C I T Y O F Y O R K C O U N C I L
S U M M O N S
All Councillors, relevant Council Officers and other interested parties and residents are formally invited to attend a meeting of the City of York Council at The Guildhall,York, to consider the business contained in this agenda on the following date and time
Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 6.30 pm
A G E N D A
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1. Declarations of Interest |
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At this point in the meeting, 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.
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2. Minutes (Pages 3 - 20) |
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To approve and sign the minutes of the Budget Council meeting held on 23 February 2023.
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3. Civic Announcements |
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To consider any announcements made by the Lord Mayor in respect of Civic business.
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4. Public Participation |
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At this point in the meeting, any member of the public who has registered to address the Council, or to ask a Member of the Council a question, on a matter directly relevant to the business of the Council or the City, may do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Tuesday, 21 March 2023.
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 public meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The remote public meeting can be viewed live and on demand at
During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we're running council meetings. See our updates at www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy for more information on meetings and decisions. |
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5. Petitions |
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To consider any petitions received from Members in accordance with Standing Order B5. Notice has been received of four petitions, to be presented by:
(i) Cllr Doughty, on behalf of residents of Strensall and Earswick, calling for the City of York Council to prioritise the creation of an off-road cycle path connecting Strensall with Huntington and Earswick. (ii) Cllr Doughty, on behalf of residents of Strensall calling for the council to prioritise re-surfacing of Haxby Moor Road, the link road from Strensall to Haxby, by adding it to the Highways Department work plans list. (iii) Cllr Doughty, on behalf of residents of Stockton-on-the-Forest asking the council to prioritise the resurfacing of Stone Riggs, Sandy Lane, Kingsmoor Road and the cul-de-sacs off including Chaumont Way, Marmian Drive, Gay Meadows and The Limes by adding them to the Highways Department work plans list. (iv) Cllr Smalley, from residents calling on the council to adopt the roads and infrastructure on the Granary (RedRow) Estate in Clifton Without, working with Yorkshire Water, Persimmon and RedRow to resolve all outstanding issues. |
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6. Report of Executive Leader and Questions (Pages 21 - 28) |
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To receive and consider a written report from the Leader, and to ask questions on the work of the Executive.
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7. Report of Deputy Leader and Questions (Pages 29 - 36) |
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To receive and consider a written report from the Deputy Leader, and to question the Deputy Leader thereon.
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8. Motions on Notice |
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To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order B13:
Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council
(i) From Cllr Baker
Care Leavers Transport Costs
“Council notes: · That care leavers over the age of 18 are currently offered: o 10 hours of driving lessons o Support with passing the Compulsory Basic Training (for motorcycles o The cost of the first driving theory test o The cost of the first driving test. · That all these are contributions to moving forward with travelling using a private motor vehicle (car or motorcycle) and that these do not offer support for costs relating to public transport or incentives to choose active travel.
Council believes: · That this disparity is not consistent with our corporate 10 years strategies to reduce carbon emissions, promote healthy lifestyles and promote an inclusive economy including more affordable travel options.
· That it is important to ensure that this is addressed in terms of widening the offer to Care Leavers.
Council therefore resolves to request that Executive consider what additional offer to Care Leavers could rectify this situation and to assess the feasibility of also offering care leavers the option of: · Financial assistance with annual bus travel and discounted access to the TIER e-cycle/ e-scooter scheme up to the age of 25; · Free urban cycle skills training if required;
(ii) From Cllr Daubeney
Return to Community Policing
“This Council notes that: · The number of Police Community Support Officers has fallen by 20% (50 full-time equivalent PCSOs) since 2021 across North Yorkshire. · Despite a 4.99 per cent rise in the Police percept, which amounts to £14.03 extra for the average band D household, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has paused PCSO recruitment until March 2024. · The Home Office is allocating just over £72 per head for police services in North Yorkshire, whilst Kent receives £113 and South Yorkshire Force receives £170. · The 2023/24 budget provides £150k investment to improve community safety, tackling anti social behaviour hotspots, including through funding of extra specialist youth support workers. · Devolved Ward funding has been used by ward councillors to support youth engagement activities, which support the work of the Safer York Partnership. · Antisocial behaviour crime makes up 22.7% of all crimes reported in York. · Whilst the number of ASB related incidents in York has decreased since the end of the pandemic, for certain areas, it remains a significant issue. · Safer York Partnership provides both the strategic direction for community safety and oversees the coordinated delivery of community safety outcomes across the city of York and has representatives from key voluntary and statutory agencies including City of York Council, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, Probation, Public Health, Office of the Police and Fire Commissioner and York CVS. · An Independent inspection of York Youth Justice Service has found it to be ‘outstanding’. .
This Council believes that: · Police Community Support Officers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. The Government and the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner should be empowering them to do their job, not risking the slashing of their numbers, putting more pressure on stretched local council budgets to plug the gaps in community safety.
The Council consequently resolves to: · Request that Group Leaders write to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner calling for a reversal of the current freeze in PCSO recruitment and commitment to significantly increase the number of PCSOs in the region. · Request that Council officers work with the North Yorkshire Police to produce a report to the Executive Member on how neighbourhood improvement plans can be developed, which review how to best holistically design out anti social behaviour in the area. · Invite the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to a public meeting to answer councillor questions and set out plans to improve community policing in York. · Request that the Safer York Partnership representatives engage and consult ward councillors in the development of the Community Safety Strategy 2023-2026. · Call on Safer York Partnership chair to explore best ways to embed Community Safety Officers within the Community Safety Hub.”
(iii) From Cllr Looker
Removing Barriers to an Education and Educational Attainment
“Council notes: · almost 1 in 4 children live in poverty in York, a figure that rises to almost 1 in 3 nationally; · the recent proliferation of formal and informal food banks in York and across the UK as more families become reliant on support to eat; · the impact of the cost-of-living crisis being likely to increase those needing support in the years ahead, making free school meals (FSM) vital for an increasing proportion of York children; · Obesity, dentistry problems, eating disorders and poor mental health in childhood all being exacerbated by lack of access to healthy food; · the significant barriers to learning and achievement, both at school and at home, including fatigue and lack of concentration, for students that haven’t eaten properly due to poverty, and the role those barriers play in widening the educational attainment gap; · 30% of all children living in poverty in our region are not eligible for free school meals; · Decreasing levels of attendance and increasing levels of persistent absenteeism in both FSM and non-FSM students in York, following the height of Covid; · recognition at the council-convened Cost of Living Summit of the impact expensive and unnecessary school-branded uniform makes to families living in poverty, including some not attending school.
Council recognises the importance of ensuring that every primary age school child in our city has access to at least one hot meal every day.
Further, it recognises particular needs of SEN pupils and believes school absence management policies that demonstrate consideration of individual circumstances are more likely to result in improved attendance than standardised, rigid responses that treat all students the same.
Council is committed to supporting institutions and their policies where they don’t stigmatise children living in poverty, where they adopt a culture of understanding around uniform, punctuality and difficulty concentrating due to often difficult individual circumstances.
Council resolves: · to request the Executive commits the council to a policy of working with external organisations to provide FSM to all primary school pupils, starting with those schools most in need; · to write to all York secondary schools, highlighting the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) ‘Cost of the School Day’ project to ask that students eligible for FSMs are able to use their allowance at any time during the school day, and to agree to the rolling over of any unspent money to be used in the future; · to commit to a twin track approach of working through the LGA on FSM automatic enrolment as well as expanding eligibility for FSM by increasing the income threshold, and through the NEU on ensuring FSM provision becomes universal for every primary school child; · to write, through the Corporate Director for Children’s Services, to all local authority-maintained schools and academy schools: - requesting information on how they are meeting Government statutory guidance on keeping school uniform affordable, and keeping branded items to a minimum, to reassure Council that schools are not excluding students based on income and are genuinely open to all; - inviting all schools to work with the local authority in developing a York protocol which describes ‘What should be ordinarily available’ for pupils with SEN ensuring there is a fair and consistent application of the SEND Code of Practice by schools to protect the rights of these pupils.”
(iv) From Cllr Pearson
Council Backs Haxby Station Project
“This Council notes that: · The reopening of a station in Haxby has been a long-held ambition for the local community, after the station closed in 1930, and since then the town has expanded over decades. · In June 2020, the City of York Council utilised funding to submit a bid for the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund, making the case for funding to unlock the delivery of a new station in Haxby. · To date, £1.5m of Government funding has been secured with commitments from York Outer's Conservative MP and the Prime Minister (then Chancellor) to provide the remaining funds, beyond the £4m of match funding pledged by the Council. · A thorough evaluation from council officers and Network Rail explored options and the officers advised Executive that Towthorpe Road site presented the only realistic case for delivering the station. Considerations included the ownership of the land, deliverability within the Department for Transport’s required timescales, potential connectivity, and ease of access. · Following the acquisition of the land by the Council, further work has been carried out on the project’s business case and design, with planning application expected to be submitted in May 2023, with determination at planning committee expected in August 2023. · A public consultation undertaken in Apr/May 2022 by the Council saw 81% of 1,200 respondents support the station proposals. · The new station would provide direct access to the rail network for thousands of local residents from Haxby, Wigginton, Strensall and surrounding communities. This means improved access to new employment, business and leisure opportunities, increasing connectivity for our part of York, and providing faster, more efficient, and sustainable travel. · Delays in progressing with the project in the current timeline is likely to result in failing to secure sufficient government funding to deliver the station.
This Council believes that: · It is crucial that the opportunity to secure the development of a station in Haxby is realised for the benefit of the local community and the whole city.
The Council therefore resolves to: · Endorse and commit to the Haxby station project and its location at the only deliverable site at Towthorpe Road, and fully back it to ensure its success. · Request that all group leaders send a joint letter to the Department for Transport and Network Rail supporting the project and urging for the remaining Government funding to be released from the Restoring Your Railway Fund to enable to proceed with the project at pace.”
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9. Questions to the Leader or Executive Members |
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To question the Leader and/or Executive Members in respect of any matter within their portfolio responsibility, in accordance with Standing Order B11.
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10. Report of Executive Member (Pages 37 - 48) |
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To receive a written report from the Executive Member for Economy & Strategic Planning and to question the Executive Member thereon, in accordance with Standing Orders B9 and B10.
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11. Scrutiny - Report of the Chair of the Customer & Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee (Pages 49 - 52) |
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To receive a report from Councillor Crawshaw, Chair of the Customer & Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee, on the work of the Committee.
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12. Pay Policy 2023-2024 (Pages 53 - 74) |
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To receive for approval the council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2023/2024.
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13. Urgent Business |
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Any other business which the Chair considers urgent under the Local Government Act 1972.
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Democratic Services officer
Fiona Young Contact details: · Telephone – (01904) 552030 · Email fiona.young@york.gov.uk |
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For more information about any of the following please contact the Democratic Services officer responsible for servicing this meeting:
· Registering to speak · Business of the meeting · Any special arrangements · Copies of reports and · For receiving reports in other formats
Contact details are set out above.
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