Agenda and draft minutes

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

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

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Strategic Policy Panel’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is

5:00 pm on Friday, 11 July 2008.

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

To approve and sign the minutes of the Strategic Policy Panel meeting held on 9 June 2008.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Strategic Policy Panel, held on 9 June 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

This report asks Members to consider a decision taken by the Executive (Calling In) on 8 July in respect of York Racecourse, which has been referred to the Strategic Policy Panel by the Leader of the Labour Group.

Members considered a report concerning the referral to the Strategic Policy Panel (SPP) of the decisions taken by the Executive (Calling In) on 8 July 2008, in respect of the their original decisions on 30 June regarding York Racecourse’s application for an extension and amendments to their lease.

The report set out the decisions of the Executive and the Executive (Calling In), the reasons for the referral by Cllr Scott, as Leader of the Labour Group, and the powers and role of the SPP in dealing with the referral.  Two options were available, namely:

Option A – recommend that the decisions of the Executive (Calling In) in be confirmed, on the grounds that there was no basis for re-consideration;

Option B – recommend that the Executive reconsider or amend in part the decisions of the Executive (Calling In), in the light of the reasons for referral.

Members debated the issues and questioned Officers regarding the actions taken since 8 July.  Officers confirmed that the police were satisfied that race meetings were adequately resourced and indicated that temporary toilets would be provided at additional locations during future meetings.

Cllr Orrell then moved, and Cllr Runciman seconded, that Option A be approved and the decisions of the Executive (Calling In) on 8 July be confirmed.

Cllr Scott then moved, and Cllr Potter seconded, that Option B be approved and that the matter be referred back to the Executive for reconsideration, with the recommendation that they agree:

a)                 To provide guaranteed funding for the provision of toilet facilities at race meetings during this year and subsequent years;

b)                 To commission a report on the policing of anti-social behaviour, to enable the Council to assess policing requirements and agree to provide funding for additional policing if necessary.

Cllr Orrell’s motion was then put to the vote and was declared CARRIED by 6 votes to 4.  Cllr Scott’s motion therefore fell and it was

RESOLVED: That Option A be approved and that the Executive be recommended to confirm the decisions taken at the Executive (Calling In) meeting on 8 July 2009.¹

REASON:      In accordance with the procedures set down in the Council’s Constitution and on the grounds that the Panel does not consider that there is any basis for reconsidering the decisions.