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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee |
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Date |
12 June 2024 |
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Present |
Councillors J Burton (Chair), Vassie (Vice-Chair), Hook, D Myers, Rose, Runciman, Smalley, Wann and Wilson |
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In Attendance |
Councillor Pavlovic (Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities) |
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Officers Present |
Pauline Stuchfield, Director of Housing and Communities Claire Foale, Assistant Director of Policy and Strategy Sam Blyth, Strategic Manager - Corporate Policy and City Partnerships Denis Southall, Head of Housing Management and Housing Options Andrew Bebbington, Housing Strategy Officer |
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1. Declarations of Interest (5:31 pm)
Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registerable interests they might have in respect of the business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. None were declared.
2. Public Participation (5:31 pm)
It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
3. York pipeline of projects for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (5:32 pm)
The committee was invited to consider a pipeline of proposals for projects that could receive funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA). These projects were listed in Annex A, organised under the following headings:
· Great Places for All
· Housing
· Well-connected economy
· Productive and Innovative Economy
It was reported that Annex A was a live document which was expected to change according to developing priorities, and would be considered by all four scrutiny committees. In developing the pipeline consultation had taken place internally as well as with North Yorkshire Council and YNYCA counterparts.
Members suggested a range of amendments and additions including:
· That the healthy places infrastructure plan include consideration of integrated localised primary care health centres (particularly in York's villages).
· That support for care leavers be considered as part of the York and North Yorkshire Housing Strategy.
· That sustainable transport projects consider aligning work at a regional level to better connect York with towns, villages and other areas across the region, including developing cycling connectivity and full dualling of the outer ring road, and that options to establish York as a hub for regional transport be explored.
· That improved bus connectivity to York’s villages, the provision of e-scooters, and an EV shuttle bus around the city centre be considered as part of public transport enhancements.
· That funding for the provision of SEND transport be considered as part of home to school transport proposals.
· That Early Years Training proposals include working with education providers to overcome barriers including restrictions on funding.
· That proposals to build international relationships consider utilising York’s assets including the Lord Mayor to further the region’s global impact.
· That cultural funding proposals consider funding to achieve the aspirations of York's cultural strategy, including capital investment in York Castle Museum, and to promote York as a national and international destination for sporting events.
Resolved: To note the pipeline and request that the amendments and additions suggested by the committee be included in the list of proposals and considered as part of the pipeline’s development.
Reason: To ensure the pipeline aligns with the 10-year strategies for York, the 2023-2027 Council Plan, and YNYCA Economic Framework, enable different perspectives from across the Council to be considered in the pipeline’s development, and ensure that York has a strong, consolidated list of proposals through which to engage future funding opportunities emerging from the YNYCA.
4. Homelessness Future Resettlement Pathway (6:04 pm)
The committee considered a report on resettlement pathways for those over the age of 16 in York who found themselves homeless.
Officers provided an overview, noting that the 9 May Executive meeting had made several decisions to reshape delivery of these services, with an emphasis on a person-centred, strength-based approach to resettlement. The first stage would see existing services brought in-house, and the second would ensure the council could provide a variety of effective, flexible accommodation and support solutions for residents who found themselves homeless; to this end a refreshed Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and delivery plan would be brought to the Executive later this year.
Several members stated that they were unable to participate in the discussion owing to the pre-election period. It was noted that members wanted to discuss the report, but that it was a question of the appropriate timing. It was also noted that that the report was the product of considerable work by officers, and that members would welcome another opportunity to consider it in detail once the pre-election period had closed.
The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and safer Communities was in attendance. He noted that the process outlined in the report was already underway, and that he would welcome the report being brought back to the committee at an early opportunity.
Resolved:
i. To thank the officers for their work in this area
ii. To defer consideration of the report until after the general election.
Reason: To allow all members to participate fully in discussion of the progress on this service provision.
5. Work Plan (6:36 pm)
The committee considered its work plan for the 2024/25 municipal year. It was noted that there was a desire amongst members to consider the Homelessness Future Resettlement Pathway report as soon as possible after the general election. It was also noted that several items had been scheduled already for the committee’s next meeting in July, some of which could be rearranged if necessary.
Resolved: That the Chair and Vice-Chair liaise with officers to determine the agenda for the committee’s next scheduled meetings, with a view to bringing back the Homelessness Future Resettlement Pathway report at an early opportunity.
Reason: To keep the committee’s work plan updated.
Cllr J Burton, Chair
[The meeting started at 5.31 pm and finished at 6.45 pm].