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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Combined Executive Member Decision Session |
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Date |
3 June 2025 |
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Present |
Councillors Lomas (Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights Equality), Pavlovic (Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities) and Kent (Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency
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In Attendance |
Guy Close (Head of Democratic Services) Jen Halliwell (Senior Project Officer Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation) Mike Southcombe (Environmental Protection Manager) David Walker (Head of Customer and Exchequer Services) Laura Williams (Assistant Director Customer, Communities, and Inclusion)
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1. Appointing a Chair (10.00am)
The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights Equality, and Inclusion opened the Decision Session. She explained that each Executive Member would Chair the Decision Session for their respective items. This would be herself for item 6 Gypsy and Traveller Action Plan – Annual Update and item 7 - Household Support Fund and item 8 - Air Quality Annual Status Report 2025. The decision for item 6 was to be taken jointly with the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities. The Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency would then take over as Chair for item 8 - Air Quality Annual Status Report 2025.
2. Apologies for Absence (10.01am)
There were no apologies for absence.
3. Declarations of Interest (10.01am)
The Executive Members were invited to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests, or any disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have in respect of business on the agenda. There were none.
4. Minutes (10.01am)
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a) Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Executive Member Decision Session held on 21 February 2024
Resolved: That the minutes of the Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Executive Member Decision Session held on 21 February 2024 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
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b) Children, Young People and Education Executive Member Decision Session held on 14 January 2025
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education Executive Member Decision Session held on 14 January 2025be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
4c) Housing, Planning and Safer Communities Executive Member Decision Session held on 5 February 2025
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities Executive Member Decision Session held on 5 February 2025 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
4d) Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Executive Member Decision Session held on 21 February 2024
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Executive Member Decision Session held on 21 February 2024 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
4e) Economy and Culture Executive Member Decision Session held on 25 March 2025
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Economy and Culture Executive Member Decision Session held on 25 March 2025 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
4f) Executive Leader, Policy, Strategy and Partnerships Executive Member Decision Session held on 23 April 2025
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session of the Executive Leader, Policy, Strategy and Partnershps Executive Member Decision Session held on 23 April 2025 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
4g) Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion Executive Member Decision Session held on 24 April 2025
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion Executive Member Decision Session held on 24 April 2025 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
5. Public Participation (10.02am)
It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. A written representation had been received from Cllr Warters on agenda item 6 Gypsy and Traveller Action Plan – Annual Update.
Steve Lilly spoke on agenda item 8 - Air Quality Annual Status Report 2025. He reported that the Gillygate Air Quality Action Group supported the report and that they had been looking at how to improve air quality on Gillgate. He noted that they were grateful to the council for the opportunity to be involved in improving air quality. He thanked the Environmental Protection Manager for his work on air quality and was pleased with the council commitment to the Movement and Place Plan. He added that it was hope by then that consultants had been appointed to look at traffic movement around the city and he asked for information of the development of it. He noted that the Gillygate Air Quality Action Group was a community group with support from residents.
6. Gypsy and Traveller Action Plan – Annual Update (10.06am)
The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights Equality, and Inclusion and the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities considered a report that provided an update on some of the work that had taken place over the past 12 months and included an updated version of the action plan which will run for the next 12 months, which was included at Annex A of the report.
The Assistant Director Customer, Communities, and Inclusion introduced the report noting that it was Gypsy and Traveller History, more of which would be done to celebrate it in 2026. She introduced the Senior Project Officer Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation who was appointed in 2025. The Senior Project Officer Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation detailed the work she had undertaken. The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights Equality, and Inclusion thanked her for her work in her first year. The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities felt that there had been a shift made over the past two years and expressed gratitude for the work that colleague had put in. he noted the positive feedback regarding Senior Project Officer Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation. He noted the change in emphasis in marginalised groups regarding investment had changed. He commended the Assistant Director Customer, Communities, and Inclusion and her team for their work.
Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights Equality, and Inclusion and the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities then;
Resolved: That the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights Equality, and Inclusion and the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities:
1) Note the work undertaken since the report to Executive in May 2024.
2) Approve the action plan for the next 12 months (Annex A).
Reason: To set out measurable actions for the coming year which aim to improve the outcomes of Gypsy and Traveller communities.
[The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities left the Decision Session at 10.20am[
7. Household Support Fund 7 (10.20am)
The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusionconsidered a report that provided an update on Household Support Fund 7 (HSF). The Head of Customer and Exchequer Services outlined the report noting that the HSF was part of a wider welfare package. He noted that HSF7 had been approved by officer decision on 25 March and the Executive Member was asked to ratify the decision. The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion noted that it was good to see the results of the lift data and she noted the different mechanisms to bring different support packages together. She then;
Resolved: That the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, and Equalities ratify the Household Support Fund (HSF7) scheme that was approved by officer decision on 25 March 2025 and as set out at paragraph 12 – 17 and in detail at Annex B of the published report.
Reason: To help alleviate the ongoing cost of living pressures for financially vulnerable residents.
[The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion left the Decision Session at 10.27 am at which point the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency took as Chair for the remainder of the Decision Session].
8. Air Quality Annual Status Report 2025 (10.27am)
The Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency considered a report detailing the latest (2024) air quality monitoring results for York and progress on achieving measures in City of York Council’s (CYC) current Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP4) to deliver further improvements in air quality. The Environmental Protection Manager gave an overview of the report noting that there was a significant improvement in air quality in 2024. He noted the improvements in air quality on Blossom Street and Gillygate and the positive impact of electric buses. He thanked his colleagues for their work.
The Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency thanked the Environmental Protection Manager and his team for their work and the air quality results. She highlighted the actions taken to support air quality. She thanked Steve Lilly (public speaker) for attending and noted that the support of residents was vital. She noted that air quality trial in Gillygate in 2025 and added that air quality was being monitored across York and she congratulated officers and residents in York. She then;
Resolved: That the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency note the contents of the published report (including the improving trend in air pollution in recent years and progress made with delivery of measures in CYC’s Air Quality Action Plan) and approve the Annual Status Report and its submission to DEFRA in line with statutory requirements.
Reason: To ensure that the Executive Member is aware of current air quality position in the city and progress made with air quality improvement measures.
Cllr Lomas , Chair
[The meeting started at 10.00 am and finished at 10.35 am].