Executive
Set out below is a summary of the decisions taken at the Executive meeting held on Thursday, 26 August 2021. The wording used does not necessarily reflect the actual wording that will appear in the minutes.
Members are reminded that, should they wish to call in a decision, notice must be given to Democracy Support Group no later than 4pm on the second working day after this meeting. Please note that the recommendation to Council at Item 10 on the list cannot be called in.
If you have any queries about any matters referred to in this decision sheet please contact FionaYoung.
5. City of York Council Recovery and Renewal Strategy - August Update
Resolved: (i) That the contents of the report be noted.
(ii) That the use of ARG funds and the positive impact of this approach on the York economy be noted, and that approval be given to allocate:
a) £500k to the business voucher support scheme and
b) £100k to support York’s music venues.
(iii) That a final allocation report be brought to Executive at the end of 2021.
Reason: To support the York economy and its recovery from the Covid pandemic.
(iv) That officers be requested to obtain the necessary permissions to extend the current temporary footstreet arrangements, which are due to expire in September 2021, so that the 127 businesses currently operating street cafes can continue to operate in the interim and so that all available options can be presented to Executive in November to consider the future operation of the footstreets, which will include extending the additional blue badge parking provision that has already been provided.
(v) That the number of mitigations enacted since approval of the Temporary TRO to help support Blue Badge Holder access to the city centre (as set out in paragraph 40 and Annex 1) be noted.
Reason: To enable Executive to consider future arrangements of the footstreets extensions together with further improvements to accessibility in the city centre. The extension of the temporary orders will allow the current arrangements initiated in response to the government’s Covid-19 guidance and Pavement Café License legislation to continue until Executive has been able to formally consider the statutory consultation and feedback on the further mitigation options.
(vi) That approval be given to extend the Temporary TRO for the continued one-way operation of Coppergate with contraflow cycle lane until December 2021 pending consultation on the potential changes to the arrangements, including removal of the restrictions, and to remove the current pedestrian barriers from the southern footway immediately.
Reason: To allow the Executive / Executive Member to consider the results of engagement with stakeholders prior to making a decision in line with recent directions from the Department for Transport, and because pedestrian barriers are no longer considered necessary at this location with the removal of social distancing restrictions.
(vii) That officers be requested to continue the engagement with disabled people’s advocacy groups, and to engage with the Human Rights and Equalities Board on the emerging ideas from this summer’s strategic review of city centre access and parking and any additional suggestions from the statutory consultation for improving access in the city centre.
Reason: To ensure that the council works to improve access to the city centre for all.
(viii) That it be noted that reports will be brought to Executive in November 2021 on the future operation of the footstreets, My City Centre, Review of Access and Parking and the Future Funding of Dial a Ride.
Reason: This will also allow Executive to consider the decision on the future operation of the footstreets in the light of My City Centre and the Strategic Review of Access in full.
(ix) That consultation and engagement be undertaken with Scrutiny before the November Executive meeting on the future operation of the footstreets, accessibility to the city centre and the surrounding constraints.
Reason: To ensure that consideration is given to all ongoing constraints and opportunities regarding the extension of the city centre footstreets.
(x) That approval be given to implement additional dropped kerbs within the city centre footstreets around pavement cafes as mitigation, by prioritising these locations as part of the LTP programme.
Reason: To mitigate the impact of the continued presence of café licences on mobility aid access where some premises may not now be accessible without considerable detours.
(xi) That £20k be allocated from the Covid Recovery contingency to support York Wheels / Dial and Ride and Shopmobility and promote their services to potential users.
Reason: In recognition of the critical role they have played and will continue to play in the recovery of the city centre.
6. York Community Woodland Community Co-design Vision and Process for Selecting Capital Funding and Delivery Partner
Resolved: (i) That the views of residents and stakeholders gained through community consultation be noted, and that the community woodland vision and woodland name be approved.
Reason: To ensure that the York Community Woodland project fully reflects the views and priorities of local residents and stakeholders.
(ii) That authority be delegated to the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change to approve the final woodland design, select the source of external capital funding to support the woodland creation and approve the carrying out of a procurement process to appoint a woodland creation delivery partner.
Reason: To ensure a timely decision regarding woodland design in order to meet the 2021/22 tree planting season (October to March).
(iii) That authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to take such steps as are necessary to enter into the funding agreement and to procure, award and enter into the resulting contracts for the appointment of a woodland creation delivery partner should the Executive Member for Environment & Climate Change select the White Rose Forest Trees for Climate fund as the external capital funding source to support York Community Woodland delivery.
Reason: To ensure timely entry into the lease to meet project deadlines.
(iv) That authority be delegated to the Executive Member for Environment & Climate Change to approve the publication of any necessary ‘open space’ disposal Notice under s.123 of the Local Government Act 1992 and to consider any comments received from the public in response to such Notice should the Executive Member for Environment & Climate Change select Forestry England as the external capital funding source to support York Community Woodland delivery, in return for the council granting Forestry England a long term lease of the land.
Reason: To ensure timely entry into the lease to meet project deadlines.
(v) That authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to take such steps as are necessary to enter into the resulting lease with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs for the York Community Woodland site at Knapton should the Executive Member for Environment & Climate Change select Forestry England as the external capital funding source to support York Community Woodland delivery.
Reason: To ensure timely selection and appointment of a woodland creation delivery partner to meet project deadlines.
7. Updating the Council's Adopted Highway Data and Recording Processes
Resolved: (i) That the actions taken to comply with the LGO’s requirements, including to undertake a full update of the highway extent map, List of Streets and Definitive Map in 2021/22 and 2022/23 addressing all areas to be reviewed and updated, be noted/
(ii) That therefore approval be given to set up a small highway recording function within the Place Directorate, initially for a period of one year, funded through existing resources.
Reason: To comply with the LGO’s requirements and meet the council’s statutory duties within an acceptable timescale.
8. 2021/22 Finance and Performance Monitor 1
Resolved: (i) That the finance and performance information, and the actions needed to manage the financial position, be noted.
(ii) That approval be given to write off bad debts as outlined in paragraphs 26 to 30 of the report.
(iii) That the two elements of the MSA procurement be awarded as follows, as outlined in paragraphs 28-33:
a) The Dark Fire contract to be awarded to City Fibre for 15 (with option of plus 3 plus 2) years;
b) The Managed Services contract North to be awarded for 7 (with option of plus 3x1) years.
Reason: To ensure that expenditure is kept within the approved budget.
9. Capital Programme - Monitor 1 2021/22
Resolved: (i) That the 2021/22 revised budget of £158.404m, as set out in Table 1 at paragraph 6 of the report, be noted.
(ii) That the re-stated capital programme for 2021/22 to 2025/26, as set out in Table 2 at paragraph 49, be noted.
Reason: To enable the effective management and monitoring of the council’s capital programme.
10. Capital Programme - Monitor 1 2021/22
Recommended: That Council approve the adjustments resulting in a decrease in the 2021/22 budget of £62.138m, as detailed in the report and contained in Annex A.
Reason: To enable the effective management and monitoring of the council’s capital programme.