Issue - meetings

This report presents the findings of a review of the Better Decision Making Tool designed as part of the One Planet Council programme, following a six month pilot of the tool, and seeks approval to create a Project Officer post to support officers working on major capital projects.

Resolved:  (i)      That the findings of the review be noted.

(ii)      That approval be given to create a Project Officer post to support officers delivering capital projects and to lead key delivery projects.

(iii)     That authority to make any further amendments to the tool be delegated to the Head of Corporate Strategy and City Partnerships and the Head of Programmes in the Economy and Place Directorate.

Reason:     To ensure that there is capacity to deliver key projects around the One Planet agenda and to ensure that the usability of the tool continues to be improved and its impact maximised.

The Executive Member considered a report which presented the findings of a review of the Better Decision Making Tool (the tool), a document designed as part of the One Planet Council programme, following a six month pilot of its use with Executive decisions.

The tool, attached as Annex 1, had been designed to help officers identify and balance the social, economic, environmental and equalities implications of their proposals.  Some minor changes had been made during the pilot period, as reflected in the amended version at Annex 2.  The review had identified a number of benefits, as listed in paragraph 7 of the report.  Officers also found the tool easier to complete than the Community Impact Assessment which it replaced. 

Feedback from officers indicated that the tool would deliver greater benefit if used earlier in the process.  It was therefore proposed to align it with the council’s All About Projects Framework, for use initially in the Discovery stage of a proposal.  Analysis of the completed tools indicated that their quality was strongly linked to the assistance provided by officers with specialist knowledge.  Hence it was proposed to create a Project Officer post to support and challenge officers working on major capital projects, as detailed in paragraphs 15 to 18, funded over 3 years from monies within the Go Ultra Low project and from the One Planet budget. 

The Executive Member stressed the importance of delivering all ten strands of the One Planet York concept and designing sustainability into projects from the outset.  With reference to the emailed comments mentioned under Public Participation, he noted the need to inform the public on issues arising with the One Planet app and how these had been addressed.

Resolved:  (i)      That the findings of the review be noted.

(ii)      That approval be given to create a Project Officer post to support officers delivering capital projects and to lead key delivery projects.

(iii)     That authority to make any further amendments to the tool be delegated to the Head of Corporate Strategy and City Partnerships and the Head of Programmes in the Economy and Place Directorate.

Reason:     To ensure that there is capacity to deliver key projects around the One Planet agenda and to ensure that the usability of the tool continues to be improved and its impact maximised.