City of York Council

 

 

Resolutions and proceedings of the Meeting of the City of York Council held in the Citadel, York on Thursday, 21 September 2023, starting at 6.30 pm.

 

Present: The Lord Mayor (Cllr Cullwick) in the Chair, and the following Councillors:

 

Acomb Ward

Bishopthorpe Ward

 

 

Lomas

Rose

 

Nicholls

 

Clifton Ward

Copmanthorpe Ward

 

 

D Myers

Wells

 

 Steward

 

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward

Fishergate Ward

 

 

Fenton

Mason

Widdowson

 

Whitcroft

Wilson

 

Fulford and Heslington Ward

Guildhall Ward

 

 

Ravilious

 

Clarke

Melly

Merrett

 

Haxby & Wigginton Ward

Heworth Ward

 

 

Cuthbertson

Hollyer

Pearson

B Burton

Douglas

Webb

 

Heworth Without  Ward

Holgate Ward

 

 

Ayre

 

Kent

Steels-Walshaw

K Taylor

 

Hull Road Ward

Huntington and New Earswick Ward

Baxter

Kelly

Pavlovic

Cullwick

Orrell

Runciman

 

 

 

Micklegate Ward

Osbaldwick and Derwent Ward

 

 

J Burton

Crawshaw

Kilbane

 

Rowley BEM
Warters

 

Rawcliffe and Clifton Without Ward

Rural West York Ward

 

 

 Waudby

 

Hook

Knight

 

Strensall Ward

Westfield Ward

 

 

Fisher

Healey

 

 

Coles

Nelson

Waller

 

Wheldrake Ward

 

 

 

Vassie

 

 

 

The were no apologies for absence.

 

 


 

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30.         Declarations of Interest (6.37 pm)

 

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

 

Cllr Kilbane declared a personal and pecuniary interest in Motion (iii) at Agenda item 8, Get me Home Safely, as he had been involved in setting up bars in the city.  He left the hall during consideration of that motion, and took no part in the debate or decision thereon.

 

Also on item 8, Cllr Melly noted, for the sake of transparency, in relation to Motion (ii) Green waste, that she had been appointed to the board of Yorwaste; she had been given special dispensation to take part in the vote.  She also noted, in relation to Motion (iii), that she worked in the hospitality industry.

 

In relation to Item 6, Report of Executive Leader, Cllr Merrett noted, for transparency reasons that he was a member of various environment and transport groups that had an interest in the council plan.

 

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<AI2>

31.         Minutes (6.39 pm)

 

In relation to minute 20, Armed Forces Week, Cllr Rowley noted that he had erroneously referred to the Council Leader as the Armed Forces Advocate rather than the Armed Forces Champion.

 

In relation to minute 24, Cllr Ayre requested that the resolution be amended to make reference to Annex A, as referred to and discussed at the meeting, as follows:

 

“Resolved:   That the budget amendment, at Annex A to the report of the Executive Member, be approved.”

 

Having taken the advice of the Monitoring Officer, it was

 

Resolved:    That the minutes of the Special Council meeting and the Ordinary Council meeting held on 20 July 2023  be approved, subject to the amendments outlined above and then signed as a correct record in each case.

 

 

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32.         Civic Announcements (6.43 pm)

 

The Lord Mayor announced that he had recently met with the Chinese Ambassador and had plans to meet the German Ambassador in the near future. He had also met with representatives from the National University of Lviv, both via Zoom and in person, at the Mansion House.

 

The Lord Mayor noted that it was the seventieth anniversary of the twinning of York and Dijon.  He had visited Dijon recently and  received gifts of wine and mustard. Representatives from Dijon would take part in the upcoming York Food and Drink Festival.

 

The Lord Mayor also noted that he had welcomed Rabbi Dr Elisheva Salamo to the city at a meeting at the Mansion House.

 

Finally, the Lord Mayor highlighted the charity events taking place in October, including a Mad Alice Bloody Mansion House Tour and the Sheriff’s Hallowe’en ball.

 

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<AI4>

33.         Public Participation (6.44 pm)

 

It was reported that three people had registered to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

 

Phil Pinder, attended remotely and raised concerns regarding lost trade to businesses located on the Shambles, due to the closure of one of the entrance/exits.  He requested that the closed areas were reopened at weekends to allow pedestrian access.

[Due to the poor audio quality during the call, the Lord Mayor also read out his written statement.]

 

Gwen Swinburn spoke on governance issues as a matter relevant to the Council or city, raising concerns about the control of governance and requesting scrutiny of the Corporate Peer Challenge.

 

Steve Lily, of Claremont Terrace Residents Association, spoke on Agenda Item 8 (Motions) in relation to (i) Improving York’s Air Quality.  He spoke in support of the motion and especially welcomed the parallel development of the air quality action plan  and local transport plan.  He highlighted the impact of poor air quality on the residents of the Gillygate area and noted their willingness to respond to consultation.

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<AI5>

34.         Petitions (6.58 pm)

 

Under Rule B5 2, the following petition was presented for reference to the Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee, in accordance with the Council’s petition arrangements:

·         A petition presented by Cllr Hollyer, regarding opposing cuts to the ward committee budgets.

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<AI6>

35.         Report of Executive Leader, Questions, and Executive Recommendations (7.00 pm)

 

A written report was received from the Executive Leader, Cllr Douglas, on the work of the Executive.

 

Members were then invited to question the Leader on her report.  Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed, and replied to as indicated:

 

Council Finances

 

From Cllr Pearson: Can the Leader please confirm whether or not every primary school child in York will be receiving a free school meal by the end of this council term?

Response: We are absolutely committed to doing that and we will do it over a period of time within our financial responsibilities. We are bringing together the city institutions, large employers, faith groups, media partners, who are all very keen to run a city wide campaign that will actually deliver on this. I would ideally hope that we’ll be able to give every primary school child in York, by the end of the term, a free school meal but I will not commit to spending money that we haven’t got, it’s a long term project.  

Supplementary from Cllr Pearson: Shall I just take that as a no then?

Response: We are working towards it.

 

From Cllr Hollyer: At a Full Council meeting before the election, Cllr Kilbane stated that all the funding for preschool meals was in place with a specific source of funding identified, what happened to that money?

Response: Cllr Kilbane did not say it was fully funded. What he said was that we have some partners who’ve committed to giving us some funding for it, and we still have those. Those people are part of our steering group.

Supplementary from Cllr Mason: Is there any concern about relying on fundraising as a long-term source to make this sustainable?

Response: We are going to have an ongoing fundraising campaign that doesn’t just commit to fundraising free school meals, it’s going to be a York fund that will allow us to deliver other projects as well. We don’t actually have the money within the local authority to do this on our own anymore, and we are relying on the good will of our city to support us to reach our ambitions.

 

From Cllr Warters: The Leaders report discusses the council finances. Why are we paying to hire this room tonight, how much is this costing? How was the renovation of the Guildhall allowed to balloon from £1m to £25.5m under the last administration?

Response: It’s costing us £1200. We are looking for a fully accessible venue and the Guildhall simply isn’t one at this point of time because blue badge holders can’t get close to the Guildhall at the right time or stay parked close to the Guildhall for more than 3 hours. When we review city centre access we will be able to go back to the Guildhall, and it won’t cost us anything. We will be reviewing all the capital projects to make sure they are on target and they are delivering on the priorities of the city.

Supplementary from Cllr Rowley: Regarding hiring of venues, has a feasibility study being done on the council chamber as to the cost to make that space fit for purpose, and if so, whether the costings would mean that over the four years we would save?

Response: I don’t believe that we fully understand the cost of renovating the chamber. It is a very precious resource but it does need to be made accessible for everybody before we can move back in there. We would dearly love to be able to do that but this gets harder as our budgets are stretched further. We will let you know once we have had the opportunity.

 

From Cllr Rose: Can you explain the difference between spending out of one-off reserves versus not spending out of one-off reserves within a balanced budget.

Response: If we don’t set sensible budgets then every year we have an overspend that has to be filled within year or it’s paid for from one-off payments. Those one off payments, to balance the budget, have been doubling every year for the past three years, so now of course we are getting worried. We took £5m from reserves last year to put into balancing the budget, if it doubles again that’s £10m, we’re in trouble. We need to take this seriously and this is why I’ve asked to sit down and speak to Councillor Ayre.

 

B – Executive Recommendations

 

Cllr Douglas moved, and Cllr Kilbane seconded, the following recommendations contained in Minute 24 and Minute 28 of the Executive meeting held on 14 September 2023:

 

Minute 30: Approval of the Council Plan 2023 - 2027

 

Recommended:

 

(i)       That Council consider the Council Plan for final approval on 21 September 2023.1

 

Reason:   The Council Plan guide the council’s priorities, providing a framework for financial and performance management, including dealing with competing demands and defining a programme to ensure best-value for residents.

 

Minute 31: Capital Programme Monitor 1 2023/24

 

Recommended:

 

(i)        That Council make the appropriate adjustments to the Capital Programme resulting in a decrease in the 2023/24 budget of £135.903m, as detailed in the report and contained in the Abbreviated Monitor 1 Annex.2

 

Reason:     To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.

 

On being put to the vote, all of the recommendations were declared CARRIED, and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above recommendations be approved. 1,2

 

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<AI7>

36.         Report of Deputy Leader and Questions (7.40 pm)

 

A written report was received from the Deputy Leader, Cllr Kilbane.

 

Members were then invited to question the Deputy Leader on his report.  Questions were received from the floor from the following Members, and replied to as indicated:

 

From Cllr Widdowson: You say you are cutting £50k from gritting footpaths and cycle paths, could you please let me know what that impact will be? 

Response: This is not a question about my report, if you would like to put those questions to me in writing I will give you an answer.

Supplementary from Cllr Ayre:  Can you not articulate now what you think the impact will be in winter.

Response: With all due respect it is not within my report, send me the question and I’ll respond.

 

From Cllr Nelson: At the last Full Council meeting you indicated that you intended to drop the report of the Deputy Leader from the agenda, why are we still receiving a report to Full Council?

Response:  Okay, fair enough

Supplementary from Cllr Steward: The Conservative Group supported the removal of the Deputy Leaders report. How many requests has the Deputy Leader had regarding his report, how many have wanted to see it?

Response: It is here because the previous administration was a coalition. It was to satisfy the then Deputy Leader that belonged to a different party. The Leader of the opposition party refused to cooperate and is now insisting that this matter goes to full A&G.

 

From Cllr Healey: Could the Executive Member explain how he calculated the £50m-£60m shortfall in paragraph 3 of his report?

Response: That figure is calculated on as if the money that we receive in from central government had continued to keep pace with inflation, and we calculate that’s been in the £30m-£40m area. Then when you focus in the additional pressures that come from an aging population to more complex needs for children and care etc the uplift that we would need to cope with gets you to around the £50m-£60m mark. The reality for the city is that we are trying to run a city £50m-£60m short of where we need to be.

 

From Cllr Rowley:  As you continue to work towards devolution, will you give a commitment that the rural bus service will be maintained, and would you please try, where possible, to include ward councillors in terms of your wider consultation?

Response: Devolution will offer a great opportunity for those services because the Mayor, from next May, will have responsibility for those bus networks. We are trying to make sure that we get more from the bus companies.

 

[An adjournment took place between 7.54 pm and 8.11pm]

 

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<AI8>

37.         Motions on Notice (8.11 pm)

 

(i)           Improving York’s Air Quality

 

Moved by Cllr Kent, seconded by Cllr Ravilious

 

"Council notes:

 

·        recent scientific research backing the World Health Organization (WHO’s) updated 2021 Global Air Quality Guidelines on air quality;

 

·        the research on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide making clear the overwhelming body of evidence accumulated over the past two decades demonstrates the damaging health effects of air pollution at every level of exposure, affecting nearly all organ systems of the human body; and the importance of implementing measures to reduce average exposures of all people to maximise health benefits.

 

·        the UK government’s recently published new air quality strategy for England  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-air-quality-strategy-for-england,  laying out a strategic framework for local authorities and other partners, and setting out their powers, responsibilities, and the further actions the government expects them to take;

 

·        air quality is considered by the UK Government to be “the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK” “with children, the elderly and the already vulnerable most affected”; Public Health England (2019) estimated there are 28-36,000 premature deaths a year in the UK attributable to human made air pollution (pro-rata for York circa 85 -130 deaths a year):

 

·        poor air quality also has consequences for crop yields and, particularly in the case of ammonia and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), significant impacts for the natural environment and biodiversity;

 

·        the UK Government’s new air quality targets for England as much less stringent than the WHO’s health-based targets;

 

·        Research published in 2022 that demonstrates the WHO interim target for air quality could be achieved across most of the UK by 2030 (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/school-public-health/environmental-research-group/research/modelling/pathway-to-who/).

 

·        local authorities’ duties around air quality and work in recent years including the very welcome ‘Air Map’ in York showing street exposure to 5 different pollutants with effects across the city (see https://yorkairmap.org/);

 

York’s last 5 year Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP3) expired in December 2020 and Council believes it now needs to fulfil its statutory duty to adopt a new AQAP given on-going health-damaging exceedances of the UK annual NO2 limits in parts of the city centre, largely relating to high traffic levels on main roads and the effects of building enclosure, notably in Gillygate.

 

This Council resolves to request Executive:

 

·        urgently completes and consults on a draft Air Quality Action Plan 4 in parallel with the emerging draft Local Transport Plan 4, taking into account the Council’s Climate Change and Health and Well-being strategies given the significant inter-relationships for some key pollutants;

 

·        includes within this work the WHO principle of progressively reducing average exposures to air pollution in York and to set its own interim WHO-based targets for pollutants within the authority’s influence, such as PM10 and NO2.

 

·        ensures York prioritises actions that will end exceedances of the current English statutory air quality targets as soon as possible within the AQAP 4 period;

 

·        Works together with York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and other counterparts to address regional sources of air pollution.

 

and Council resolves in writing, with copies to York’s MPs, to call for the Government to:

 

·        adopt site-specific targets with the aim of improving air quality in vulnerable locations such as schools, hospitals, care homes, sites of special scientific interest and similar other ecologically vulnerable sites;

 

·        address the shortcomings of the National Planning Policy Framework and Building regulations with respect to air pollution from buildings including construction projects, gas boilers, solid fuel fires and stoves, from poor ventilation of buildings and from the impact on air quality of transport emissions associated with new developments and from agricultural practices; 

 

·        address the shortcomings in other legislation with regard to household furnishing, cleaning and other products used in residential and workplace settings which can adversely affect indoor air quality.”

 

The motion was then put to the vote and was declared CARRIED, and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved.1

 

(ii)         Green Waste Collection

Moved by Cllr Widdowson, seconded by Cllr Waller.

“Council notes that:

·        The Executive intends to explore the potential for generating income through charging for all green waste collection, with the suggestion of a charge of £43.50 per household per year

·        Such a charge would in effect represent a 2.5% increase in council tax for Band C household

·        It is estimated by officers that between 45% and 75% of households will give up their green bin rather than pay a charge for collection

·        In the York Labour 2023 local election manifesto there was no mention of exploring the introduction of charging for all green waste collection

·        When Labour were last in power in York (2011 to 2015) there were plans to introduce charging for all green waste collection, but following Labour’s defeat in the 2015 council elections, these plans were reversed through the July 2015 emergency budget implemented by the Conservative / Liberal Democrat administration

 

Council believes that:

·        At a time when many households are struggling with the cost of living crisis, the imposition of a regressive tax on green waste collection would be inappropriate

·        The imposition of charging would be at odds with the council’s plans to tackle climate change – for example there would be a likely increase in green waste being burnt, or being flytipped, or being transported across the city in private vehicles to household waste disposal sites, all of which would have adverse environmental consequences

·        No thought appears to have been given to the impacts of a significant reduction in the amount of separated green waste being collected and more of it being disposed of through the general waste stream

 

 Council resolves that:

·        The Executive is to instruct officers to immediately cease any work on exploring the potential for generating income through charging for all green waste collection.”

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST, and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be not approved.2

 

(iii)        Get Me Home Safely

 

Moved by Cllr Myers, seconded by Cllr Baxter.

 

Before moving his motion, Councillor Myers sought Council’s consent to alter his motion to incorporate the amendment from Councillor Fenton, as follows:

 

In the third paragraph, under ‘Council resolves’, insert the following in the 7th bullet point, after ‘buses’ and before ‘in’ ‘to be actively considered and lessons learned from the experience of other cities and regions, including the bus franchising systems being pursued by Labour Metro Mayors in West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester’.

 

Council having granted its consent, the motion was put as altered:  

 

“Council notes: 

 

·        shift work is widespread in many industries, particularly hospitality, as well as health and care workers, retail, cleaning, security and porter staff and can often entail late-night working; 

·        many workers, especially women, are increasingly worried about their safety travelling to and from work at night.

 

Council believes that:

 

·        while employers may feel their duty of care to staff ends when an employee finishes a shift, they also need to take into consideration journeys home, especially during unsocial hours; 

·        the weakness of enforcement of the law against sexual assault, including up-skirting, on public transport is appalling with only 2% of victims going on to report sexual harassment; 

·        Unite the union’s ‘Get Me Home Safely’ campaign, which calls on employers to take all reasonable steps to ensure workers are able to get home safely from work at night, is greatly needed and should be supported; 

·        Greater numbers of trained staff and stronger enforcement of the law against sexual assault and harassment on public transport are urgently needed. 

 

Council resolves to: 

 

·        Fully support Unite's "Get me Home Safely" campaign;

·        Request that through the Purple Flag Working Group, officers work with partners to help implement the aims of this campaign;

·        Ask the Licensing Committee to undertake policy consultation work on encouraging licence holders to offer free transport to workers for getting home safely after 11pm, with a view to this recommendation being added under ‘Night-time safety’ provisions when the Statement of Licensing Policy is next reviewed;

·        Support the introduction of legal requirements for training transport workers on preventing gender-based violence, sexual assault and harassment on public transport and private hire vehicles;

·        Publicly call for improvement to late night and off-peak transport service provision to provide extra night services, as well as work with employers to discuss funding for supplementary taxi travel; 

·        Publicly call for the lowering of bus fares and opposition to any cuts to public transport funding and write to our two Members of Parliament to outline the Council’s support for the Get Me Home Safely campaign and ask them to use their positions to achieve these aims and resolutions; 

·        Publicly call for the municipal ownership of buses to be actively considered and lessons learned from the experience of other cities and regions, including the bus franchising systems being pursued by Labour Metro Mayors in West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, in order to lower prices and improve service provision, especially for night-time and off-peak services; 

·        Make representation to appropriate sub-regional and national government to bring forward national minimum standards for taxis and private hire, as per the recommendations of the 2018 national Task and Finish Group, and in support of this motion and its demands on behalf of our local community.”

 

On being put to the vote, the altered motion was then declared CARRIED, and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion, as altered, be approved.3

 

(iv)        Supporting people living with epilepsy

Moved by Cllr Fenton, seconded by Cllr Runciman

“Council notes that:

·        Research carried out by the Office for National Statistics shows that just over a third (34%) of people who identified epilepsy as their “main” health condition are in employment and that the only people that have a lower employment rate are those people who have “mental illness or other nervous disorders” (29%) and “severe or specific learning difficulties” (18%)

·        By comparison, the overall rate of employment in the UK is around 76%. This means that just over three quarters of working age people have a job and people with epilepsy are more than twice as likely to be out of work than the national average

·        Research carried out by the Trades Union Congress shows that people with epilepsy in work are paid on average 11.8% less than non-disabled workers

·        Epilepsy Action is campaigning to change attitudes of employers and improve the employment support available to people with epilepsy

 

Council believes that:

·        The low rate of employment for people with epilepsy is very concerning, given that there are very few jobs someone with epilepsy cannot do

·        No one living with epilepsy should be discriminated against in hiring processes and in employment

·        Increased knowledge about epilepsy can make a huge difference to people with the condition, and their ability to find and stay in work

·        By taking simple steps to help support people with epilepsy, employers can help to create a more inclusive workplace

Council resolves to:

·        Request that the Executive Members in whose portfolios Economy and Inclusion sit to use all available opportunities to engage with groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses, Chambers of Commerce, York BID, Hospitality Association York and the York High Street Forum to raise awareness with employers about what more they can do to support people living with epilepsy in work

·        Request that the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion ensures that City of York Council is doing all that it can to be an employer that supports current and potential future staff who live with epilepsy.”

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED, and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved.4

 

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38.         Questions to the Leader or Executive Members (9.08 pm)

 

Members were invited to question the Leader or Executive Members. Questions were received from the floor from the following Members, and replied to as indicated:

 

Question to Cllr Webb, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education

 

From Cllr Nelson: How did the decision come to be that Westfield Primary School would be the first school to pilot free school meals, what was taken into account in that decision?

Response: Westfield Primary School is one of York’s largest primary schools and we want to tackle this issue head on.  In this pilot we need to stress test certain things and starting with a large primary school is a good idea. We tasked officers to look at various primary schools in York to identify a primary school that serves the greatest need in our city. In terms of a primary school that serves vulnerable young people, Westfield was an obvious candidate.

 

Questions to Cllr Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities

 

From Cllr Orrell: On 14 June finance officers were asked for details of ward schemes to which funding was allocated and not spent. This request was repeated in July and is now subject to an out of time Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Can Cllr Pavlovic clarify what is happening and when we can expect this information?

Response: I can’t respond regarding when the FOI will be responded to as that’s not my area. In respect of the substantive issue, write to me again and I will get an answer. My understanding is, and we can clarify this with the Statutory 151 Officer, that all schemes that were approved and signed off by officers in the last financial year will be honoured.

Response from the Statutory 151 Officer: I haven’t a detailed list of schemes in front of me but my understanding is that those schemes that were agreed by officers to progress would be honoured.

Supplementary from Cllr Orrell: Can the Executive Member find out when the vehicular activated signs (VAS) will be installed on North Lane, Huntington?

Response: I will certainly find out when it’s going to be installed.

 

From Cllr Melly: What is the Executive Member doing about the increasing problem in the Guildhall Ward with tenants legal rights in the private rental sector that aren’t always upheld. People are being given large renting freezes without the proper legal processes being followed. There are many unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), and many people are finding that essential repairs aren’t being made and basic housing standards aren’t being met.

Response: I had my second Decision Session yesterday and at that meeting we agreed to support Justice for Tenants, which is an organisation that the council will work with to support tenants that are living in HMOs that are either unlicensed or that have poor conditions. We hope it will encourage those unlicensed HMO’s to come forward. We believe there could be up to 800 unlicensed HMOs that have not come forward since additional licensing was introduced in April 2023.

Supplementary from Cllr Warters: Have you any update as to the progress of the review of the HMO Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)?

Response: Hopefully the Local Plan will be responded to by the Inspectors in time for November Full Council, and then the SPD’s will be following shortly thereafter. I did speak to the Strategic Planning Team about the HMO SPD and it is progressing.

 

Question to Cllr Coles, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

 

From Cllr Smalley: Please confirm that all York’s public swimming pools will remain open and won’t see any cuts during the length of your administration.

Response: I have had a number of conversations about leisure and cultural activities across the city, including swimming pools, and everything is incredible valued across the city. However, the budgetary situation is that we have a £10m in year shortfall. There has been no decisions made about anything to do with swimming pools. I will happily provide you with more information about the pools in the city. 

Supplementary from Cllr Warters: Can you elaborate on how much improvement they could be to the city’s swimming pools with an extra £900k a year, that is currently going to service the loan on the Guildhall.

Response: That £900k would be extremely welcomed in any of our huge areas of challenge in our budget setting for next year but as it is, we don’t have it.

 

From Cllr Whitcroft: What work is being undertaken to address the health inequalities across the city?

Response: Health inequalities is at the heart of everything we are trying to do along with environment, affordability, and human rights. Smoking is one of the biggest drivers of health inequalities and I’d like to pay tribute to our Health Trainers who have been out every day to support residents/officers to stop smoking. Local Area Co-Ordinators are also doing some really positive work to reduce health inequalities, and the Council Plan has a core principle around health. We are committed to doing as much as we can as an administration to reduce health inequalities across the city.

 

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39.         Report of Executive Member (9.25 pm)

 

A written report was received from Cllr Webb, the Executive Member for Children, Young People & Education.

 

Members were then invited to question the Executive Member on his report.  Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed, and replied to as indicated

 

Free School Meals

 

From Cllr Fisher: What metrics will you use to decide whether the breakfast club is superior to lunches or vice-versa?

Response:  We are looking at this as a pilot project. If we rolled it out all at once it would be a big change in a very short space of time. The pilot project gives us an opportunity to test different things out. Headteachers have been in touch to say a breakfast offer might be a better way, and I will take this advice on board. We have been working with the University of York to see how they could help us implement and monitor this.  We will listen to feedback received, and work with partners to achieve improvement outcomes for young people.

Supplementary from Cllr Cuthbertson: Will you be able to reach your target in the period you have set given that Early Talk for York took around 3.5 years to roll out across the city.

Response:  In terms of research, people have been working on free school meals across Europe for a long time. There have been organisations in London that have been doing this for 10 years. I’ve spoken to councils in Blackpool and I have been working with the University of York and Sheffield Council on auto enrolment, and we have looked at different aspects of the research that is available. We are not rushing into it, and we are committed to mobilizing the city to deliver on free school meals. This is something I hope we can work together on over a period of time.

Supplementary from Cllr Crawshaw: Do you think the task of galvanising the city to support the laudable aims of this project would be made easier if members of the Liberal Democratic group  were actually actively out there in the city speaking to people they know to make this a more deliverable project?

Response: The opposition have the right and a duty to scrutinize polices that we produce but I do struggle with the constant attack on why haven’t you done it straight away. We want to implement this properly and we want the process to work and stick. If you know people we could work with on this project we would welcome the conversations. Let’s try to work together on this to do everything we can to support the most vulnerable.

 

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<AI11>

40.         Scrutiny - Report of the Chair of the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee (9.37 pm)

 

A written report was received from Cllr Fenton,  Chair of the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee, on the work of the committee.

 

</AI11>

<AI12>

41.         Hessay Parish Council - Use of Reserve Powers of Principal Council (9.38 pm)

 

Council considered the appointment of Councillors Anne Hook and Emilie Knight to Hessay Parish Council under powers conferred by S91 of the Local Government Act 1972 in order that the Parish Council becomes quorate and can continue to function.

 

The following recommendation contained in the report was moved and seconded and on being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED, and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

(i)       That Councillors Anne Hook and Emilie Knight be appointed to Hessay Parish Council;

(ii)       That authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to submit copies of the order made to the Secretary of State as required by the legislation.

 

Reason: To bring Hessay Parish Council up to quorum so that it can continue to function.

 

</AI12>

<AI13>

42.         Appointments and Changes to Membership (9.39 pm)

 

Resolved:  That the appointments and changes to memberships of Committees, Working Groups and Outside Bodies, as set out on page 75 of the agenda pack, be approved, subject to including the following additions/changes:

 

·        That Councillor Douglas, as Council Leader,  be appointed to the York Health and Care Partnership.

 

·         That Cllr Rowley replaces Cllr Steward, as the Conservative representative, on the Local Transport Plan Steering Group.

 

 

</AI13>

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Cllr Cullwick

LORD MAYOR OF YORK

[The meeting started at 6.30 pmand concluded at 9.42 pm]

 

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