Council Meeting - 27/4/2022

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Addressing York’s Dental Crisis

This Council therefore resolves to:

•     Ask the Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care to bring regular reports on the state of local dentistry to decision sessions, seeking input from relevant scrutiny committees.

Jamaila Hussain / Sharon Stoltz

It is more appropriate for the Health and Wellbeing Board to receive regular reports on the state of local dentistry given that there is NHS representation and cross party membership. The Health and Wellbeing Board reports regularly to the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee and to Council via the Executive Member updates. Therefore it is considered inappropriate to use Executive member Decision Sessions for this purpose.

 

Completed
  • Ask that the Executive Member makes the case for harnessing opportunities to improve dental service provision locally through the development of Integrated Care Systems (ICS).

Jamaila Hussain / Sharon Stoltz

The responsibility for commissioning dental services sits with NHS England & Improvement (NHSE/I) and not the Integrated Care System. In York the Council's Public Health Team are already working with NHSE/I commissioners to ensure that we realise the benefits of Flexible Commissioning within the constraints of the national contract for provision of NHS Dentistry.

 

Completed

·         Ask all group leaders and local health and NHS partners to write a joint letter to the Health Secretary outlining concerns over local provision and access to services, outlining urgent reforms which need to take place, including boosting spending, reforming commissioning to tackle the twin crises of access and affordability, recognising overseas dentistry qualifications and implementing an urgent programme to recruit and retain more NHS dentists.

Jamaila Hussain / Sharon Stoltz

The Director of Public Health, on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board, has already been in contact with the Secretary of State and sent a letter to the Chief Dental Officer on 1st November 2001 explaining the Board's concerns about access to dental services in York and including reference to the Healthwatch York reports. The Chief Dental Officer referred our concerns to the NHSE/I North East & Yorkshire Regional Team responsible for Primary Care Commissioning (including dentistry). The Director of Public Health has met with this team who have since attended Health & Adult Social Care Policy & Scrutiny Committee to discuss the challenges around access to dentistry etc. This work is ongoing as described above but is constrained by the NHS Dental Contract. The Department of Health and Social Care is aware of the need to review the contract and the need for training etc and the government is being lobbied by a group of MPs representing constituencies across England to bring forward the timescale for this work. There is, therefore, nothing to be gained by writing a further letter from group leaders and local health and NHS partners when the matter is already being lobbied at central government.

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

End ‘Fire and Rehire’

Council therefore resolves to:

•     ask the MPs for York Central and York Outer to write to the Prime Minister, demanding he acts now to outlaw fire and rehire, and to keep his promise to York residents to protect their terms and conditions of employment;

Cllr Aspden /

Ian Floyd / Will Boardman

draft letter to York MPs.

Completed

·         ask the council’s Chief Operating Officer and Council Leader to write to all businesses in York employing 100 or more staff, inviting them to sign up to the Good Business Charter and its 10 componens;

Cllr Aspden /

Ian Floyd  /

Simon Brereton

Letter sent and continue to promote.

Completed

and to call on the council’s Executive to:

•     not use fire and rehire itself as an employer and through updated council procurement policy, both prevent its use by council contractors as well as ensuring that the council only contracts those with good employment, trade union, equalities and environmental records;

Debbie Mitchell

This Council’s procurement strategy and processes already outlines that we will use procurement to achieve social, economic and environmental outcomes. 

Our suppliers have to support our commitment to equalities, be responsive to the needs of our communities, ensure services are accessible to all groups and appropriate to those with differing needs and commit to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.

 

All our suppliers are required to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining and promoting high ethical standards, reminding them of their duty of care in the use of public funds.

 

We ensure that opportunities to promote and encourage local economic growth are built into appropriate contracts whilst ensuring compliance with legislation. When contracting with national/international suppliers we encourage them to engage local providers in the delivery of services.

 

We ensure that sustainability criteria are built into our procurements to tackle climate change and reduce waste.

 

The requirement for payment of the Foundation Living Wage is explicitly made in the tender documentation, and the contract conditions that are issued with the tender.

 

CYC will ensure that all possible and viable options will be considered when proposing to change an employee’s terms and conditions. We have positive and constructive relationships with our trade unions to ensure that our employees are supported during times of change and we always aim to ensure that changes implemented are financially viable, consider equalities impacts and follow all national and local employment procedures.

 

 

Completed

 

·         promote the increasing number of progressive local employers prioritising their employees’ standard of living and wellbeing;

Tracey Carter / Simon Brereton

As above.

 

·         work with York’s anchor institutions and the council’s key partners to bring forward plans for model employment practices, in partnership with recognised trade unions;

Ian Floyd / Helen Whiting

The Council will continue to work with partners across the council and share good practice in terms of employment initiatives and good practice.  As an employer we work with the Council’s recognised trade unions for our own employees and national trade unions as part of collective bargaining of employee’s terms and conditions.  The Council operates within the existing employment regulations and will consult with recognised and relevant trade unions on employment matters that seek to end an employees’ employment.

 

Completed

·         support the TUC campaign for a ‘New Deal for Working People’.

Ian Floyd / Helen Whiting

The council works to ensure that we are an employer of choice offering a fair pay which is governed by national bargaining, local negotiation and polices and measures to ensure fair application.  We have strong relationships with our recognised trade unions and we strive to ensure that we offer a safe and respectful working environment and services where employees are proud to work for the Council and serve our residents.  These are all key elements of the New Deal for Working People campaign and these are also embedded in our Values and Organisational Development Plan

Completed

 

 

Council Meeting - 14/7/2022

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Opposing Fire Service Cuts to the North side of York

Council resolves:

  • to formally oppose cuts to Huntington Station fire cover by submitting a City of York Council consultation response, outlining the city’s view that current crewing and fire appliance arrangements at Huntington Station must be retained; 

 

 

Completed

 
  • to have that draft response published for public comment and decision at an Executive Member Decision Session prior to the consultation deadline of 14 August;

Janie Berry

 

Completed

Council further resolves to write to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and MPs for York Central and York Outer, asking them to collectively write and seek an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to:

Cllr Aspden /

Janie Berry /

Will Boardman

Letter sent on 11/08/22.

Completed

·         carry out a comprehensive funding review of fire and police services in North Yorkshire, in order to futureproof sustainable service provision;

Cllr Aspden /

Janie Berry /

Will Boardman

 

Completed

·         make NYFRS’s case for greater Government grant that address the unique challenges of delivering services across a large rural county, with diverse risks and very low levels of reserves;

Cllr Aspden /

Janie Berry /

Will Boardman

 

Completed

·         push for NYFRS to be given the option of agreeing the £5 precept flexibility, consistent with the other lowest charging fire authorities nationally.

Cllr Aspden /

Janie Berry /

Will Boardman

 

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Declaring a Cost of Living Emergency

Consequently, Council resolves to:

  • Declare a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ in York.

 

 

 

 

·         Ask the Executive to commit £200k towards the YFAS to issue additional food and fuel vouchers to approximately 4,000 residents on the lowest incomes.

Pauline Stuchfield

Finance to advise on mechanism for executive to make this decision.

Completed

Completed
  • Host a local Cost-of-Living Emergency Summit, with stakeholders, including Citizens Advice, Food Banks, Local Trades Unions, and Chambers of Commerce and organisations working to support residents facing hardship.

Pauline Stuchfield

In planning for mid October 2022

Completed

Completed

·         Call on the Government to act immediately to tackle the cost of living crisis by cutting the standard rate of VAT to 17.5%, restoring the Universal Credit supplement of £20, expanding the Warm Home Discount and introducing a home insulation fund to cut heating bills and carbon emissions.

Pauline Stuchfield

Completed

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Creating a more collaborative council

This Council therefore resolves:

·         to request Executive to begin the necessary preparatory work that would explore the various alternative governance models to identify the most suitable, deliverable and finically viable model, taking in account the governance implications of the creation of a combined authority in York and North Yorkshire.  This work would include the creation of a cross party task group, identification of the necessary funding, consultation with the Local Government Association and authorities which currently operate some type of committee system, such as Kent, Wirral, Bristol and Liverpool. A report would be brought to a meeting of the Executive to outline the financial and governance implications and possible next steps, enabling a decision on the formal adoption of any alternative forms of governance to be made in May 2023.

Claire Foale

Meeting has taken place with Cllr Ayre and he has asked for across party working group to be established and to meet in August / September 2022.  Group Leaders have been contacted for nominees and to also provide availability for a meeting of the working group. 

 

As of 24.08.22 a nomination has been received from Green Group and awaiting responses from the other Group Leaders.

 

As of 9.3.23, no further nominations have been received.

 

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Stop Unfair Parking Enforcement at Tower Court

 

Council therefore resolves that:

·         The City of York Council’s Corporate Director for Economy & Place writes to Boultbee Brooks Real Estate Ltd, ArdPark Ltd and the British Parking Association to seek a meeting to discuss the approach to enforcement at Tower Court and the impact it is having on residents, with a view to a more flexible approach being adopted.

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist

Corporate Director of Place met with a representative of Boultee Brooks Real Estate Ltd on 22 September - awaiting written response of agreed actions.  No written response received but agreed a set of verbal actions.   No further action.

 

 

Completed

Council Meeting- 20/10/2022

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Protecting and Improving Local Bus Services

Council therefore resolves that:

·        Officers should continue negotiations with bus providers to retain as many routes as possible and to prevent a gap in service provision, while recognising that when Govt funding stops in March, this can only be guaranteed if the Lib Dem-led council is willing to subsidise and secure such services.

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist

Executive to consider a report on Bus Service Network Update on 16 March 2023 outlining progress to date and a number of recommendations going forward.

Completed

 

·         Officers should actively engage with all elected councillors, including transport spokespersons and user groups as part of their work with operators to review bus routes and timetables.

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist

Enhance Partnership agreed by Executive in October 2022 – a route for engagement between Councillors, Community with bus operators. 

Completed

·         The Executive should use all opportunities, including working with regional political leaders, to continue to lobby Government for long-term funding to support public transport networks, including support for driver recruitment and training schemes.

Cllr D’Agorne

Update to the Executive in November 2022 and March 2023. Funding has been extended to June 2023. Ongoing discussion with bus service users and operators through the enhanced partnership governance. Regular collaborative meetings with DfT to raise issues and explore support and funding opportunities.

Completed

·        Whilst the agreed ‘Enhanced Partnership’ approach should be pursued, alternative feasible models should be kept under review and lessons learned from the experience of other cities and regions, including the bus franchising systems being pursued by Labour Metro Mayors in Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester.

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist

Complete, as members agreed the Devolution deal which provides for the Combined Authority Mayor to introduce Bus Franchising.

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Controlling the Concentration of Short Term & Holiday Lets

Council therefore calls on Executive to:

·         agree to commence the process of compiling an evidence base, from which the council can consider adopting a new policy in the future on controlling the spread of short term and holiday let accommodation, post-adoption of the Local Plan;

Alison Cooke

 

Will be included in the Local Plan Housing Needs Assessment updates from time to time.

13.04.23 - Government issues consultation on amendments to planning regulations to allow article 4 directions to control airbnb.  Officers responding, this action will be informed by government proposals which have been committed for implementation before end of 2023, alongside a registration scheme that will provide the evidence base for any article 4 decision.

19.02.24 – Government response to consultations released confirming introduction of new licensing and planning requirements (introduction of new use class). Now awaiting details of new legislation. Briefing sent to Cllr Pavlovic.

Completed

·         consider bringing forward, in a report to Executive in due course, options for s106 planning conditions that include, but are not restricted to:

-            exclusivity sales periods for York residents on new build developments;

-            main residence only conditions/restrictions on short term lets on new developments;

·         consider the impact of short term and holiday lets in the development of the council’s various housing policies, including the loss of ordinary family and other housing in York;

James Gilchrist

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracey Carter

Subject to the below lobbing government result in legal powers.

 

Any planning restrictions would require an evidence base (from the Local Plan Housing Needs Assessment)

 

 

Completed

 

·         ensure the council lobbies Government, through the Local Government Association and its two MPs, to alter the tax regime to ensure parity between short term lets operating as businesses, and long term lets, removing preferential treatment for the former

James Gilchrist / Cllr D Craghill

Review Scrutiny response to Government consultation on holiday lets and work with members to lobby government.

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

York Opposes Fracking

This Council resolves to:

  • Ask the COO to write on behalf of the Council to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Minister for State (Minister for Climate) to make them aware of the opposition to fracking in York, in light of the Government’s statement that it will only progress with fracking where there is local support.

Ian Floyd /

Will Boardman

 

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

 

Equality for Disabled People

This Council resolves:

·         to adopt the Social Model of Disability and embed it into every area of its working, operation, policy and practice, including in how it communicates;

Pauline Stuchfield / Laura Williams

Work to commence on actions when Access Officer is in post working on an integrated action plan.  Integrated Action Plan is in development. Work has started with comms on updating accessible information guidelines in line with commitments in response to Health Watch Report.   Social Model of Disability Adopted.

A report titled ‘Implementing the Social Model of Disability’ was approved at a Decision Session of the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights and Equalities on 24 January 2024. The recommendations were:

1)         approve the policy statement on implementing the Social Model of Disability at City of York Council,

2)         commit to the council providing elected Members and officers with appropriate Disability Equality Training; and

3)         note the York Access Forum update, Terms of Reference, and the next steps in appointing a new forum Chair

Ongoing

·         to review the extent to which disability awareness training, inclusive and universal design training and disability equality is embedded across the organisation in how the council delivers services, making recommendations as appropriate;

Pauline Stuchfield / Laura Williams

As above, the paper approved on 24 January included a recommendation to provide training. It stated that ‘To further embed the Social Model of Disability it is essential that Disability Equality Training is made a mandatory part of the council’s training and induction package, for both officers and elected Members.’ It also stated ‘There are already resources within the Customer and Communities Directorate working on Access. However, work is ongoing to address meeting the council’s statutory equalities and human rights responsibilities, and it is recognised there is the need for additional training resources to support the delivery of these responsibilities, including training on disability.’

 

The lack of funding for this work as a result of the council’s ongoing challenges has meant implementation of this training has been delayed. In the proposed Financial Strategy 2025/26 there is £50k budget growth for disability equality training. We also have a new role of Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion who will take up post on 5 March 2025.

Ongoing

·         to prepare and adopt a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on building design, post Local Plan adoption, in order to deliver accessible and inclusive new developments in the future;

Pauline Stuchfield / Laura Williams

As above. To follow formulation of Independent Advisory Group (IAG below) and local plan adoption.

 

Alison Cooke to update?

 

·         to commit to genuine co-production on all council developments, where disabled people’s views are incorporated alongside those of appropriate professionals when considering inclusion and accessibility;

Pauline Stuchfield / Laura Williams

City of York Council committed to employ an Access Officer as part of the motion and they have been in post since November 2022. One of the Access Officer’s first acts was to convene a disability advisory group in March 2023. This became known as ‘York Access Forum’. As above the Terms of Reference for this group were approved in January 2024 (Annex A York Access Forum Terms of Reference Final Draft.pdf) and it was also agreed CYC would appoint an Independent Chair, who is now in place. The group are working with council officers on various consultations and council developments, however both the forum and CMT recognise that there is still significant work to be done to ensure there is genuine co-production on appropriate projects, and the roll out of Disability Equalities Training will help with both this, and a wider understanding of the barriers facing disabled people in the city.

York Access Forum in place

·         upon the appointment of an Access Officer, to convene a quarterly Access Forum, resourced so that it will work in an entirely inclusive and accessible way, supporting a genuine commitment to co-production.

Pauline Stuchfield / Laura Williams

As above. 

Complete

 

Council Meeting-15/12/2022

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

 

Delivering Effective Customer Services to York Residents

Council resolves to request that the Executive, including as part of its current budget preparations:

·         publicly acknowledges the hard work of customer services staff and the impact of increased workloads on their ability to meet resident expectations, and apologises for the council’s ongoing inability to effectively respond to residents’ issues in a timely way;

·         commits to reinstate the customer services call-back service to residents once current vacant positions are filled and new staff have been trained;

·         commits to reviewing the functioning of the relevant council services as a priority, with a focus to include: staffing and operating hours of the customer call centre;

·         ensuring access to non-digital council services is an easy, straightforward process;

·         categorisation of services on, and user-friendliness of, a council website a significant number of residents struggle to navigate;

·         a more effective and simpler system for monitoring and recording of abusive calls to staff, including a clear structure for escalation, response and staff well-being support.

Pauline Stuchfield

Call- back service on track to be back in place by early summer 2023. Regarding abusive calls the steps being taken, monitoring and a team stress risk assessment approach were all outlined at Customer & Corporate Management of Scrutiny Committee on 6th March 2023. All other elements will be built into a coproduced Customer Strategy for approval in 2024.

Update: policy under development regarding customer behaviour.  Customer strategy delayed to be built into Customer Experience work following the restructure.

Ongoing

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

York Opposes Voter ID Requirements

Council therefore resolves to:

·         Request the Chief Operating Officer writes to the Cabinet Office to express the Council’s serious concern as to the introduction of mandatory Voter ID in any UK elections.

Ian Floyd / Bryn Roberts

Letter sent on 03/03/2023 to Government from West Yorkshire Chief Executives, which York supports, aimed at raising significant concerns relating to the implementation of the requirement for electors to show photographic identification in the polling station from 04/05/2023.

Completed

 

·         Request a report is brought to a public meeting of the council’s Executive outlining: the plans and update on preparations to introduce mandatory voter ID for the May 2023 local election in York

 

Ian Floyd / Bryn Roberts

Report to be tabled at March’s Executive Meeting.

 

Completed.

 

Completed

 

·         the potential cost as well as consideration of any practical issues involved in issuing postal vote application forms to every eligible voter on the Electoral Register in York. Use the council’s communications function to regularly promote postal voting, and frequently in the months prior to an election.

Ian Floyd / Bryn Roberts

Completed.

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Introduction of Council Tax Premium for Second Homes

Council therefore resolves to:

· Request officers to bring a paper to a meeting of the Executive outlining the implications and options for implementing a 100% council tax premium of second homes in York, with a view to implementing the policy once national legislation has been granted Royal assent.

Pauline Stuchfield

The council is required to take any decision a year in advance of being able to apply any change in the liability for second homes.  The decision was taken in last years budget paper however the Act (Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill) has not yet been passed to allow LA’s the power to do this.

 

The same decision is being included in this years budget papers to come into effect on 1st April 2025 should the Act be passed in time.

 

Completed

 

·         Request the Chief Operating Officer to write to relevant Minsters on behalf of the Council in support of the introduction of the council tax premium for second homes and seek assurance that loopholes that could see second home owners avoid the payment of the premium will be addressed.

Pauline Stuchfield/Ian Floyd

Completed

Completed

 

 

Council Meeting- 23/03/23

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Care Leavers’ Transport Costs

Council therefore resolves to request that following May’s elections, the new Executive consider what additional offer could be made to Care Leavers including assessing the feasibility of also offering care leavers the option of:

·         Financial assistance with annual bus travel, a 16–25 rail card and discounted access to the TIER e-cycle/ e-scooter scheme up to the age of 25;

·         Free urban cycle skills training;

·         A contribution towards a bicycle and appropriate protective clothing and through working with partners, find ways to cover the full costs of a new bicycle and appropriate accessories.

New Administration /

Martin Kelly 

During the review of the Local Offer for care leavers transport options were explored. Care leavers were most favourable to an extension of the bus pass to age 25. The Local Offer has now been approved and bus passes are available to care leavers up to 25.

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Return to Community Policing

The Council consequently resolves to:

·         Request that Group Leaders write to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner calling for a reversal of the current freeze in PCSO recruitment and commitment to significantly increase the number of PCSOs in the region.

Group Leaders

Political Assistants

 

 

 

·         Request that Council officers work with the North Yorkshire Police to produce a report to the Executive Member on how neighbourhood improvement plans can be developed, which review how best to holistically design out anti-social behaviour in the area.

James Gilchrist / Jane Mowat

A new community strategy has been developed with partners which includes a focus on safe and supported communities and is due to be approved by Exec.

 

Completed

 

·         Invite the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to a public meeting to answer councillor questions and set out plans to improve community policing in York.

Bryn Roberts

Invitation issued to the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire & Crime, who has indicated that she would be happy to consider attending a public meeting, but already answers Councillor questions via the police and crime panel so would need to understand what might be needed that would be different.  Further clarity has been provided, and any subsequent response will be updated as and when received.

Completed

 

·         Call on Safer York Partnership chair to explore best ways to embed Community Safety Officers within the Community Safety Hub.

James Gilchrist / Jane Mowat

 

Community safety officers are now embedded within the Hub.

 

Completed

 

·         Request that the Safer York Partnership representatives engage and consult ward councillors in the development of the Community Safety Strategy 2023-2026.

James Gilchrist / Jane Mowat

 

For the First Time it is proposed that the Community Safety Strategy developed by the Council and partners is approved at Executive and Council.

 

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Removing Barriers to an Education and Educational Attainment

Council resolves:

·         to request the Executive commits the council to a policy of working with external organisations to provide FSM to all primary school pupils, starting with those schools most in need;

 

2 Primary schools have piloted universal free school meals and free school breakfasts from January 2024.  The Community Fund has been established to support the York Hungry Minds Project.

Completed

 

·         to write to all York secondary schools, highlighting the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) ‘Cost of the School Day’ project to ask that students eligible for FSMs are able to use their allowance at any time during the school day, and to agree to the rolling over of any unspent money to be used in the future;

Martin Kelly / Maxine Squire / Pauline Stuchfield

York Schools and Academies Board have adopted poverty proofing as one of their priorities for 2023-24.

Completed

 

·         to commit to a twin track approach of working through the LGA on FSM automatic enrolment as well as expanding eligibility for FSM by increasing the income threshold, and through the NEU on ensuring FSM provision becomes universal for every primary school child;

Martin Kelly / Maxine Squire / Pauline Stuchfield

Auto enrolment has been piloted with two primary schools in September 2023.  The council is continuing to work with the Fix Our Food Project to scale up auto enrolment to include all schools in 2023-24.   Work is taking place to roll out auto enrolment across all schools for the academic year 2024-25.

The two pilot schools are being evaluated and results reported to CCC Scrutiny on 5th November.  The York Hungry Minds Steering Group is continuing to meet but evaluating future work following the current government confirming they intend a national roll out of primary school breakfasts.  Future work in York will be directed by the Steering Group.

Completed

 

·         to write, through the Corporate Director for Children’s Services, to all local authority-maintained schools and academy schools:

-        requesting information on how they are meeting Government statutory guidance on keeping school uniform affordable, and keeping branded items to a minimum, to reassure Council that schools are not excluding students based on income and are genuinely open to all;

-        inviting all schools to work with the local authority in developing a York protocol which describes ‘What should be ordinarily available’ for pupils with SEND ensuring there is a fair and consistent application of the SEND Code of Practice by schools to protect the rights of these pupils.

Martin Kelly / Maxine Squire

A letter has been sent to all schools reminding them about government statutory guidance on school uniform.  Schools are following this guidance when reviewing uniform.  A large number of the city’s schools have implemented school uniform exchange schemes.

 

Ordinarily available provision for SEND guidance has been drafted and published via the SEND local offer.  The new guidance document is being launched with all schools at the SEND conference on 20th November.

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Council Backs Haxby Station Project

The Council therefore resolves to:

·         Endorse and commit to the Haxby station project, and fully back it to ensure its success.

James Gilchrist / Cllr Ravillious

The original Outline Business Case was submitted back in March 2023, this has been updated several times in response to Department for Transport questions.  Despite several political announcements the Business Case for funding has never been approved.  The project is now part of the new Governments review of transport projects.

 

The Council remains committed and has the match funding in place and awaits the match funding from government to make this a deliverable project.

Ongoing  - Awaiting Government decision

 

·         Request that all group leaders send a joint letter to the Department for Transport and Network Rail supporting the project and urging for the remaining Government funding to be released from the Restoring Your Railway Fund to enable to proceed with the project at pace.

Group Leaders

Political Assistants

 

 

Council Meeting- 20/07/23

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Safeguarding York’s future

The council resolves to request

·         that the Lord Mayor and Executive Members begin Full

Council, Executive meetings and Executive Member

Decision Sessions respectively by reminding Members of the

remaining days until 1st January 2030, by which time we

have pledged to be carbon neutral and requesting that

Members keep this at the forefront of their minds when taking decisions;

 

Lord Mayor at the start of every Council reminds attendees of the number of days, counting down to net zero on 1 January 2030

Completed

·         that the Leader writes to our local MPs urging them to sign

up to support the Climate & Ecology Bill, or thanking them for already doing so; and write to Zero Hour, and organisers of

the cross-party campaign for the Climate & Ecology Bill,

expressing its support;

Cllr Douglas   / Claire Foale

Claire Foale actioning tbc

 

·         that the Executive develops a process that demonstrates

clear commitment to a strengthened York 10-year Climate

Change Strategy by exploring a series of intermediate

carbon reduction targets, following exploration of the topic at Corporate and Climate Scrutiny Committee and following

receipt of an options report to Executive;

Executive Members /

Claire Foale

Discussion to explore intermediate targets held at October 2023 Scrutiny, report going to EDMS in January 2024

Completed

 

·         that the Executive Member for Transport brings forward an

updated Local Transport Plan that reflects the latest science

and which includes ambitious targets in line with a

strengthened York 10-year Climate Strategy;

Cllr Kilbane /

 Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist

Report went to October Executive 2023 with Policy Focus Areas, detailed consultation will take place during winter 2023/24 on detailed policies before adoption by Exec/Council in the Summer of 2024

Completed

·         that the Executive Members for Environment and Climate

Emergency take steps to implement the actions that deliver

on the Pollinator Strategy to achieve a measurable increase

in biodiversity.

Councillors Jenny Kent and Kate Ravilious

Executive Member for Environment agreed  changes to public realm management in February 2024

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Highway Maintenance

Council resolves to request that the Executive:

·         Expedites the review of the Highways Safety Inspection

Manual.

 

To be considered as part of future review of Highway Infrastructure Asset Management. Being developed for devolution and the new Mayoral Combined Authority. The legal requirements for maintenance varies depending on the highways status.

Ongoing

 

·         Explores as part of this review, a change to the ‘investigatory level’ for potholes to 30mm vertical face depth is secured.

James Gilchrist

Review of above will consider this

Ongoing

 

·         Ensures that the relevant scrutiny committee and special

interest groups (such as those relating to cycling and

disability rights) are consulted to better understand the

impacts of the current approach to highway maintenance

as described in the Manual.

James Gilchrist

 

Adoption of the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan will go through public decision making.  Scrutiny agenda topics are not within officer control, but it will be suggested to the chair as part of decision making.

Ongoing

 

·         That the strategic active travel network (as identified in the

draft LCWIP) is prioritised for highway maintenance

treatment and allocated a specific budget to complete

maintenance to a safe standard throughout the year.

James Gilchrist

 

To be considered as part of future review of Highway Infrastructure Asset Management. Being developed for devolution and the new Mayoral Combined Authority. The legal requirements for maintenance varies depending on the highways status.

Ongoing

 

·         Trials a more efficient use of the Ward Highways Budget

in 2023-24, reallocating it to establish a dedicated team

that will have the flexibility to patch larger sections of road

surface at a time, thereby delivering a longer lasting fix

and better use of limited resources.

Neil Ferris /

 James Gilchrist

 

Decision made at 20 July full council to suspend ward highway funding and spend on road repairs

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Getting York Moving Fairly

For the next four-year administration, Council asks the Executive

to commit to:

1. Look wherever possible to improve the cycle network,

including better linking of villages

2. Reverse the City Centre Blue Badge ban

3. Rule out a Congestion Charge

4. Address the stalled work on the dualling of the A1237 by

working with stakeholders to deliver a scheme that meets the transport commitments within York’s Climate Change

Strategy and the emerging Local Transport Plan.

5. Calling on the new Mayoral Combined Authority, once

established, to make taking back control of our buses a

priority.

 

Executive Members

A new local transport strategy has been adopted and places cycling second on the transport hierarchy and an ongoing review of existing approaches to ensure we deliver that hierarchy at all times.

 

Blue badge access has been reinstated to the footstreets through Executive decision in 2023.

 

Planning permission has since been gained for the A1237 and a gateway review of next steps is currently underway.

 

The devolution deal makes the Mayoral Combined Authority responsible for buses although transition arrangements are in place.

Complete

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

A city response to Food Insecurity

This council resolves to ask the Executive to:

·         write a letter to the Prime Minister and relevant ministers

about the importance of introducing auto-enrolment for those entitled to free school meals;

Executive Members /

Martin Kelly / Maxine Squire / Pauline Stuchfield

See below – auto-enrolment introduced.

Completed

 

·         promote enrolment for free school meals to support children, young people and their families to help combat food

insecurity and shortage in York;

Martin Kelly / Maxine Squire / Pauline Stuchfield

 

The CYC admissions team promote FSM support for children as do schools.  The scale up of auto enrolment is designed to ensure all those eligible receive the entitlement.

 

Completed

 

·         encourage larger food providers in and around York to sign

up to York’s Good Business Charter, including paying the

Real Living Wage;

Claire Foale / Garry Taylor

 

Not started

 

 

·         work more closely with Parish Councils and groups like

Edible York and YACIO (York Allotments Charitable

Incorporated Organisation) to develop ideas for increasing

the number of public green spaces available for food

production by communities across York;

Pauline Stuchfield / Claire Foale / Garry Taylor

 

 

See below but can also tie into the York Neighbourhood model

Ongoing

 

·         request that the council’s scrutiny function undertakes a

review of community food growing opportunities and makes

recommendations to Executive to expand these

opportunities, including considering the prospects for

expanding an Edible York project in Tang Hall to other parts

of the city to bring more underused gardens into use for food

growing.

 

Food Scrutiny review in progress

ongoing

 

 

Council Meeting- 21/09/23

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Improving York’s Air Quality

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;

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist / Claire Foale / Shaun Gibbons

Air Quality Action Plan 4 has been to scrutiny and conuslted upon and adopted by Executive at July 2024 Exec

Completed

·         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.

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist / Claire Foale / Shaun Gibbons

 

This is reflected in the new strategy

Completed

·         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;

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist / Claire Foale / Shaun Gibbons

 

Political choice within the framework of emerging policies that officers will operate within. The consultation will inform future reports.

Completed

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

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist / Claire Foale / Shaun Gibbons

 

Already work with regional colleagues through the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Pollution Advisory Group which includes Air Quality.  Part of the consultation on the development of AQAP4 was to consult neighbouring authorities.

 

Completed

 

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;

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist / Claire Foale / Shaun Gibbons

 

Executive/Political Assistant should be lobbying,

 

This is our approach locally

 

·         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;

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist / Claire Foale / Shaun Gibbons

 

Executive/Political Assistant should be lobbying

 

 

·         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.

Neil Ferris /

James Gilchrist / Claire Foale / Shaun Gibbons

 

Executive/Political Assistant should be lobbying

 

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Get me home safely

Council resolves to

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

 

 

Completed

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

James Gilchrist

The BID now lead on Purple Flag.  The Bid have recently access OPFCC funding to improve and light up some of the darkest alleyways to improve safety. Looking also at short messaging videos on people getting home safely

Completed

·         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;

Executive Members

 

 The Statement of Licensing Policy is currently being reviewed, In the LA03 Statement of Licensing Policy it now includes Get Me Home Safely under section 4.19 – applicants and licence holders are also encouraged to:

 

h) as staff working in licensed premises can finish work late at night and/or into the early hours of the morning, consideration should be given to having arrangements in place to make sure they get home safely, such as providing free transport and offering appropriate additional training. Following concerns raised by workers, especially women, Unite launched the Get Me Home Safely campaign, which City of York Council fully support.

. 

Completed

 

·         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;

James Gilchrist

 

Statement of Licensing Policy being updated see above 

Completed

·         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;

Executive Members

 

First York and York University are launching upgraded late night routes connecting York University with the City Centre from 13th September 2024.

Completed

·         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;

Executive Members

 

Government have been funding £2 bus fare since Jan 2023 and runs until the end of 2024.

CYC has reduced young persons fares to £1 per single trip to the end of December 2024 through the Bus Service Improvement Plan programme. Young people are eligible up until their 19th birthday. We will promote continuation of reduced fares to the Mayoral Combined Authority as part of developing a BSIP for the wider York and North Yorkshire area.

Completed

 

·         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;

Executive Members

 

Through the develoution process this was called for.  The Mayor for York and North Yorkshire has these powers.  Discussions are ongoing about the best model across the region.

Completed

 

·         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.

Executive Members

 

New Minimum Standards are in place and DfT Best Practice Guidance has been incorporated into the draft of a new taxi licensing policy to go before Licensing Committee in October 2024.

 

 

Completed

 

 

Council Meeting - 23/11/23

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Recognising and supporting York’s neurodivergent adults

 

Council resolves:

·         To write to encourage the ICB to use the public engagement process to communicate more openly how the assessment pathway process works, the challenges with it and how information on outcomes could be provided for those completing the North Yorkshire and York online Platform for Adult Autism and ADHD Referral.

 

Peter Roderick

ICB written to.

Completed

·         To request an update report be presented to Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on the work of council services in supporting neurodivergent adults in York, including child to adult transitions.

 

 

Peter Roderick

An updated needs assessment is planned to be presented to HHASC Scrutiny in November 2024 alongside an update on the production of the autism neuro diversity strategy.

 

Scrutiny Committee in November 2024 received the draft Autism and ADHD Health Needs Assessment alongside an update on an Autism and ADHD Strategy. Strategy development is underway and consultation, including a draft strategy to Scrutiny, will be in May.

Completed

 

 

·         To request that the Head of Paid Service communicates with all staff expressing the importance of removing barriers wherever possible, such that neurodivergent staff and residents are enabled to better access Council support and services.

 

Ian Floyd / Helen Whiting

Peter Roderick

 

 

 

 

 

The HoPS regularly writes and updates the whole workforce about equalities duties as part of embedding the core principles which includes Equalities (as well as Affordability, Climate and Health).  Equalities is also embedded into everyday practice and service provision as part of the Council’s Equality Duty which includes removing barriers.  Key training modules also offer a focus on equalities as well as providing quality services to our residents and service users.   In the widest sense, services to all colleagues as well as York residents, tourists, visitors and citizens are on a continuous journey as part of our One Council – Working as One City programme and our core values (Working together, to improve and make a difference) to ensure our diverse services are accessible whether this be in a personal or online contact.

 

Completed

 

·         To renew the city’s Autism Strategy and use this opportunity for City of York Council to reaffirm and widen the city’s commitment to autistic and neurodivergent people in York, learning from the challenges of the current NHS pilot to ensure there is meaningful engagement with local groups about how to improve support to meet the needs of neurodivergent residents accessing its services.

 

Peter Roderick

Development of the Autism strategy has been agreed through CMT. Public Health are completing a Health Needs assessment between April and November. CYC and ICB officers are working in regards to the strategy throughout the Spring and Summer of 2024.

Completed

 

 

 

·         To ensure national Government is made aware of the perfect storm of increased demand for adult assessment, diagnosis and support for autism/ ADHD set against the backdrop of low levels of funding to support neurodiverse adults and to local authorities like City of York Council to provide the support they would like for their residents.

 

Peter Roderick

York has worked alongside other local authorities through the local government association and ADASS to ensure that representations are being made including representations for the autumn budget and spending review.

Completed

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

The Fair Game campaign for football clubs

 

Council resolves:

·         To declare its support for Fair Game, and call on other councils to join us in our support.

 

 

 

Completed

 

·         To ask the Chief Operating Officer to write to the Minister for Sport, local Members of Parliament, and the Chair of the Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, to lobby for the following to be included in the new remit of the Independent Regulator:

o   Football’s financial flow (particularly over: proportion of broadcast revenues given by the Premier League, the abolition of parachute payments, and the allocation of funds from the Premier League);

o   Owners’ and Directors’ Test to include an ‘ethics’ dimension, particularly around human rights;

o   Implementation of a Fair Game Index to accurately measure club’s progress;

o   To include National League North and South clubs under their control;

o   To have stronger powers to implement and enforce governance; and

o   Measurement of equality standards and environmental standards.

 

Ian Floyd

Letter sent 22.01.24. Closed. 

Completed

 

·         To ask the council’s Children, Culture and Communities Scrutiny Committee to discuss at a meeting in the current municipal year the important role that York City Football Club plays in the culture and heritage of the city and to explore ways in which we can work together to support the club and York City Football Club Foundation with its work in the local community.

 

Martin Kelly

Completed in April 2024

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Working to improve Mental Health

 

Council resolves to:

·         express its disappointment at the shelving of planned reforms to the Mental Health Act in the recent King’s Speech, reforms designed to address amongst other issues, the inappropriate detention of different groups of people against their will.

 

Michael Melvin

These issues are now raised, through the York Mental Health Partnership, with partners within York who will take forward through a system approach.

Completed

 

·         call on relevant bodies and stakeholders to support preventative mental health measures, such as mental health support for children and young people and support for counselling services that take into account cost of living pressures.

 

Michael Melvin

These issues are now raised, through the York Mental Health Partnership, with partners within York who will take forward through a system approach.

The Mental Health Partnership is developing a children's subgroup to take this forward.

Completed

 

·         work with local healthcare partners to encourage them to ensure patients have a holistic triage on admission with a mandatory Safety Plan on return to the community.

 

Michael Melvin

These issues are now raised, through the York Mental Health Partnership, with partners within York who will take forward through a system approach.

Completed

 

·         work with health partners to end out of area transfers where practical so that mental health patients are supported as close to home as possible.

 

Michael Melvin

These issues are now raised, through the York Mental Health Partnership, with partners within York who will take forward through a system approach.  Dynamic Support Register is active in York as the mechanism to ensure people are supported as close to home as possible.

Completed

 

·         explore how it can support and build on the work of York Ending Stigma (YES - https://www.yorkcvs.org.uk/york-ending-stigma/) to reduce stigma and improve attitudes on mental health issues in both its staff and the residents it serves.

 

Michael Melvin

These issues are now raised, through the York Mental Health Partnership, with partners within York who will take forward through a system approach.

Reducing stigma and improving attitudes to mental health is being driven through the health and wellbeing strategy including ‘making york a mentally healthy city

Completed

 

·         ask that relevant council officers, the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social care and commissioned services consult fully with mental health charities and service users when planning changes to mental health support services.

 

Michael Melvin

These issues are now raised, through the York Mental Health Partnership, with partners within York who will take forward through a system approach.

Through the place board and joint commissioning forum, the CYC system is working to this approach

Completed

 

·         Encourage all members of the Council to support the Movember campaign to raise funds for men’s mental health.

Michael Melvin

Campaign has been undertaken.

Completed.

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Withdrawal of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

 

Council resolves:

 

·         To ask the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee to include as an agenda item at a meeting of that committee or another scrutiny committee in the next three months, consideration of York’s level of preparedness for this change. Participants in the discussion could include local authority, telecoms, NHS, care, voluntary sector and other partners as appropriate.

 

Pauline Stuchfield

 

Completed

 

·         To ask the relevant Executive Members to ensure that all front-line staff working with groups who may be particularly affected by this change are suitably briefed in order to be able to direct residents and their families/carers to sources of information and support.

Helen Whiting / Roy Grant

The timeline for the withdrawal of PSTN services has been reset and is now 31 January 2027.  Our work with Service area colleagues to mitigate the direct impact of this switch over on front line and other support services is continuing which includes awareness raising activities.  We are scheduled to take an update report to CSCCSMC in September

In progress

 

Council Meeting – 21/03/24

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

 

Making York a Trauma Informed City

Council resolves:

·          To take steps to become a Trauma-Informed City and commits to working in partnership to embed Trauma-Informed frameworks across services and partner agencies, working in co-production with trauma survivors;

Martin Kelly

 

Cllr Steels-Walshaw

Trauma informed training has been provided through the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to a range of practitioners in the council. We are completing a skills audit to understand the extent of this. Further training has been arranged to upskill Executive and CMT in February 2025. Following this training we will discuss the opportunities to upskill different aspects of the workforce and develop a wider city strategy. Such an ambitious strategy is likely to take several years and funding would need to be considered. Furthermore, a trauma informed subgroup has been developed to help inform a future strategy.

In progress

 

·         To ask the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care and Executive colleagues to explore the introduction of a Trauma-Informed framework across Council services;

 

In progress as per above.

 

 

·         To request the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care explore the introduction of training for staff and councillors, including e-learning modules, that enables City of York Council to become a Trauma-Informed organisation;

 

Pilot of in house training being held in June 2024 with cohort of customer and housing officers and CMT

 

 

·         To work with partner organisations to implement a city-wide approach to raising awareness of the impact of trauma and how becoming Trauma-Informed can help to support trauma survivors;

 

The Council is adopting the Poverty Truth Commission’s Charter and Organisational Standards – see March 2025 Executive – across all council services.

 

 

·         To consider the implications of making it a requirement in commissioned contracts and services that partner organisations can demonstrate they have, or are implementing, a Trauma-Informed framework;

Chloe Wilcox / Zoe Metcalfe

 

 

 

·         To recommend the Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee request a report from TEWV NHS Trust on its prior application and progress in moving beyond the use of the BPD+ protocol, an assessment of current staff understanding and the outlining of any trauma-informed approaches it is implementing.

Peter Roderick

 

 

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

 

Safeguarding future library provision

Council resolves:

·         To ask the relevant Executive Member and council officers to continue engaging proactively in the next three months with York Explore, service users and, through Scrutiny, elected members of all parties in order to ensure that future library provision in York continues to meet residents’ needs and expectations, including reforming the mobile library service and retaining the number of staffed libraries and library services, including to outlying areas not covered by Gateway or Explore libraries across the city;

 

Pauline Stuchfield

Any changes to library services need to eminate from an updated library needs assessment which includes the current early engagement process.  This will inform confidential commercial negotiations ahead of proposals for further consultation prior going back to Executive for approval.

In Progress

 

 

·         To request the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care and the Leader of the Council write to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Arts Council, to clarify the council’s financial position and to reassure them of the council’s commitment to York’s libraries and archives.

 

 

Letters issued 30 May 2024

Completed

 


Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Affordable Housing Motion

Council resolves:

• That following adoption of York’s Local Plan, the relevant officers, scrutiny and executive should examine examples elsewhere in the country that seek to make housing more affordable for their residents, including through any powers available at Mayoral Combined Authority level;

Michael Jones / Garry Taylor

 

Cllr Pavlovic

The Local Plan was adopted by full council 27/02/25.

 

 

·         This should include consideration of broadening the affordable housing criteria to include residents paying no more than a set percentage of their incomes in mortgages. It should also compare such an approach with existing council policy of homes for sale valued at a more traditional reduced level of market value, arising from s106 developer contributions;

 

 

 

 

·         Further, to request Executive reviews the council’s policy on developer social housing contributions, with an assessment of whether adding new council homes through this mechanism would improve the supply and quality of nationally-defined affordable homes to York residents.

 

 

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

My Vote, My Voice

Council resolves to request the Returning Officer:

·         considers the city’s polling stations for any accessibility

           improvements;

·         considers how greater awareness of voting rights through social media activity can be advanced, particularly for hard-to-reach groups;

·          provides as much detail as possible on the different roles for which individuals stand for election, to encourage greater voter participation, subject to relevant legislation.

Bryn Roberts

Comprehensive comms plan underway including radio, leaflet door drop, media releases/press, social and targeted social delivered in partnership with NYC

Completed

 

And requests write to the relevant Minister within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on:

·         ways to make registering to vote easier, while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process, in order to increase voter participation.

Bryn Roberts

Current government consultations ongoing with industry professionals in relation to a review of the electoral process.  Progress will be reported to Members once clear proposals have been developed by government.

Completed

 

 

Council Meeting- 17/07/24

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

York Public Spending

·         To request the Chief Finance Officer and Executive Leader jointly write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to request urgency in concluding the Fair Funding Review, first signalled by the Government in 2016, detailing why this is necessary;

·         To request this opportunity is used to also highlight service pressures and to request long-term funding certainty to enable the council to plan its services over the period of each four-year electoral cycle;

·         To request the Director of Public Health and Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care write to the Secretary of State for Health, pushing for early reform of the NHS dental contract to open up greater access to NHS dentistry in the city as soon as possible;

·         To request Executive works collaboratively with other parts of the public sector locally, including York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, to consider how each can make efficiencies and save money by reviewing how services are delivered;

·         To put on record its thanks to staff and partners for their work over several years in such challenging circumstances, and for their continued commitment to service delivery to the city.

Debbie Mitchell / Cllr Douglas

The 2025/26 provisional local government finance settlement was announced in December 2024.  Alongside this, the government also launched a consultation to seek views on updating how local authorities are funded through the local government finance settlement from 2026-27 onwards.

 

 

The Council will respond to both the consultations, and responses will include the concerns raised by Council.

Completed

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Giving York’s children the best start in life

·         Ask the Council Leader to write to Members of Parliament representing York Central and York Outer, expressing the Council’s support for the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap.

·         Ask the Council Leader to write to the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to encourage them to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

Nick Wharton / Cllr Douglas

Letters in progress

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Ending disenfranchisement in elections

·         Ask Group Leaders to write to the Secretary of State with responsibility for Local Government and to the Minister with responsibility for elections to support the calls of the AEA in requesting a review of current postal and emergency proxy vote rules, including revising the timetable for postal vote registrations, to ensure everyone who registers can vote;

·         Request the Government scraps the Voter ID requirement for voting completely.

 

Bryn Roberts / Cllr Douglas

A draft letter was prepared and circulated to Group Leaders, but there was resistance to signing it by one Group Leader.  In any event, this has been overtaken by events, as the new Government has committed to working with professional bodies to revise current legislative requirements.

Completed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Fair Funding for York

·         Request the Council Leader and Leader of the Liberal Democrat group write to the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to urge the government to take action to resolve York’s chronic underfunding by central government by closing the funding gap between York and the national average within this parliament.

·         Request the Council Leader to write to York’s Labour MPs to request that they urgently lobby the government to introduce a fair funding solution to close the gap between the most and least funded Council areas in England

·         Request the Council to engage with the F20 group of the lowest funded Council areas in England to build an England wide campaign for fair funding and enact their principles in the next funding settlement

·         Call on the new government to commit to a funding floor of 90% in the next financial settlement.

Debbie Mitchell / Cllr Douglas

The 2025/26 provisional local government finance settlement was announced in December 2024.  Alongside this, the government also launched a consultation to seek views on updating how local authorities are funded through the local government finance settlement from 2026-27 onwards.

 

 

The Council will respond to both the consultations, and responses will include the concerns raised by Council.

Completed

 

 

Council Meeting- 19/09/24

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Community response to Israel-Gaza conflict

We, the Council and people of York, in keeping with our city's status as the first Human Rights City in the UK, resolve to urgently call for:

·         An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Israel based on recent peace proposals.

·         Immediate access within Gaza to water, medical and food supplies, restoration of electricity, and provision of proper shelters for all impacted by the war.

·         The immediate release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees.

 

Nick Wharton / Councillor Lomas

 

Closed

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Reforming Residents' Priority Parking in York

Council resolved to request Executive:

·         Simplifies the process for implementing and modifying ResPark schemes by:

 

▫   Developing a set of standardised criteria for ResPark eligibility;

▫   Developing a streamlined consultation and implementation process for ResPark schemes, in accordance with current legislation;

▫   Conducting a city-wide review of the Respark process;

▫   Working to reform the turnout guideline in Residents’ Parking consultations to reflect area-specific issues for some streets, including consistently unoccupied properties, short-term and part time occupancy properties, and HMOs;

▫   Reviewing the pricing structure for ResPark permits to ensure fair pricing for residents.

James Gilchrist/Cllr Ravilious

Discussions are ongoing with the Executive Member of how best to approach this.

Ongoing

·         Asks the Executive Member for Transport to work with council officers to present a detailed plan and timeline for expanding and reforming ResPark, in accordance with existing legislation, to the Executive, when capacity exists;

James Gilchrist/Cllr Ravilious

 

Discussions are ongoing with the Executive Member of how best to approach this.

 

·         Commits to implementing a reformed ResPark system, having considered the measures proposed in this motion and in accordance with existing legislation.

 

James Gilchrist/Cllr Ravilious

 

Discussions are ongoing with the Executive Member of how best to approach this.

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

York’s Local Plan

Council resolved:

·         To ask the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities to approve a council response to the Government consultation referred to above which expresses support for annual housing targets, including affordable housing targets, that are based on evidenced need, including latest household formation figures; the response should urge the government to reassess the way in which student housing is deemed to meet housing demand, given the many logical differences between the two supplies.

 

Claire Foale/Cllr Pavlovic

Response submitted to government following EMDS on 23 September 2024 Agenda for Decision Session - Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities on Monday, 23 September 2024, 3.00 pm (york.gov.uk) item 9

Completed

·         To ask the Executive Member to reaffirm his commitment, as reported in The Press on 13 June 2023 (https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23583238.will-no-extra-new-housing-green-belt-says-york-labour/), that within his powers and outside of the independence of the Local Planning Authority, the only housing development allowed on green belt land will be on those sites already allocated for development or otherwise allowed for in the Liberal Democrat-led draft Local Plan.

 

Claire Foale/Cllr Pavlovic

 

Letter written to Deputy Prime Minister October 24, confirming commitment to permanence of green belt

Completed

Motions

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Dignity in retirement

Council resolved

 

·         To ask the Leader of the Council, Leader of the Council’s opposition groups and York’s two MPs to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask them to review the Winter Fuel Allowance eligibility threshold.

 

Cllrs Douglas/Ayre Steward

Letters in progress

 

·         To request that the Executive Members for Finance, Major Projects and Equalities work with officers to create a plan for consideration by the relevant Scrutiny Committee(s) which sets out a range of measures that could be taken to mitigate the impact of the above decisions on York’s pensioners, including maintaining financial support for warm spaces in York through allocation of Household Support Fund grants.

 

Debbie Mitchell/David Walker

Councillor Katie Lomas

A range of support provided in 2024/25 through Household Support Fund for e.g. warm spaces.

 

Nothing agreed with scrutiny as yet

 

·         To request that officers continue writing to all 470 pensioners who are currently entitled to Pension Credit and do not claim it, informing them of the Winter Fuel Payment changes and encouraging them to claim for the benefits they are entitled to.

 

Pauline Stuchfield

Councillor Katie Lomas

Extensive work completed and ongoing in this field. 168 pensioners have now claimed Pension Credit, putting over £1,338,597.84 into the pockets of residents in first year of claiming.  Work is ongoing to support people in claiming.

Completed

 

Council Meeting – 21/11/24

Motions

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Protecting more of York’s Community Assets

Council resolved:

·         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.

Debbie Mitchell

 

Cllr Lomas

 

 

·         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.”

 

 

 

 

 

Motion

Resolutions

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Protecting York’s Primary and Social Care providers

Council resolved:

• To ask the Group Leaders to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that charitable social care providers, hospices and primary care providers including GPs, Dental practices and pharmacies are carefully considered for exclusion from her increase to Employers National Insurance contributions.

 

Political assistants

 

Cllr Steels-Walshaw

 

 

Motion

Resolutions

 

Lead Officer / Executive Member

Actions taken

Status

Renewing York’s commitment to Fairtrade

 

Council resolved:

• 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.

Claire Foale / Debbie Mitchell

 

Cllr Lomas

 

 

• 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.