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 Simpson-Laing declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive item 14 (51 Bismarck Street, Leeman Road) as she lived in the vicinity.

RESOLVED:That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Annex 1 to Executive item 12 (Children’s Magic Christmas Tree), Annexes 1 and 2 to Executive item 13 (The Bonding Warehouse, Skeldergate) and Annex B to Executive item 14 (51 Bismarck Street, Leeman Road), on the grounds that they contained information relating to the financial and business affairs of particular persons.  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 approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 2 August 2006.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 2 August 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 5 September 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.

To consider the items on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 12 September 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 Friday, 1 September. 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 1 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 12 September 2006:

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):

o Parking Review (26/9)

oLocal Area Agreement (26/9)

oPartnership Agreements on the ‘Ftr’ – Notice of Motion to Council on 29 June 2006 (26/9)

oBus Fare Policy – Notice of Motion to Council (26/9)

oProgress Report on IT Strategy 2002-2007 (10/10)

oFirst Capital Monitor (10/10)

oLeisure Facilities Strategy (10/10)

The Shadow Executive made the following comments on the draft minutes of the meeting of the Young People’s Working Group held on 13 July 2006 and the meeting of the Social Inclusion Working Group held on 26 July 2006 at page 13 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 12 September 2006:

The Shadow Executive:

·  Support the recommendations in minute 6 of the Young People’s Working Group but hope to move to annual elections of the Children and Young People’s Champion in due course;

·  Support the recommendations in minute 3 of the Social Inclusion Working Group;

·  Suggest, with regards to minute 5 of the Social Inclusion Working Group, that the impact of e-government and the use of call centres, in terms of access to services by elderly and disadvantaged groups, should be considered.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 7 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 12 September, at page 23.  The report sought authority to submit an Outline Business Case to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for Private Finance Initiative funding, in line with the objectives of the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy ‘Let’s talk less rubbish’ and the Joint Working Agreement with North Yorkshire County Council.

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 extremely significant financial implications for the authority identified in paragraph 29 and support representations being made to the government and the Local Government Association in terms of appropriate government action to address the unsupportable financial burden this puts on an authority like York;

·  Are unable to support recommendation b. as this would put other important services at risk.

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 12 September, at page 63.  The report provided an overview of the proposed Homebuy Plus Scheme to be launched by the Golden Triangle Home Buyers Plus policy and requested delegation for Leeds City Council to act as bankers for the scheme.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Support this scheme, although recognising that it will only make a small contribution to tackling the issues involved;

·  Seek assurance that arrangements guarantee adequate insurance of property and therefore protection of the Council’s asset contribution.

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 12 September, at page 71.  The report asked the Executive to consider a proposed Capital Strategy for the period 2006 to 2011 and a revised Capital Resource Allocation Model (CRAM) process, which aided the allocation of funding in line with the Council’s corporate aims.

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 this 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 10 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 12 September, at page 133.  The report detailed the progress made during 2005/06 in deploying risk management arrangements across the Council.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Highlight the need for more in depth Member training;

·  Reserve comment on the detailed list of risks as they have not had time to consider them, but note the absence of the proposed Private Finance Initiatives from the list 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 12 September, at page 149.  The report asked the Executive to consider the final report of the Education Scrutiny Committee on the extended schools service in York.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note this 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 12 September, at page 225.  The report presented proposals to site an innovative “Children’s Magic Christmas Tree” over the fountain in Parliament Street for the duration of the festive period, instead of the traditional ‘cross street’ Christmas lighting.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Query if there has been any consultation with the city centre retail community to see if they are satisfied with the 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 13 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 12 September, at page 235.  The report asked the Executive to consider what action should be taken to seek a beneficial use for The Bonding Warehouse that would enable the property to be put and remain in a good state of repair.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note that the measures undertaken to bring this to conclusion could and should have been undertaken a substantial time ago.

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 12 September, at page 249.  The report explained the process which had been followed concerning the disposal of the former children’s home at 51 Bismarck Street and recommended the sale of the property.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Would like some assurance that the optimum contribution would be obtained if Option A was pursued, given the value of the prospective purchaser’s existing property.

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 12 September, at page 259.  The report sought approval to suspend work on the York Central Area Action Plan (AAP) pending discussions with British Sugar to clarify their intentions for the future use of their site at Plantation Drive, York.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Agreed that this was an appropriate way forward and would like Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners’ work made available when it is completed.

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.