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.

Cllr Potter declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Executive Agenda Item 7 (Selection of a Preferred Discus Bungalows Re-development Partner - Minute 90 refers) as a member of the Project board.

Cllrs King and Simpson-Laing each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Executive Agenda Item 7 (Selection of a Preferred Discus Bungalows Re-development Partner - Minute 90 refers) as members of the Planning Committee which was likely to deal with any planning application submitted. Both left the room during consideration of this item and did not take part in the discussion or decision thereon.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 17 October 2007.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of any exempt information as detailed on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 6 November 2007, under Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

RESOLVED:             That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annexes 1, 2 and 4 to Executive Agenda Item 7(Selection of a Preferred Discus Bungalows Re-development Partner – Minute 90 refers), on the grounds that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person. This information was classed as exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

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 30 October 2007, at 5.00 pm.

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

To consider the items on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 6 November 2007, 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 26 October 2007. 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 15 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 6 November 2007:

The Shadow Executive:

1.      reiterated their comments about the need to show those reports that had slipped and the rescheduling, especially the Thin Client Management Arrangements report;

2.      expressed concern about the work plan of the Executive being properly managed;

3.      agreed to provisionally request officers for the following items on the Executive Forward Plan:

Executive on 20 November

§        CPA Inspection – Self Assessment

§        Race Course Lease Review

§        Review & Strategy for the Commercial Property Portfolio

§        Report of the Future York Group

Executive on 4 December

§        Review Report – Housing (affordable and social)

§        Administrative Accommodation Review: End of Stage Update Report

§        Energy and Water Management – Policy & Practice/ Sustainability in Design

§        Reducing the Maintenance Backlog

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 6 November 2007, at page 19. The report presented information on the findings of the Inspector who examined York’s Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and asked the Executive to recommend the amended SCI to Full Council for formal adoption.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• welcomed the report and appreciated the hard work by all those involved;
• supported the recommendation.

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 6 November 2007, at page 101. The report detailed the bids that had been received by organisations interested in being selected as the development partner for the Discus Re-development Project and sought approval for a preferred development partner to purchase the sites and work with the residents, the Project Board, the Council, and the wider community to re-develop the three Discus sites at St Anne’s Court / Horsman Avenue, Regent Street and Richmond / Faber Street.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• supported the recommendation;
• noted the time line of development had been adjusted to avoid multiple moves;
• recommended that the project board remained to continue to monitor and support the implementation of the project.

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 6 November 2007, at page 137.  The report asked Members to consider a recommendation, referred to the Executive by the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, to approve the Council’s environmental health and trading standards service plans.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  agreed the recommendation.

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 Chair requested that a report be brought to Shadow Executive on 28^th November looking at the possibilities around Neighbourhood Management. It was requested that the report addressed the following:

• The possibilities for increasing localisation and devolvement of services into communities at local ward level with appropriate monitoring and reporting to local communities
• Draft Neighbourhood charter or action plans
• Citywide consultation and engagement provisions needed to ensure delivery meets local expectations

RESOLVED:             That the Director of Neighbourhood Services be requested to provide a report on Neighbourhood Management to Shadow Executive on 28^th November 2007.

REASON:                  To inform the Shadow Executive about the possibilities around Neighbourhood Management