Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in the business on this agenda.

The Chair invited Members to declare at this point any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of Annex B to agenda item 9 (Lendal Bridge Sub-Station Secure Cycle Park Feasibility Study Outcome) and Annex A to agenda item 10 (Proposals for Staff Compensation), on the grounds that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, which is classed as exempt under Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Annex B to agenda item 9 (Lendal Bridge Sub-Station Secure Cycle Park Feasibility Study Outcome) and Annex A to agenda item 10 (Proposals for Staff Compensation), on the grounds that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, which is classed as exempt under Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 24 October 2006.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 24 October 2006 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Executive’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 10:00 am on Monday 6 November 2006.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To receive an update on those items which are currently listed on the Executive Forward Plan.

Members received and noted an updated list of items included on the Executive Forward Plan at the time the agenda for this meeting was published.

This report, requested by Members at the Executive meeting on 24 October, considers how cardboard recycling services can be delivered to the remaining 40,000 residents who are able to use this service if provided, and recommends changes to the current domestic refuse collection arrangements between 1 December 2006 and 31 March 2007.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the proposals for cardboard collections to be rolled out to the remaining 40,000 on alternate weekly collections be welcomed and that the arrangements for Winter Collections, as detailed in paragraphs 17-21 of the report, be approved.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to release £66k from reserves and that a further report be brought to the Executive to confirm the future funding arrangements.

REASON:      To improve recycling performance and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

Members considered a report which presented proposals for the extension of cardboard recycling services to the remaining 40,000 City of York residents able to use these services if provided. This information had been requested by the Executive at its last meeting, on 24 October. The report also recommended changes to current waste collection arrangements between 1 December 2006 and 31 March 2007.  Additional information on the use of the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant for 2006/07, and how the forecast landfill tax would fund the required investment to extend the service, had been circulated after publication of the agenda (Annex B).

The introduction of plastic and cardboard kerbside collections to households in March and July 2006 had resulted in the number of properties presenting materials for collection (the “set out” rate) rising to an average of 69%.  It was anticipated that this would increase to 80% if cardboard collections were introduced to the remaining 40,000 properties.  This could be done after the Christmas and New Year holidays if three additional vehicles were hired and six staff employed. Costs for the current financial year (£66k) could be met from reserves, due to a one-off extra dividend from Yorwaste.

It was proposed to introduce the new service, in stages, from Monday 15 January, at a rate of 5,000 properties per week.  This would mean that the service would be offered to all 40,000 properties by 5 March 2007.  It was further proposed to continue with the alternate weekly “grey” and “green” bin domestic waste collections over the winter period (1 December 2006 to 31 March 2007), in order to maximise recycling rates.  A weekly domestic collection would still be provided during the two-week Christmas period. A communications strategy to inform residents of these arrangements was outlined in paragraphs 23-28 of the report. 

In welcoming the proposals, Members stressed the importance of ensuring customer satisfaction with the service introduction and a timely and efficient distribution of bags and leaflets.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the proposals for cardboard collections to be rolled out to the remaining 40,000 on alternate weekly collections be welcomed and that the arrangements for Winter Collections, as detailed in paragraphs 17-21 of the report, be approved.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to release £66k from reserves and that a further report be brought to the Executive to confirm the future funding arrangements.

REASON:      To improve recycling performance and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

This report sets out Officers’ comments in relation to the Scrutiny recommendations presented to the Executive on 25 July 2006, with alternative proposals where appropriate, to ensure that financial controls and reporting procedures are in place to enable the procurement of energy for street lighting to progress without delay.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the Scrutiny report be welcomed and that the Executive record its appreciation of the work of those Members and Officers involved in the production of the report.

                        (ii)        That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Sub-Committee be agreed, subject to the amendments detailed below:

Members considered a report which set out Officers’ comments in relation to the recommendations of the Sustainable Street Lighting Scrutiny Board, which were presented to the Executive on 25 July 2006.

Comments on each of the Board’s twelve recommendations were set out in paragraphs 5 to 39 of the report.  Paragraph 51 presented alternative proposals in relation to recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9, with the aim of ensuring that financial controls and reporting procedures were in place to progress the procurement of energy for street lighting without delay.

Councillor Vassie commented on the Board’s recommendations as Energy Champion, expressing support in particular for Recommendation 2.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the Scrutiny report be welcomed and that the Executive record its appreciation of the work of those Members and Officers involved in the production of the report.

                        (ii)        That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Sub-Committee be agreed, subject to the amendments detailed below:

This report asks the Executive to consider the final recommendations of the Scrutiny Sub-Committee that reviewed the topic ‘Reducing Carbon Emissions from York’s Public & Private Sector Housing’. 

RESOLVED: (i)         That the report be noted, with thanks to the Officers and Councillors who have worked on it.

                        (ii)        That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Sub-Committee be agreed, subject to the amendments detailed below:

Members considered a report which presented the final recommendations of the Scrutiny Sub-Committee that reviewed the topic “Reducing Carbon Emissions from York’s Public and Private Sector Housing”.

The report summarised the main findings of the review, full details of which included in the Sub-Committee’s draft report, attached as Annex A.  This had been considered and endorsed by the Scrutiny Management Committee on 23 October and contained twelve recommendations, focusing on areas where it was felt the Council could take immediate action.

Councillor Livesley, who had chaired the final meeting of the Sub-Committee, commented on the recommendations on the Sub-Committee’s behalf.  It was noted that some of the recommendations (2-8) appeared to relate to the Planning remit.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the report be noted, with thanks to the Officers and Councillors who have worked on it.

                        (ii)        That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Sub-Committee be agreed, subject to the amendments detailed below:

This report presents the outcome of the study into whether the former Lendal Bridge Sub-Station is suitable to be converted into a secure cycle parking facility, together with the further information requested by the Executive on 24 October, and details the options available in relation to the building.

RESOLVED: (i)         That a decision on the sale of the building be deferred for up to six months.

REASON:      To enable sources of funding to be investigated to facilitate a secure cycle store on this side of the City, which will contribute to the Corporate Strategy Improvement Statement to increase the use of public and environmentally friendly modes of transport and also meet the objectives identified in the Local Transport Plan.

                        (ii)        That interested parties be invited, individually or in partnership, to explore opportunities for grant funding to finance the capital investment required for the use of this property as a cycle park, including associated and compatible uses.

REASON:      Funding is not available from within Council budgets. No money has been allocated in the LTP Capital Programme to undertake these works and to accommodate them in 2007/08 would require at least half the annual budget, resulting in a loss of other LTP schemes.

                        (iii)       That interested parties be asked to investigate all planning, building and environmental constraints and to incorporate these within a fully developed business plan to satisfy the potential funding bodies and the City of York Council of the scheme’s viability and longevity.

REASON:      To ensure that all aspects of the scheme have been considered and that it will succeed.

                        (iv)       That consideration then be given to leasing the building to an appropriate organisation for the period needed to release the investment funding.

REASON:      To control the use of the building and satisfy the funding bodies.

                        (v)        That progress be monitored regularly during the 6-month period, to ensure that a full and comprehensive report can be brought back to the Executive for a final decision.

REASON:      To ensure that there is no slippage and that the programme is kept on time.

Members considered a report which presented the outcome of the study into the suitability of the former Lendal Bridge Sub-Station into a secure cycle parking facility. The report incorporated the further information requested by Members when they considered this issue at the Executive meeting on 24 October. Additional supplementary information detailing an operating proposal from Bikerescue Project CIC and Officers’ responses to this (Annex D) plus revised options and an alternative recommendation (Annex E) had been circulated after publication of the agenda and made available on the Council’s website.  A further document provided by Bikerescue, outlining potential revenue streams, was circulated at the meeting.

The revised options presented for Members’ consideration were:

Option A – sell the building.

Option B – provided grant funding was available, retain the building and lease it to a cycling organisation on condition they convert the ground floor to a cycle park, with other cycle-related activities.

Option C – as Option B, plus further investigation of the integrity of the roof and options to enable the roof to be accessed from the café.

The original report recommended that Option B be adopted if grant funding could be secured and, if not, that the building be sold.  The alternative recommendation was to defer a decision on the sale of the building for six months, to enable interested parties to investigate potential funding sources and produce a viable business plan.  This would enable Bikerescue, as well as any other interested parties, to develop their proposals further.

It was noted that this item had been called in, so the Executive’s decision would be subject to review unless the calling-in was withdrawn.

RESOLVED: (i)         That a decision on the sale of the building be deferred for up to six months.

REASON:      To enable sources of funding to be investigated to facilitate a secure cycle store on this side of the City, which will contribute to the Corporate Strategy Improvement Statement to increase the use of public and environmentally friendly modes of transport and also meet the objectives identified in the Local Transport Plan.

                        (ii)        That interested parties be invited, individually or in partnership, to explore opportunities for grant funding to finance the capital investment required for the use of this property as a cycle park, including associated and compatible uses.

REASON:      Funding is not available from within Council budgets. No money has been allocated in the LTP Capital Programme to undertake these works and to accommodate them in 2007/08 would require at least half the annual budget, resulting in a loss of other LTP schemes.

                        (iii)       That interested parties be asked to investigate all planning, building and environmental constraints and to incorporate these within a fully developed business plan to satisfy the potential funding bodies and the City of York Council of the scheme’s viability and longevity.

REASON:      To ensure that all aspects of the scheme have been considered and that it will succeed.

                        (iv)       That consideration then be given to leasing the building to an appropriate organisation for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109.

This report gives an update on the Council’s position in relation to offers of compensation to employees.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the approach outlined in the report, to make offers of compensation in full and final settlement of the Council’s liabilities in respect of historical equal pay issues, be endorsed.

                        (ii)        That the use of the existing financial reserves of £1.59m that have been set aside to address this issue be authorised and, if this amount is exceeded, that any remaining compensation be funded from the Council’s general reserve.

REASON:      In order to address this important issue and minimise the risk to the Council.

Members considered a report which provided an update on the Council’s position in relation to offers of compensation to employees who could potentially make claims against the Council under equal pay legislation.

The current job evaluation exercise under the Single Status Agreement would only address inequalities from the date of implementation of a new pay system.  There was therefore a need to address historical inequalities and reduce potential liabilities and litigation in this area.  After careful consideration, Officers had concluded that it was essential to take action to reduce the Council’s risk in this area by proposing a compromise agreement to settle potential equal pay claims.

Proposed levels of compensation had been discussed with trades unions and a list drawn up of employees who should be offered compensation.  These employees would be notified by letter of the amount they would receive if they chose to accept the offer.  Further information would be available via a helpline and a series of ‘road shows’. 

RESOLVED: (i)         That the approach outlined in the report, to make offers of compensation in full and final settlement of the Council’s liabilities in respect of historical equal pay issues, be endorsed.

                        (ii)        That the use of the existing financial reserves of £1.59m that have been set aside to address this issue be authorised and, if this amount is exceeded, that any remaining compensation be funded from the Council’s general reserve.

REASON:      In order to address this important issue and minimise the risk to the Council.