Agenda and 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 any of the business on the agenda.

Councillor Evans declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive item 8 (Capital Programme – Monitor One), in relation to the re-profiling of spending on the York Museums Trust scheme, as an employee of the Trust.

Councillor Simpson-Laing declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive item 8 (Capital Programme – Monitor One), as she lived opposite one of the sites providing a capital receipt.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 20 September 2006.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 20 September 2006 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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 Shadow Executive’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is Tuesday 3 October 2006, at 10.00 am.

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

RESOLVED:             That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Annexes A and B to agenda item 6 (Accommodation Project - Update) (minute 79 refers), Annexes A and B to agenda item 8 (Capital Programme – Monitor One) (minute 81 refers), Annex 2 to agenda item 10 (2 High Petergate, York) (minute 83 refers) and Annex 2 to agenda item 11 (3-4 Patrick Pool, York) (minute 84 refers) on the grounds that they contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  This information was 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 consider the items on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 10 October 2006, and to take a decision on whether to call-in any of these items.

Please note that the reports relating to these items will be published on the Council’s website on 29 September 2006. The website address is www.york.gov.uk  Copies of the Executive agenda and reports are also available for viewing at public libraries in York and can be obtained by telephoning Democracy Support Group on York (01904) 551088.

The Shadow Executive made the following comments on the Forward Plan at page 5 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 10 October 2006:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Request that the “Report to those Charged with Governance” be brought to the Shadow Executive at the earliest opportunity and the District Auditor be invited to attend to answer questions.

·  May require Officer attendance at the relevant Shadow Executive meeting/s in respect of the following items (current Executive dates in brackets):

o Corporate Asset Management Plan (24/10)

oLeisure Facilities Strategy (24/10)

o IT Development Plan 2007/2008 (24/10)

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 10 October, at page 7.  The report provided a progress update on the Council’s corporate accommodation project.  It included the targets and achievements for Stage 1, details of the sale and leaseback of St Leonard’s Place and 2 – 4 Museum Street, the revised timetable for the completion of the project, targets for the next stage and the top ten risks.  It also sought Members’ agreement to a revised financial model for the delivery of the project.

Having discussed the issues set out in the report, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Are very concerned about the substantial increase in costs revealed by this report and that it reveals that Members were not given a full representation of what was involved in the original report.

·  Are extremely concerned about what this suggests regarding management of the project and about future cost management and achievement of a genuinely self funding and savings generating project.

·  Are also concerned at the major extension of the borrowing period which has implications for future Councils’ expenditure.

RESOLVED:(i) That the Executive be asked to take the above comments into account when considering this item.

                        (ii)        That the item not be called in.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 7 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 10 October, at page 25.  The report provided details of the headline performance issues from the performance monitor session on the 27 September 2006.  It also built on this to present the latest projection of the Council’s revenue income and expenditure for the current year.

Having discussed the issues set out in the report and questioned officers present at the meeting, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Are concerned regarding the potential falls in performance in Housing, Cultural Services and the overall corporate rating.

·  Are also concerned about some of the cuts, which demonstrate a lack of strategic thinking in these areas, given that some of the cuts are in areas put in as growth by the current administration.

·  With regards to Adult Social Services, are very concerned that the cuts and remedial actions suggested would have a detrimental effect on vulnerable people, eg: the review of eligibility criteria may result in services being withdrawn which people have come to depend on, the introduction of waiting lists for homecare using officer delegated powers, the original review of homecare provision for under 2 hours which may precede another cut, the review of duties that homecare undertake, the overall review of homecare provision leading to the re-tendering of homecare and the transfer of the meals on wheels service to the private sector.

·  Request further information regarding Annex 11 to clarify what the DLF reserve is, to outline what alternative savings have been provided for Neighbourhood Services and Neighbourhood Services Traded Activities, and to confirm whether Children’s Services Direct Schools Grant (DSG) savings are on target.

RESOLVED:(i) That the Executive be asked to take the above comments into account when considering this item.

(ii)                        That the item not be called in.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 8 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 10 October, at page 93.  The report informed Members of the likely outturn position of the 2006/07 Capital Programme based on the spend profile and information to August 2006, as reported to Executive Member and Advisory Panel (EMAP) meetings for each portfolio.

Having discussed the issues set out in the report and questioned officers present at the meeting, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note the report.

RESOLVED:(i) That the Executive be asked to take the above comments into account when considering this item.

(ii)                        That the item not be called in.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 9 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 10 October, at page 119.  The report provided a summary of the work undertaken as part of the Council’s York Pride initiative, launched in September 2003.  It detailed the proposed development of the next phase of this initiative entitled ‘York Neighbourhoods Pride’ and sought approval for implementing the actions.

Having discussed the issues set out in the report and questioned officers present at the meeting, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note that the report clearly acknowledges the failures the Labour Group have been highlighting for some time in delivery of street cleaning and related services, especially in terraced streets and back lanes, as illustrated by the photographic evidence presented to the Director of Neighbourhood Services and shown to Chief Officers of the Council on ward audits.

·  Are pleased that actions are proposed to address these issues and hope that it is not just a leaflet and publicity campaign but improvement on the ground.

·  Are concerned about the top slicing of the Neighbourhood Pride budget for the campaigns when it is already under pressure and, with regards to specific initiatives (eg: back lanes), about the lack of adequate resources to address the current deficiencies.

·  Are also concerned that this represents the centralisation of funds and a move away from devolved budgets.

·  Would like to see ward councillors closely involved in local neighbourhood campaign work and directly involved in the monitoring and auditing of service delivery in their wards and ensuring that resources are directed to problem areas.

·  Highlight the inappropriateness of campaign activity in March, April and up to and including election day in May, and expect re-profiling of initiatives to avoid the election and pre-election period.

RESOLVED:(i) That the Executive be asked to take the above comments into account when considering this item.

(ii)That the item be called in, unless a satisfactory response is received to the concerns expressed to the Chief Executive about the inappropriateness of campaign activities in March, April and up to and including election day in May.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 10 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 10 October, at page 133.  The report sought approval for the sale of the freehold interest in 2 High Petergate, York.

Having discussed the issues set out in the report, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note the report.

RESOLVED:(i) That the Executive be asked to take the above comments into account when considering this item.

(ii)                        That the item not be called in.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 11 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 10 October, at page 141.  The report sought approval for the sale of the freehold of 3 – 4 Patrick Pool, York.

Having discussed the issues set out in the report, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note the report.

RESOLVED:(i) That the Executive be asked to take the above comments into account when considering this item.

(ii)         That the item not be called in.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 12 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 10 October, at page 149.  The report advised Members of a serious delay in the delivery of the major redevelopment of the Foss Islands area and sought approval to make an Order under Section 124 of the Highways Act 1980, closing one of the two entrances to premises occupied by Majestic Wine, situated off Foss Islands Road.

Having discussed the issues set out in the report, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note the report.

RESOLVED:(i) That the Executive be asked to take the above comments into account when considering this item.

                        (ii)        That the item not be called in.