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.  There were no interests declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 12 September 2006.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 12 September 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 25 September 2006.

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

With the permission of the Chair, Councillor D’Agorne addressed the meeting in relation to items 8 & 9 on the agenda.  He expressed his concern that the report did not entirely respond to the original motion and that it did not refer to the Quality contract.  He urged the Executive to defer the items for a further officer report to include analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of Quality Contracts and include information on decision making re failing contracts.

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 currently scheduled on the Executive Forward Plan.

To receive the draft minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development Partnership Board on 20 June 2006, the minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Group on 31 July 2006 and the draft minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Group on 24 August 2006.

Members received the draft minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development Partnership Board on 20 June 2006, and the minutes of the meeting of the Local Development  Framework Working Group held on 31 July 2006 and the draft minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Group held on 24 August 2006.

RESOLVED:          That the draft minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development Partnership Board held on 20 June 2006, the minutes of the meeting of  the Local Development  Framework Working Group held on 31 July 2006 and the draft minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Group held on 24 August 2006 be noted and the recommendations therein be agreed.

REASON:               In line with constitutional requirements.

This report seeks to transfer the Freedom of Entry to the City to the newly formed Yorkshire Regiment.

Members considered a report which sought to transfer the Freedom of Entry to the City to the newly formed Yorkshire Regiment.  The report provided information on the formation of the regiment and gave details of a letter received by the Lord Mayor, in which the Regimental Secretary had requested that the transfer take place to continue the tradition and historic link with the City.

RESOLVED:             That the Freedom of Entry to the City be transferred to the new Yorkshire Regiment.

REASON:                  To uphold tradition and continue to foster links with the former battalions

Members considered a report which sought to transfer the Freedom of Entry to the City to the newly formed Yorkshire Regiment.  The report provided information on the formation of the regiment and gave details of a letter received by the Lord Mayor, in which the Regimental Secretary had requested that the transfer take place to continue the tradition and historic link with the City.

RESOLVED:             That the Freedom of Entry to the City be transferred to the new Yorkshire Regiment.

REASON:                  To uphold tradition and continue to foster links with the former battalions

This report asks the Executive to agree to the participation of the Council in a Company Limited by Guarantee to be known as Yorkshire Play that will promote and support the provision of quality play environments and the development of a qualified workforce across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Members considered a report asking the Executive to agree to the participation of the Council in a Company Limited by Guarantee to be known as Yorkshire Play, which would promote and support the provision of quality play environments and the development of a qualified workforce across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The report informed Members of the Company’s intention to seek charitable status in order to attract a wider range of appropriate funding opportunities and detailed how it intended to benefit the inhabitants of the Yorkshire and Humber region.

It was noted that through participation the Council would have a strong influence on the direction Yorkshire Play took and the types of projects it became involved with, and the report asked the Executive to nominate an officer to be a Director.

RESOLVED:             That the Council would participate in the Company Limited by Guarantee known as Yorkshire Play by becoming a member of the Company, and would nominate a relevant officer as a Director in due course.

REASON:                  To state the council’s commitment to the Company and in order to benefit from its objectives.

Members considered a report asking the Executive to agree to the participation of the Council in a Company Limited by Guarantee to be known as Yorkshire Play, which would promote and support the provision of quality play environments and the development of a qualified workforce across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The report informed Members of the Company’s intention to seek charitable status in order to attract a wider range of appropriate funding opportunities and detailed how it intended to benefit the inhabitants of the Yorkshire and Humber region.

It was noted that through participation the Council would have a strong influence on the direction Yorkshire Play took and the types of projects it became involved with, and the report asked the Executive to nominate an officer to be a Director.

RESOLVED:             That the Council would participate in the Company Limited by Guarantee known as Yorkshire Play by becoming a member of the Company, and would nominate a relevant officer as a Director in due course.

REASON:                  To state the council’s commitment to the Company and in order to benefit from its objectives.

This report responds to a Full Council motion concerning fares charged on bus services provided in the City by First York Ltd., which was referred to the Executive for consideration.

Members considered a report detailing the fares charged on bus services provided in the City by First York Ltd in response to a motion by Cllr D’Agorne at Full Council in which he raised concern about the significant fare increases since 1 January 2006.

Members noted the comments made earlier by Cllr D’Agorne and his request that the item be deferred until a further officer report could be presented which responded to the motion as a whole.

It was also noted that the report did not refer to Quality Contracts and therefore it was agreed that the amended report should also include analysis of their advantages and disadvantages.

RESOLVED:             That the item be deferred until a more extensive officer report can be produced.

REASON:                  To allow the Executive to make an informed decision.

Members considered a report detailing the fares charged on bus services provided in the City by First York Ltd in response to a motion by Cllr D’Agorne at Full Council in which he raised concern about the significant fare increases since 1 January 2006.

Members noted the comments made earlier by Cllr D’Agorne and his request that the item be deferred until a further officer report could be presented which responded to the motion as a whole.

It was also noted that the report did not refer to Quality Contracts and therefore it was agreed that the amended report should also include analysis of their advantages and disadvantages.

RESOLVED:             That the item be deferred until a more extensive officer report could be produced.

REASON:                  To allow the Executive to make an informed decision.

This report responds to a Full Council motion concerning the partnership agreement between City of York Council and First York with regards to the ftr, which was referred to the Executive for consideration.

Members considered a report published in response to a motion at Full Council on 29 June 2006, concerning the partnership agreement between City of York Council and First York with regard to the ftr.

Members expressed concern about the difficulties with purchasing tickets for the ftr which had been highly publicised, and the negative impact that would have had on the level of use.  

It was noted that First York expected to see radical improvement in that area with the introduction of on street ticketing machines allowing passengers to purchase tickets using cash, together with a wider range of tickets tailored to suit individual needs.   First were also committed to introducing a mobile phone ‘M’ barcode ticket which would be heavily promoted amongst the student community.

RESOLVED:             That the explanations detailed within the report be noted.

REASON:                  In line with constitutional requirements to report back from Council.

Members considered a report published in response to a motion at Full Council on 29 June 2006, concerning the partnership agreement between City of York Council and First York with regard to the ftr.

Members expressed concern about the difficulties with purchasing tickets for the ftr which had been highly publicised, and the negative impact that would have had on the level of use. 

It was noted that First York expected to see radical improvement in that area with the introduction of on street ticketing machines allowing passengers to purchase tickets using cash, together with a wider range of tickets tailored to suit individual needs.   First were also committed to introducing a mobile phone ‘M’ barcode ticket which would be heavily promoted amongst the student community.

In addition, Members of the Executive stated that they believed First must make significant changes to the ticketing systems for the ftr service and as such, they looked forward to receiving reports on major improvements in customer satisfaction with this aspect of the service before the end of the year.

RESOLVED:                                  That (i)   the report and the results of the ongoing discussions between the Council and First over ticketing arrangements on the ftr service be noted; and

(ii) further progress updates be received on any improvements to the ticketing systems introduced by First and on customer satisfaction levels, as set out above.

REASON:                  In line with constitutional requirements to report back from Council.

This report outlines York’s progress in developing its Local Area Agreement (LAA).  It asks the Executive to comment on the LAA and its development so far and to identify ways in which the first draft could be improved before final submission to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber (GOYH) in December, and to endorse the first draft for submission to GOYH by the end of September.

Members considered a report that outlined York’s progress in developing its Local Area Agreement (LAA) for 2007-2010.

Members commented that the final document should be produced in a simple format with sharper indicators to ensure it was suitable for public consumption as well as being clear and focused for presentation to the Government.

It was noted that the draft LAA had been praised by Government Office as being one of the best in the region and Members thanked officers for all their hard work.

RESOLVED:             That the first draft of the LAA be endorsed for submission to GOYH by end of September 2006, and that the presentation of the final document be improved as stated above, prior to the submission to Government Office  .

REASON:                  To inform the decision of the LSP Board, to support the submission of the first draft of the LAA to GOYH and to ensure that the final draft meets the expectations of the Executive.

Members considered a report that outlined York’s progress in developing its Local Area Agreement (LAA) for 2007-2010.

Members commented that the final document should be produced in a simple format with sharper indicators to ensure it was suitable for public consumption as well as being clear and focused for presentation to the Government.

It was noted that the draft LAA had been praised by Government Office as being one of the best in the region and Members thanked officers for all their hard work.

RESOLVED:             That the first draft of the LAA be endorsed for submission to GOYH by end of September 2006, and that the presentation of the final document be improved as stated above, prior to the submission to Government Office  .

REASON:                  To inform the decision of the LSP Board, to support the submission of the first draft of the LAA to GOYH and to ensure that the final draft meets the expectations of the Executive.