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 the business on the agenda.

Councillor Simpson-Laing declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive item 6 (York North West Area Action Plan), as a resident of the area.  She also declared an interest in Executive item 12 (Future of Connexions Service), as the voluntary organisation she was employed by did work for Connexions, and left the room and took no part in the discussion or decision thereon.  It was later clarified that this was a personal non-prejudicial interest.

Councillor Merrett declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive item 7 (City of York’s Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 Capital Settlement) as an honorary member of the Cyclists’ Touring Club, a member of Cycling England and a member of Transport 2000 York & North Yorkshire.

Councillor Potter declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive item 8 (Quality Bus Controls) as Older People’s Champion, in relation to a proposal she had put forward on behalf of the Older People’s Assembly, to extend the number 6 bus route to two Park & Ride sites.

Councillor Fraser declared personal non-prejudicial interests in Executive items 12 (Future of Connexions Service) and 15 (Notice of Motion to the Executive concerning North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust), in relation to the human resources implications, as a retired member of Unison.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 7 February 2007.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 7 February 2007 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 20 February 2007, at 5.00 pm.

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

The Shadow Executive made the following comments on the Forward Plan at page 9 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 27 February 2007:

The Shadow Executive:

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

oThin Client/Competition Strategy (13/3)

oEfficiency Programme, Including Strategic Procurement Programme (27/3)

oCorporate Asset Management Plan (27/3)

oAdmin Accommodation Project Update Report (27/3)

oNeighbourhood Services Restructure (27/3)

oWaste PFI – Updated OBC (27/3)

oCPA Refresh 2006 (27/3)

oInformation Governance Strategy (10/4)

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 5 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 27 February 2007, at page 11.  The report advised Members on the production of a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) for the City, as required under the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and asked the Executive to approved this document for formal submission to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, subject to the recommendations of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Working Group.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Express significant concern that the Issues and Options consultation has not proceeded along proper lines as predicted by the Shadow Executive when the process was initially agreed, resulting in time being wasted and with potentially disastrous consequences for the city, in terms of major applications having to go to public inquiries, inflicting costs on developers.

·  Highlight that, with no Local Plan or Local Development Framework in place and the County Structure Plan expiring later this year, the green belt will be left vulnerable to development and question how the process can be accelerated to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place.

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 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 27 February 2007, at page 23.  The report provided an update on the progress of the joint Area Action Plan (AAP), which will form part of the Local Development Framework, and sought agreement for a programme for the preparation of the AAP.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Express concern regarding the further delays with the York Central site and query whether the necessary amounts of general development land for the city, particularly housing, can be delivered, given the very substantial housing allocations linked to the site.

·  Highlight the need for consultation periods falling over Christmas to be extended to allow adequate time for interested parties to participate.

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 27 February 2007, at page 41.  The report brought to Members’ attention the 2007/08 capital settlement for the City of York’s second Local Transport Plan, as advised by the Department for Transport on 18 December 2006.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Welcome the government’s continued investment of significant funds in transport in York and look forward to the further report on the detailed proposals.

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 27 February 2007, at page 47.  The report presented the options available to local authorities to improve the quality of local bus services, set out the current legislative and legal framework for partnership working with bus operators to improve the reliability of bus services and outlined the Government’s recently announced proposals for strengthening Quality Partnerships.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Express disappointment that the issues of cross ticketing between different operators, interchange, punctuality, higher fares, bus information and up to date timetable information, lack of comprehensive use of BLISS and public monitoring and reporting are not addressed.

·  Express the view that a Punctuality Improvement Partnership (PIP) will dilute the Quality Bus Partnership (QBP), that the issues above should be dealt with as a minimum and that, if they are not, a Statutory Quality Bus Partnership should replace the voluntary one.

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 27 February 2007, at page 63.  The report examined options for the procurement of the Park and Ride bus service, and asked Members to decide which option should be progressed to enable a contract to be prepared to operate the service for the next 5 years.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Express the view that this is a poor report, lacking serious detail on option 4 and with option 2 not adequately dealing with the current situation, particularly the pricing of tickets.

·  Express concern about the lack of progress with additional sites, which are now needed and have been neglected since 2003.

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 10 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 27 February 2007, at page 101.  The report advised Members of the Government’s proposals for the future of the Post Office Network and asked them to consider a response to the consultation process.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Generally support the response to the consultation process set out in 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 27 February 2007, at page 107.  The report provided an update on the work of the newly established Safeguarding Children’s Board, including the business plan priorities for the Board for 2007-10, and sought approval for the adoption of high level child protection policy for the Council.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note the report and thank officers for the update.

·  Endorse the comprehensive business plan.

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 27 February 2007, at page 125.  The report advised Members of the prospective transfer of Connexions Service responsibilities to the Council from April 2008, proposed a strategy for the management of these new responsibilities and sought permission to implement a management of change strategy, funded entirely by external grants.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Express the view that the move of Connexions into the Council is positive and hope that the funding settlement is also positive and that savings can be made through sorting out the property issues and management.

Members also recorded their thanks to the Assistant Director (Access & Inclusion) for his hard work and achievements and wished him well in his new job.

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 13 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 27 February 2007, at page 139.  The report asked the Executive to recommend that the City of York Council adopt the Children and Young People’s Plan 2007-2010, recently approved by the Board of the Children’s Trust (YorOK).

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Express the view that performance management is a key issue, note that some measures are already in place and highlight the need for constant review as this is a dynamic area of work, which needs to be robust.

·  Also express the view that performance indicators are not enough and that regular and strong consultation with children and young people, and their parents and carers, is needed to ensure good qualitative information is available.

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 14 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 27 February 2007, at page 181.  The report advised on recent developments designed to enhance joint working on strategic housing issues across the sub-region and asked the Executive to recommend that the City of York participate in the proposed sub-regional partnership and governance framework and that the Executive Member for Housing represent the Council on the partnership.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Do not support the recommendations in this report as making links on traditional local authority boundaries has no logic in terms of housing demand. Links are needed instead with housing demand areas allied to York, e.g the golden triangle.

·  Support option 2 and propose arguing at regional level for more logical options, allowing links to be developed with other areas with similar & linked  housing demands and housing market conditions.

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 15 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 27 February 2007, at page 189.  The report provide advice to the Executive regarding a motion that had been submitted for their consideration and referral on to Full Council, in accordance with Standing Order 11.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Reiterate their support for writing off the debt and share the significant concerns about the approvals process, but believe this to be a very complex issue and therefore suggest that option 2 should be supported.

·  Note there is also currently a scrutiny committee actively examining all the recovery plans, including the exceptions panel, and therefore think that the full report of the scrutiny panel to full Council should be awaited, so that full information is available and a fully informed decision can be made.

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.

To receive a briefing from the Director of Neighbourhood Services and the Assistant Director (Environment) on the internal Waste Review.

The Shadow Executive received a briefing from the Director of Neighbourhood Services and the Assistant Director (Environment) on the internal Waste Review.

Information circulated to Members at the meeting included a diagram of waste flows, a graph showing landfill allowances, the goals for the review, a list of actions for the short term and details of types of properties where recycling services still needed to be introduced.

Members recorded their thanks to officers for the briefing.

RESOLVED:             That the briefing be noted.

To receive a briefing report from the Director of Housing & Adult Social Services on the key challenges facing adult social care in the next few years.

The Shadow Executive received a briefing report from the Director of Housing & Adult Social Services on the key challenges facing adult social care in the next few years.

The report set out the key contextual issues nationally and locally, and outlined the approach the Council should adopt to tackle these issues over the next 15-20 years.

Representatives from the Older People’s Assembly, Older Citizens’ Advocacy York, Age Concern and York People First attended the meeting to contribute to the discussion on these issues.

Members recorded their thanks to the Director of Housing & Adult Social Services for the report and to the representatives for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED:             That the briefing report be noted.