consulting Members also suggested amending the proposal to ensure all internal and external consultees are consulted and respond to ensure all the relevant people are able to feed in.

Resolved:

                         i.         The Committee endorsed the proposed remit, objectives, and timeframe for a Task and Finish Group review into Section 106 Agreements Process Improvements.

Reason:     To enable the Task and Finish Group to proceed with work on the agreed review, towards fulfilment of the motion agreed by Council in September 2025 on Planning Process Improvements.

To consider the Committee’s work plan.

It was noted that the Committee had an additional meeting on 16 June 2026 to consider two pieces of pre decision scrutiny on the Recycling Review and Car Parking Charges Review. The Committee made note of the BID’s annual wrap up and suggested the Committee might benefit from an item with the BID regarding the BID’s findings. Members noted the points raised in public participation regarding pavement parking and it was noted it and the trial on fellow lines should make part of a future item on parking enforcement.

Resolved:

                         i.         Noted that the Committee work plan.

Reason:     To ensure the Committee maintains a programme ofwork.