City of York Council
Resolutions and proceedings of the meeting of the City of York Council held in the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York, on Thursday, 21 November 2024, starting at 6.30 pm.
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Present: The Lord Mayor (Councillor Wells) in the Chair, and the following Councillors: |
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Acomb Ward |
Bishopthorpe Ward |
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Lomas Rose
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Nicholls
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Clifton Ward |
Copmanthorpe Ward |
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D Myers Wells
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Steward
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Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward |
Fishergate Ward |
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Fenton Mason Widdowson
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Whitcroft Wilson
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Fulford and Heslington Ward |
Guildhall Ward |
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Ravilious
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Clarke Melly Merrett
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Haxby & Wigginton Ward |
Heworth Ward |
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Cuthbertson Hollyer
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B Burton Douglas Webb
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Heworth Without Ward |
Holgate Ward |
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Ayre
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Kent Steels-Walshaw Taylor
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Hull Road Ward |
Huntington and New Earswick Ward |
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Baxter Moroney Pavlovic
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Cullwick Orrell Runciman
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Micklegate Ward |
Osbaldwick and Derwent Ward |
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J Burton Crawshaw Kilbane
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Rowley BEM Warters |
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Rawcliffe and Clifton Without Ward |
Rural West York Ward |
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Smalley Wann
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Hook Knight
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Strensall Ward |
Westfield Ward |
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Fisher Healey
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Coles Waller |
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Wheldrake Ward |
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40. Apologies for Absence (6:35 pm)
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Waudby and Vassie. Councillor Nelson was also absent on parental leave.
41. Declarations of Interest (6:36 pm)
At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, or other registerable interests, they might have in respect of business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.
The following interests were declared:
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Cllr Kilbane |
Regarding agenda item 8, Motions on Notice, in that he was a shareholder in the Golden Ball Pub which occupied a building that was an asset of community value, and he would take no part in the discussion of the motion relating to protecting more of York’s community assets.
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Cllr Mason and Cllr Cullwick |
As a Merchant Adventurer they had no involvement in the decision to hold the meeting in the venue. |
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42. Minutes (6:38 pm)
Resolved: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 September 2024 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.
43. Civic Announcements (6:38 pm)
The Lord Mayor gave a summary of the activities of the civic party since her last update, which included:
· Hosting York’s official Remembrance Sunday service and parade, and she thanked everyone who played their part in this.
· Attending the Samoa National Rugby League which was hosted in York.
· Meeting with the York RLFC Valkyrie squad at the Mansion House as part of their celebrations following their historic super league grand final win.
· Attending various celebratory events to mark Diwali and the 35th Anniversary of the York Interfaith Group.
The Lord Mayor noted that following Executive’s decision to reallocate unspent points to the Conservative Group from the 2019/2020 nomination to the current points calculation, the Lord Mayoralty for the 2025/2026 municipal year will therefore fall to the Conservative Group. The Lord Mayor invited the Conservative Group to nominate one of its members to serve as the Right Honourable Lord Mayor for the City of York for the municipal year 2025/2026. Cllr Steward nominated Cllr Rowley BEM as the Lord Mayor Elect. Cllr Rowley BEM confirmed that he would be honoured to accept and nominated former Councillor Paul Doughty as his Sheriff.
44. Public Participation (6:45 pm)
It was reported that four speakers had registered to speak at the meeting under the council’s Public Participation Scheme.
Flick Williams spoke on Agenda Item 10, Report of the Executive Member for Equalities & Human Rights. Ms Williams raised concerns regarding how the labour administration had responded to the oppression experienced by disabled people in the city. She also highlighted her concerns regarding how the York Access Forum was utilised, a denied supplementary planning document for accessible York and the inefficient implementation of the social model plan.
Steven Byford, a local resident, and a national convenor for Unite, the union that represented Sainsbury’s retail workers, spoke on Agenda Item 6, specifically the petition regarding saving Foss Bank Sainsbury’s. He thanked the Councillors who had spoken against the landowner decision to not review the lease with Sainsbury’s which had forced several job losses and would have an impact on the local community. He called upon the council to work with the landowners, Sainsbury’s and Unite to try to secure a site or retail opportunity for Sainsbury’s.
It was noted that the third registered speaker, Gary Graham, had not attended the meeting.
Arshad Mahmood, Chair of York City Taxi Association, spoke on Agenda Item 13, specifically the taxi licensing policy. Mr Mahmood expressed objection to some of the changes proposed in the taxi licensing policy, particularly the decision to enforce black only taxis which could reduce the number of accessible taxis in York and have a financial impact on the struggling York taxi trade. He also explained how the age of the vehicle and the emissions standards were also a concern that would impact on several taxis.
The Lord Mayor thanked all registered speakers for their contributions.
Before moving onto agenda item 6, Petitions, the Lord Mayor invited Cllr Steward to move a motion without notice, under Rule B14 (2) (j) of the Procedure Rules, in order to suspend Procedure Rule B5 (1) to allow him to present a petition. This was seconded by Cllr Nichols and after being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried.
45. Petitions (6:57 pm)
Subject to the constitution changes proposed in agenda item 12, the following petitions would be presented for reference to either the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee, or referred to the appropriate decision maker, in accordance with the council’s petition arrangements:
i) Cllr Runciman in relation to installing a crossing urgently to enable residents, particularly those who were elderly or disabled to get to the Folk Hall and all its facilities safely from the opposite side of the road.1
ii) Councillor Douglas in relation to a tourism tax for York.2
iii) Councillor Clarke in relation to saving Foss Bank Sainsbury’s.3
iv) Councillor Steward in relation to broadening the 20mph zone in Copmanthorpe.4
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Action Required 1.
Keep updated the petitions log in relation to installing a crossing
urgently to enable residents, particularly those who are elderly or
disabled to get to the Folk Hall and all its facilities safely from
the opposite side of the road.
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46. Report of Executive Leader, Questions, and Executive Recommendations (19:03 pm)
Members were 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:
Our City, Our Community
From Cllr Widdowson: Can you tell us what discussions you have had with employers in the city across all sectors about the impact of the labour government’s decision to increase employers’ national insurance contributions and lower the threshold above which contributions are payable?
Response: I am always open to speaking with employees about any impacts that they are feeling from labour party government policy but that is not a request that I have had so far. I would say that our MPs are engaging in that more than I have. In fact, I have not had any requests for it.
Supplementary from Cllr Widdowson: So, from all the meetings that you have had nobody has mentioned the national insurance issues with yourself?
Response: No
Supplementary from Cllr Ayre: I am aware that some councils in West Yorkshire have agreed to uplift all their third sector contracts to offset the national insurance, will that be something that York will do?
Response: We will always consider any challenges that our sectors are facing within our budget setting. We do have to operate within our £150million budget so it will be considered under the process that we are going through now and that is conversations that we have been having internally about any impact that this will raise. We are as always open to suggestions, and we will move forward in an appropriate and responsible manner.
From Cllr Taylor: I know that the council’s leadership has taken the National Railway Museum walkway agreement issue very seriously, can the Leader explain where discussions are up to now with the Railway Museum in representing the interests of Leeman Road residents?
Response: It’s not been a quick and straightforward process and there has been a lot of negotiation, but we are in the final stages on a letter of agreement to allow Leeman Road residents access through the Great Hall when it is completed from 7:30am in the morning until 7:00pm at night, I may have that slightly wrong, other than when there are notified events. It is a great improvement. There is more work to do in this area and we will continue the conversation. Partnership working gets results for our residents.
Delivering for Our City
From Cllr Healey: Your report refers to the local transport strategy and the ambition to get more people cycling but for this to happen we need road surfaces that are safe to cycle on. Can the Leader say how this ambition fits with the proposal in the current budget consultation for cuts to be made to funding for road maintenance?
Response: It is important that we have safe and good road surfaces and actually at the moment City of York Council puts about five million pounds a year into road surfacing and improvements. That is a discretionary spend on top of what the government currently provides to us. We are looking forward to hearing what residents are going to say to us and those considerations will be taken into account in budget setting.
Supplementary from Cllr Healey: The budget mentions a figure of £60,000, is that £60,000 off the revenue budget or is that £60,000 the capital repayment so the actual reduction in road maintenance will be £500,000 from the capital budget not £60,000 from the revenue budget.
Response: £60,000 is revenue spend.
Supplementary from Cllr Ayre: Where did that figure of £60,000 came from? Why was that figure of £60,000 a year chosen?
Response: It is the revenue cost of the actual spend.
Supplementary from Cllr Ayre: You can pick any figure, why £60,000?
Response: I will get an answer to you.
From Cllr Steward: What were the biggest changes last year that were made to the budget after the consultation?
Response: I will get back to you on that.
From Cllr Clarke: Centre for Cities has recently produced a report comparing visitor spend across the UK’s largest sixty-three cities, what does this tell us about York’s visitor economy?
Response: York is at the top of the list for the level of spend for overnight visitors across the whole country. This I know has been an aspiration of the hospitality industry in York for a number of years and they have finally reached it. It shows that people who come into York and stay and visit with us really enjoy the vibrancy of our city centre, the retail offer, the restaurants and bars and they are spending their money in York. Tourism is tremendously important to our economy. It is a baseline of what we deliver and so many people work in that industry in York. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who makes York a fantastic area for visitors and residents.
B – Executive Recommendations
Cllr Douglas moved, and Cllr Kilbane seconded, the following recommendations contained in Minute 46 of the Executive meeting held on 10 October 2024 and Minute 58 of the Executive meeting held on 14 November 2024.
Minute 46: York Youth Justice Service Plan
Recommended:
i. To Full Council the York Youth Justice plan for approval.
Reason: To ensure the Council fulfils its statutory duty to submit an annual Youth Justice Plan.
Minute 58: Capital Programme Update Monitor 2
Recommended:
i. To Full Council the adjustments resulting in a decrease in the 2024/25 budget of £10.384m as detailed in the report.
Reason: To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.
On being put to the vote, the recommendations were declared CARRIED, and it was:
Resolved: That the above recommendations be approved.1,2
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Action Required 1.
Note approval of the recommendation on the York Youth Justice
Service Plan
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47. Motions on Notice (7:43 pm)
(i) Protecting more of York’s Community Assets
Moved by Cllr Baxter, seconded by Cllr Lomas.
“Council notes the important role local assets play in supporting York’s communities to thrive. It further notes the broad range of valued local facilities and venues from community centres to pubs, from cinemas to music venues to green spaces and much more.
Council believes that the shift in shopping habits away from the high street, often leaving long-term empty retail units, poses questions for communities and their representatives around broadening the definition of what makes a community asset and how to ensure productive use of local buildings.
Further, council notes the Government’s plans, to start in 2026, to reduce business rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses, with the aim of creating a more level playing field with online retailers and reducing the number of high street business closures.
Council welcomes:
· the Government’s plans to introduce a Community Right to Buy and commitment to strengthen the powers available to communities, including a first refusal on a wider range of Assets of Community Value (ACVs), and doubling the time period for communities to raise finance to buy ACVs from six months to twelve.
· the role that local people, community groups and other organisations have played in saving and breathing new life into once forgotten or at-risk venues through ACV nominations like New Earswick and District Indoor Bowling Club, Holgate Community Garden and Strensall Library, which should be celebrated.
Council resolves:
· to support individuals and community groups interested in protecting or acquiring an asset by sharing information with them on local and national funders. This includes making links with and working with organisations such as Plunkett UK, Music Venue Trust, and Power to Change;
· to commit to supporting further work to ensure processes for protecting and acquiring community assets are as accessible as possible;
· to request its scrutiny function considers how best the council can:
1. Promote adding to the local register of Assets of Community Value;
2. Make it easier for residents and community groups to nominate an ACV;
3. Celebrate the success stories of ACVs in our community to encourage new nominations;
4. Prepare for law changes on the Community Right to Buy in securing a wider range of ACVs.”
On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED, and it was:
Resolved: That the above motion be approved.1
ii) Protecting York’s Primary and Social Care providers
Moved by Cllr Mason, seconded by Cllr Widdowson.
“Council notes:
- The 1.2% increase in Employers National Insurance, the decrease in the threshold to start paying Employers National Insurance from £9,100 to £5,000 and the increase in the allowance to £10,500.
- That these changes will not apply to the public sector, with public bodies being reimbursed for the additional Tax.
- The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey MP, calling on the government to exclude social care providers from the increase in National Insurance.
- The Labour Council’s recent decision to cut £450,000 worth of contracts with organisations that provide early intervention and prevention social care services in York.
- The good work that charitable and private providers of hospice care, social care and primary care services play in fulfilling York residents’ needs.
Council believes:
- That the Labour Government’s proposed increase in National Insurance on charitable and private providers will put further pressure on GP and dental practices, hospices, and community pharmacies in York, which could impact on the availability of timely care for patients.
- That over the last nine years there has been a deterioration in access to Dental and GP appointments in York, the loss of a number of pharmacies around the city and an increasing need for social care services.
- That private and charitable providers help to alleviate pressure on NHS bodies such as secondary care providers.
- That the Labour Council was wrong to cut £110,000 more than had been budgeted from the contracts with organisations that provide early intervention and prevention social care services in York.
- That the Labour Council could have saved Age UK Day Clubs under their own budget proposals but chose to cut them anyway
- That the loss of Age UK Day Clubs is being compounded by the tax increase they, and other charitable organisations, will face when Employer National Insurance contributions increase.
- That the National Insurance increases should not fall on private social care providers, health charities or primary care providers including GPs, Dental practices, hospices, and pharmacies.
Council resolves:
- To ask the Group Leaders to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that private and charitable social care providers, hospices, and primary care providers including GPs, Dental practices and pharmacies are excluded from her increase to Employers National Insurance contributions.”
Cllr Ben Burton then moved, and Cllr Coles seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:
“Under Council notes:
In the first bullet point:
- After ‘increase in the’ insert ‘threshold before businesses start paying NI, through NI Employment’
In the fourth bullet point:
- delete ‘cut £450,000 worth of contracts with organisations that provide early intervention and prevention social care services in York.’ and insert ‘approve savings of £339k to Adult Social Care (ASC) community contracts, to help address an inherited £40m budget deficit and deliver a balanced 2024-25 council budget, thereby focusing limited resources on maintaining non-discretionary ASC services.’
Under Council believes:
In the first bullet point:
- delete ‘will’ insert ‘may’
- delete ‘which could’ and after ‘patients’ insert ‘will need to be monitored.’
In the second bullet point:
- delete ‘nine’ insert ‘fourteen’
- before ‘Dental’ insert ‘NHS’
Delete the fourth, fifth and sixth bullet points.
In the now fourth bullet point:
- after ‘that’ insert ‘the impact of’
- after ‘increases’ delete ‘should not fall’
- after ‘pharmacies’ insert ‘and the services they provide to the public, should be taken into account before implementation of the Chancellor’s NI increase in April 2025.’
Under Council resolves:
In the first bullet point:
- delete ‘private and’
- after ‘pharmacies are’ insert ‘carefully considered for exclusion’
- delete ‘excluded’”
On being put to the vote, the amended motion was declared CARRIED, and it was.
Resolved: That the above motion, as amended, be approved.2
iii) Agricultural Property Relief
Moved by Cllr Steward, seconded by Cllr Nicholls.
“Council notes the government’s budget’s proposed Agricultural Property Relief change from 100% to 50% beyond the first £1 million of assets and that this is in direct contradiction to assurances made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed.
Council believes the change fundamentally misunderstands the reasons APR was introduced, why it has remained so long, its importance to UK farming and that a change would have a devastating effect including:
1. An adverse impact on nearly 250 family farms in York.
2. A need for farms to find simply non-existent funds to pay IHT, resulting in forced asset sales and the likely less suitable but more profitable land use.
3. A rise in costs on farmers already hard hit by factors including Defra cuts, supplier and energy price inflation and more regulation.
4. Tax receipts will be much smaller than believed and the real winners will be big business, financial organisations and especially the overseas wealthy who will be able to buy UK farmland without being subject to the same taxes.
5. The inevitable breaking up of farms which have been in families for generations and reduction in food security.
Council agrees with the significant and wide-ranging opposition to the change across all political sides and notably from crucial bodies including the National Farmers Union, Country Land and Business Association and resolves to:
1. Acknowledge rural hardship remains a largely unrecognised issue which includes many reliant on farming and that having an asset worth a lot on paper often does not translate into high income. To specifically ensure council owned, funded, or influenced welfare bodies are reaching out to all of York including often harder to reach rural areas.
2. Write to York’s two MPs stressing the importance of farming for York and urging them to oppose the change.
3. Have a report prepared for the Executive Leader to discover how better the council can work with York’s farms and farm workers and support their work.”
On being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST and it was
Resolved: That the above motion be not approved.
[An adjournment took place between 8:43 pm and 9:20 pm]
iv) Renewing York’s commitment to Fairtrade
Moved by Cllr Clarke, seconded by Cllr B Burton.
“Council notes:
- 2024 marks York celebrating its 20th anniversary of becoming a Fairtrade City;
- York Fair Trade Forum organised events throughout the year to mark York’s 20th anniversary and status as a Fairtrade City;
- York Central’s MP, Rachael Maskell, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 509) congratulating York on this milestone and further congratulates York Fair Trade Forum for its work in promoting fairtrade in York and beyond.
Council believes:
· Fairtrade plays a vital role in ensuring farmers and workers across the world are treated justly with better terms, including fair pay, so they can develop strong, sustainable businesses, helping to reduce global inequalities;
· Fair prices provide an immediate lifeline for farmers and workers struggling with low incomes and disadvantaged by global trade;
· Trade can be made fairer and more sustainable by farming co-operatives, businesses, and governments – including local government – working together, supporting and promoting Fairtrade;
· York’s commitment to maintain its status as a Fairtrade City raises awareness and signals the role York can play in promoting fairtrade beyond its boundaries;
· York Fair Trade Forum and the Fairtrade Foundation should be supported in their promotion and advocacy work.
Council resolves:
· To renew its commitment to Fairtrade and to York’s status as a Fairtrade City, continuing to raise awareness and supporting actions that make global trade fairer;
· To continue to appoint a named councillor to York Fair Trade Forum, to provide a strong link with the council and to support its work;
· To work with York Fair Trade Forum to ensure York continues to meet and exceed the requirements necessary to maintain its status as a Fairtrade City;
· To consider offering Fairtrade goods wherever possible and available, for example in any catering and in-house café provision;
· To ensure Fairtrade remains a feature following the current update of the council’s Social Value Strategy, so it is considered through its procurement processes, and those of its suppliers, where applicable;
· To promote Fairtrade issues and practices among local businesses, commercial and other organisations;
· To share best practice about Fairtrade and sustainable development with other public bodies, stakeholders and partners;
· To request the Executive Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to request their support for the Fairtrade Foundation’s ‘three asks’ of the new Government:
1. Develop trade policy that works for people and planet. Policies that must improve resilience for the smallholder farmers and workers producing food overseas, and support innovative business approaches to enhance environmental and social sustainability;
2. Legislate to ensure responsible business. The legislation must ensure that businesses address human rights and environmental violations in supply chains, including deforestation, while taking full account of the needs of farmers and workers;
3. Strengthen UK aid by responding to the needs and priorities of farmers and workers who make a crucial contribution to the global food system.”
On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was:
Resolved: That the above motion be approved.3
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Action Required 1.
To take forward actions requested in relation to motion (i)
Protecting more of York's Community Assets.
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DM |
48. Questions to the Leader or Executive Members (9:26 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:
Questions to Cllr Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport
From Cllr Nichols: Is there any possibility of a one-way system around South Bank to try and prevent the standoff between lorries and buses?
Response: I appreciate that there are problems with the number 11 bus, and we are recognising that, and First Bus are recognising that. The reliability is poor so I have asked officers to review and check the reliability figures and we will also look at measures to overcome some of the pinch points and the congestion in the city. What we are learning is that most of the unreliability of our bus services across the city is due to congestion. The city centre sustainable travel corridor that we will be consulting on in the new year is that first step towards really addressing the congestion and that is important in the longer term, but we still have to do things in the shorter term too. We need to look at some of the pinch points on the route such as that South Bank loop and we have some funding as part of our BSIP award to do exactly those kinds of measures. We can ask officers to look at this and I am very happy to continue working with you to improve that route.
From Cllr Widdowson: Council finances continue to be reliant on parking income and the ongoing budget consultation includes a proposal to further increase city centre parking charges. Can you please set out what assessment has been made to the likely impact on council finances if this were to lead to significant decreases in parking income and whether alternative sources of revenue have been identified?
Response: This is a budget consultation, and we are looking for feedback from people about their thoughts and feelings on the measures in there. It is currently far cheaper to drive into York and park then catch the bus into York. Our transport strategy wants to enable people to use sustainable means of travel, so we have taken the approach of matching a family bus ticket cost with the first two hours of parking in the city centre. If you are coming into York for two hours or more, it is cheaper to catch the bus into the city than to drive and park. When we look at other cities where parking prices are similar or higher we are seeing from their evidence that it did bring about some behaviour change and not necessarily a drastic income change. It is a suggestion, and we will wait to see what the public feedback is.
Questions to Cllr Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change
From Cllr Fenton: The ongoing second phase of the budget consultation seeks views on a proposal that could see some local recycling banks removed but others retained. Can you provide an understanding on what is being proposed and how those banks that serve a specific community need would be identified so that residents can provide informed feedback to the consultation. Is there anything you can say about how those recycling banks will be identified?
Response: This is a specific community need as opposed to general recycling because the principle is that across the city everybody does have kerbside recycling. This is looking to see if there are areas which do not need an additional site. It will also be looking at geographies so that if you have multiple sites close by each other maybe there can be some rationalisation in that sense. Not all are council owned many of them are run by supermarkets and maybe there’s duplication there but those would not be part of the consultation, it is only the council owned ones that are being looked at. I would be happy to answer questions about more specific sites and see if they are part of the review following the meeting.
Cllr Fenton: Clarification around recycling banks in supermarkets would be helpful, particularly Morrisons which serves a specific community need for people who may not have access to a car to go to the tip.
Supplementary from Cllr Steward: Is the council looking to recycle blister packs?
Response: The difficulty with it is the expense. There have been multiple attempts at this with doctor surgeries and pharmacies across York, but most have withdrawn it due to the expense. We do not have the facility to separate the foil from the plastic and I have not seen any examples within any other local authority. Some of the supermarkets and Boots recycle old make-up and more bespoke recycling is going on within stores. We are looking at increased recycling across the city with the Sustainability Clinic at York University. The waste group of York Climate Commission is also trying to set up more varieties and more information spreading about where you can recycle different items which we cannot recycle as a council.
Questions to Cllr Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities
From Cllr Crawshaw: I understand that you have recently agreed to consult on implementing a public space protection order (PSPO) to tackle public urination, defecation, and dog fouling. Public urination can be a problem in the Micklegate Ward associated with race days and people drinking and I just wondered what this PSPO would mean in reality for residents affected by this behaviour?
Response: Urination in the streets and shop doorways is a vile thing to happen and in the last year alone there were over 4,000 incidents in the city centre. The public protection order will give the council powers to impose on spot fines as opposed to the previous policy which involved summonsing somebody to court and consequently it rarely happened. Council staff, BID Rangers and the police will now have the opportunity when they come across somebody urinating in the street to get their name and impose a fixed penalty notice. I hope it is going to make a difference.
Supplementary from Cllr Healey: On a very personal level, I would strongly commend any enforcement action you can do in Micklegate particularly on race days and at the weekends and particularly in St Martin’s Lane.
Response: The racecourse themselves have been very proactive in supporting this initiative. It is behaviour modification as opposed to money raising. As I said at the Decision Session, it is about changing people’s behaviour and understanding of just how unacceptable this is for residents, householders, shop owners and tourists. We want to see it stop.
49. Report of Executive Member (9:43 pm)
A written report was received from Cllr Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality, and Inclusion.
Members were then invited to question the Executive Member 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 Tax
From Cllr Steward: There are three views on council tax, that it should be frozen as advocated by Keir Starmer a year ago, that there should be an increase such as 5% as is the current labour government policy, or that there should be no cap, in which camp is the Executive Member?
Response: I am happy to talk about our approach to council tax. What we would like to do is to make sure the council can continue to provide the services that our residents need and rely on. What I would prefer to do with council tax personally is less relevant to this conversation. I think we will be forced into a position to increase council tax in order to safeguard those frontline services that our residents rely on so much.
Supplementary from Cllr Ayre: How much precisely would that 5% increase raise and how much of that would be offset against increased in contract costs as a result of the National Insurance increases?
Response: I will write to you with those figures.
Supplementary from Cllr Ayre: Do you agree with my assertion that probably about 2.5% of the council tax increase will go directly on the national insurance cost of contracts?
Response: I have answered your question.
Affordable Housing on York Central
From Cllr Taylor: Concerning affordable housing on York Central, can the Executive Member explain how plans have changed over the last year and how she sees the role of social housing helping meet the housing needs of York residents on this site?
Response: This is a really important issue for residents of York. We have entered productive discussions with all the partners in the York Central partnership and we are now looking at not the 20% affordable housing that was originally planned but in fact we are looking at ways that we can double that amount to providing 40% affordable housing on that site. It is an exciting development that actually delivers for the people of York and gives the opportunity for ordinary people in York to be able to live in their own city which is something that we are all very concerned about at the moment.
Supplementary from Cllr Healey: I believe the Leaders report had a figure of up to 50% should the figure that the council should be holding you to account for be 40, 50 or 20?
Response: The original plans for York Central were 20%. Your previous administration agreed 20% so that is the figure which you can hold us to account on but I am telling you that we are ambitious for our city and so we are going to go further than that.
Banking Hubs
From Cllr Coles: I wanted to pick up on the great news about the banking hub for Acomb that was recently confirmed and to ask the Executive Member if she could outline how Councillors locally had contributed to this ambition and why it is so important for residents living in the immediate Westfield, Acomb and Holgate areas and perhaps she could add anything else that could be done to support banking hubs across the city so that we can deliver better financial support for residents.
Response: The news that the last bank branch in Acomb Front Street was closing was a devastating blow to a lot of local residents but also to the other businesses in that busy high street area. Councillor Waller started a petition to encourage the Halifax not to close their branch but unfortunately that was a business decision that they had already made. I pay tribute to Councillors Rose, Coles, and Nelson for the work that they did with Cash Access UK to ensure that they were able to consult widely with residents, with businesses and with community groups in the area. I pay tribute to the work that Councillor Taylor did in reaching out to Cash Access UK to make sure that Acomb was on their list for a banking hub. I pay tribute to the work that everyone did in making sure that Acomb was not forgotten when sadly the last bank branch was closed. We have other areas in the city where we have high street shopping areas that are out of the city centre that have lost their bank branches already and I think that’s a great model for how other ward councillors can reach out to Cash Access UK to link working with them on that public consultation and making sure that the strength of feeling is known. Banks will not necessarily change their minds about closing on the strength of a petition that is submitted to them, but we have an alternative and it is important that we look at the future and really engage with that alternative.
Supplementary from Cllr Steward: Isn’t there a great opportunity for building societies to potentially be encouraged into some of those gaps? Could we as a council potentially reach out proactively to some of those societies?
Response: Previously there were a number of building societies located in Acomb Front Street as well and they also closed their branches over a period of time. I think that it is clear that these building societies which offer banking facilities are taking similar approaches to the other high street banks in centralising their branch structures. I note that some of them have made pledges about not closing branches, but I suspect they will take the same approach of not wanting to reopen branches in those areas. If there are any links that we can make to encourage branches of banks or building societies which offer banking facilities to open anywhere in our out of city centre shopping areas, then we absolutely will do.
50. Scrutiny - Report of the Chair of the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee (9:54 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.
51. Recommendations of the Audit and Governance Committee (9:54 pm)
Council received a report from the Monitoring Officer regarding approval and adoption of revisions to the Constitution, in accordance with the recommendations of the Audit & Governance Committee.
The Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee expressed his gratitude to the councillors and officers that had contributed to ensure the revisions were fit for purpose.
Recommended:
i) Council is recommended to approve the New Council Procedure Rules.
Reason: Approval is required in order to update the Council Procedure Rules.
On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the above recommendation be approved.1
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Action Required 1. To note the approval of the new Council Procedure Rules and take any action required.
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BR |
52. Recommendations of the Licensing & Regulatory Committee (9:56 pm)
Council received a report which presented the recommendations of the Licensing & Regulatory Committee from the Licensing & Regulatory Committee meetings held on 8 October 2024 and 4 November 2024, as contained in the reports set out in the Council agenda from page 221.
Cllr Melly moved, and Cllr Cuthbertson seconded the following recommendations contained in the reports subject to correcting a typographical error throughout the new taxi licensing policy and its annexes that referred to the largest private hire operators as being 99+ vehicles when it should be 91+ vehicles.
New Taxi Licensing Policy
Recommended:
i) That, in accordance with Option 1, Council approves the new policy as recommended by Members of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee to ensure the Taxi Licensing Policy complies with Statutory Standards and Best Practice Guidance (or any departures can be locally justified) thereby aiming to make taxi journeys in York even safer, more environmentally friendly and provide greater customer choice particularly for disabled passengers.
During debate, Cllr Mason proposed, and Cllr Widdowson seconded an amendment to the policy at section 14.4 in that Hackney Carriage wheelchair accessible vehicles should be exempt from being mandatory black in colour.
On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.
On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED, subject to including the typographical error, and it was
Resolved: That the above recommendation, subject to including the typographical error as noted above, be approved.1
Gambling Act 2005 - Statements of Licensing Policy
Recommended:
i) That in accordance with Option 1, Council approves the new Statement of Licensing Policy as recommended by Members of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.
Reason: To meet the legislative requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.
On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the above recommendation be approved.2
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Action Required 1.
To note approval of the new Taxi Licensing Policy subject to
updating the typographical error to 91+ vehicles and take any
action required.
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MB |
53. 2025/26 Corporate Calendar (10:19 pm)
The following recommendations contained in the report of the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer at pages 451 and 452 of the agenda papers was moved by Cllr Douglas and seconded by Cllr Kilbane.
Recommended:
i) That the Corporate Calendar of meetings for 2025/26, at Annex A to the report, be approved.
ii) That the Director of Governance be authorised to make any changes to the Calendar as may prove necessary from time to time.
Reasons:
i) To provide a framework for the democratic and decision-making functions which will underpin delivery of the Council’s corporate priorities.
ii) To ensure that the calendar of meetings is implemented to assist with the forward planning and better management of meetings.
On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the above recommendation be approved.1
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Action Required 1. To note approval of the 2025/26 Corporate Calendar and take any action required.
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LT |
54. Pay Policy Statement 2024 - 25 (10:19 pm)
The Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer informed Council that there was an error in the agenda pack in that the previous version of the pay policy statement had been submitted and he proposed deferring the item. It was acknowledged that the correct report and pay policy statement would be circulated to Members and published online.
On being put to the vote, the recommendation to defer the item was declared CARRIED, and it was
Recommended:
i) That the item be deferred to the next council meeting and the correct report and pay policy statement be circulated to Members and published online.1
Reason: In order to ensure the correct report and pay policy statement were being considered.
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Action Required 1. To defer the item to the next council meeting and circulate the correct report and pay policy statement to Members and publish online.
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BR |
55. Use of General Exception (Urgency) and Special Urgency Procedures (10:20 pm)
The following recommendation contained in the report of the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer at page 492 of the agenda papers was considered:
That Council is recommended to note the report.
Reason: To comply with legislative and constitutional requirements and ensure full transparency.
On being put to the vote the recommendation was declared CARRIED, and it was
Resolved: That the report be noted.
56. Appointments and Changes to Membership (10:20 pm)
Resolved: That the appointments and changes to membership set out in the agenda at page 497 be noted.1
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Action Required 1. To note approval of the revised appointments list, make the changes on the system and inform organisations as required
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LC |
Cllr Wells
LORD MAYOR OF YORK
[The meeting started at 6.30 pm and concluded at 10.20 pm]