Agenda and draft minutes

Due to the absence of the Vice-Chair, Members nominated Cllr Merrett to act as Vice-Chair for the meeting.

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies were received and noted from Councillors Baxter, Taylor and Nelson.  Cllr Baxter was substituted by Cllr Whitcroft and Cllr Taylor was substituted by Cllr Crawshaw.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see the attached sheet for further guidance for Members.]

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable interests that they might have in the business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.

None were declared

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annex 2 to agenda item 7 on the grounds that it contains information relating to the following:

-      Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information); and

-      Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office-holders under, the authority.

The above information is classed as exempt under paragraphs 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

It is also considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Resolved: 

To exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annex 2 to agenda item 7 on the grounds that it contained information relating to the following:

-           Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information); and

-           Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office-holders under, the authority.

Reason:

The above information was classed as exempt under paragraphs 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

It was also considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Thursday 18 June 2026.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

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

To approve the minutes of the following meetings:

·        Corporate Scrutiny Call-in, 5 May 2026.

·        Corporate Scrutiny, 11 May 2026.

Resolved: That the minutes be approved as a correct record for the meetings listed below:

·        Corporate Scrutiny (Call-in), 05 May 2026

·        Corporate Scrutiny, 11 May 2026.

Members will consider the progress made against the Gypsy and Traveller Action Plan and the proposed priorities for 2026/27.

Members considered a report which presented the annual update on the Gypsy and Traveller Action Plan, previously approved by Executive in May 2024.  The Head of Communities advised that the Action Plan was intended to address inequalities experienced by Gypsy and Traveller communities across a range of areas including housing, health, education, community safety and access to services. It was noted that the plan was reviewed annually to ensure it remained current and responsive, and that it had been developed in partnership with the community.

Members were informed that the updated Action Plan would be considered at an Executive Member Decision Session on 7 July.

Officers noted an error within the report at paragraph 78, where Option B had been incorrectly identified as the preferred option. Members were advised that Option A, to implement the Action Plan, was the correct recommendation.

Members noted progress made in relation to housing, education and health and raised concerns regarding the prejudice experienced by the Gypsy and Traveller Communities.  They asked a range of questions covering engagement with Roma Communities, unauthorised encampments, refuse collection and associated clean-up costs, notifying residents of designated sites, consultation arrangements, additional pitches, and education outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children, particularly at secondary level.

Officers reported the following:

·        Further survey work was planned to inform future investment in housing; engagement with residents would continue throughout the process

·        Further work was planned in relation to negotiated stopping, hate crime, anti-racist practice, equality and human rights assessments, and engagement with Roma communities. Briefings for Members could be arranged.

·        The provision of facilities, including bins, would be considered as part of the development of negotiated stopping arrangements.

·        Officers agreed to develop and circulate an appropriate protocol for managing unauthorised sites, outlining processes and responsibilities.

·        Provision for additional pitches was included within the adopted Local Plan, work on site masterplanning was ongoing.

·        Roma communities were included within the scope of the work, with some actions delivered separately to reflect specific needs.

·        Engagement activity at Our City Integration Festival was inclusive and feedback would be captured.

·        Further work was required in the area of education, the Action Plan would be developed to include additional measures, including work relating to post-16 education and the tracking of children not in education.

The Executive Member confirmed that consultation would form part of the site identification process and would include both the Gypsy and Traveller community and local residents. It was noted that the full prevention of encampments was not always feasible due to the nature of some sites.

Resolved:       That the Committee noted the report and the progress made and supported the proposed next steps in the development of the Action Plan.

Reason:          To provide scrutiny oversight of the progress made against the action plan.

Members are asked to consider the proposals that will be put forward to the Executive for the future management of Fulford Cemetery and make recommendations prior to the final decision.

The Director of Communities and the Head of Corporate Customer Services outlined the proposals for City of York Council to assume permanent management of Fulford Cemetery, subject to negotiations and completion of legal, financial and HR processes.  Members were advised that the proposal aimed to secure long-term burial provision, improve operational resilience and reduce the Council’s financial risk under the current arrangements.

Members asked a range of questions covering the deficit in 2024/25, learning from other cemetery management experiences, biodiversity objectives versus public expectations, memorial management and maintenance standards.

Officers reported that the service had been stabilised and returned to a surplus position; they agreed to review and confirm the contributing factors to the deficit. Officers agreed they would review protocols in relation to memorial management and seek to adopt best practice. They also confirmed that engagement with residents and stakeholders would inform future management arrangements.

The discussion that took place in private session focused on the timescales involved.  Officers confirmed that this time was required to ensure that due diligence was thoroughly undertaken, reducing the risks to both CYC and Fulford Parish Council.

Resolved:       That the Committee noted the report and supported the proposed approach in principle.

Reason:          To provide scrutiny oversight of the proposal.

To consider the Committee’s work plan and the Scrutiny Overview work plan.

Members considered the draft work plan for the committee and the overview scrutiny work plan for the scrutiny committees.  The Chair advised that he and the Vice-Chair would be having a meeting with relevant Executive Members and Directors to develop the work plan for September onwards.

Resolved:            That the work plan be noted.

Reason:              To ensure an overview of the scrutiny work plan.