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 8 (Minute 109 refers) as chair of the trustees of York Wheels.

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 4 December 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:

·        Exempt Minute 107 in the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 20 November 2007 (Executive Agenda Item 3)

·        Annex A to Executive Agenda Item 11 (Chief Officer Search and Selection Contract)

on the grounds that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, which is 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).

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 14 November 2007.

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 27 November 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 4 December 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 23 November 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 13 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 4 December 2007:

The Shadow Executive:

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

Executive on 18 December

§        Progress Update: Draft Carbon Management Implementation Plan and progress on Climate Change Strategy for the City

§        City Centre Partnership

§        Thin Client Management Arrangements

§        Review Report – Housing (affordable and social)

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

Executive on 15 January

§        Review Report – Finding a consensus on the way forward for the City

§         Easy@York Phase 2 Report

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 4 December 2007, at page 17. The report presented the minutes of recent meetings of the Social Inclusion Working Group and the Young People’s Working Group and asked Members to consider the advice given by the Working Groups in their capacity as advisory bodies to the Executive.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• hoped that the minutes would go before the Executive on a timely basis;
• agreed that a system needed to be devised whereby the minutes could be submitted to the Executive without having to wait for the next quarterly meeting whilst allowing groups to comment on them;
• expressed concerns that the Disabled People’s Forum was facing difficulties and encouraged the Executive and the Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion to provide additional help and support to the Forum.

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 4 December 2007, at page 31.  The report asked the Executive to consider which of the political groups should be invited to appoint the Lord Mayor for the Municipal Year 2008/09 and proposed an amendment to the current nomination scheme.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• supported Option 1
• asked for clarification as to whether the points allocated to the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats were correct and that the applicable date for calculation was Annual Council.

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 4 December 2007, at page 35.  The report (referred to on the Forward Plan as “Kendric Ash Review Update”) provided an update on progress to date on the transformation partnership to improve the Council’s internal transport provision, improve service quality and make significant efficiency savings.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• welcomed the report;
• encouraged officers to provide safer buses for travel to and from school and home which would be introduced as soon as possible and expanded to all primary and secondary schools.

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 4 December 2007, at page 47.  The report sought to brief the Executive on consultation undertaken following receipt of the Future York Group Report and made recommendations for the Council, working in partnership with others, to adopt in response to the Report.

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 be sending detailed comments to the Executive.

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 4 December 2007, at page 97. The report sought Member’s approval of a proposed strategy for using the limited revenue and capital resources available to deal with the substantial repair and maintenance backlog of the Council’s corporate land, buildings and highways, by basing decisions on future investment on the need and viability of the asset.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        welcomed the report and recommended Option A with the caveats:

§        there are historic buildings in the Council’s ownership and there is a need to ensure that they are properly maintained

§        the Council should also seek to be increasing sustainability and reducing the eco footprint of the buildings as part of the strategy.

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 4 December 2007, at page 117. The report asked the Executive to decide on the award of the corporate contract for Chief Officer search and selection following a full tendering process, as Officer’s recommendations are not to award the lowest cost supplier.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• recommended Option B;
• agreed that a protocol needed to be established as to when such consultants should be used.

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.

This report provides a briefing on the Local Government White paper in relation to the possibilities for increasing localisation and development of services into communities at a local ward level with appropriate monitoring and reporting to local communities; draft Neighbourhood Charters and action plans and citywide consultation and engagement provisions needed to ensure delivery meets local expectations.

Members received a report which provided a briefing on the Local Government White paper in relation to the possibilities for increasing localisation and development of services into communities at a local ward level with appropriate monitoring and reporting to local communities; draft Neighbourhood Charters and action plans and citywide consultation and engagement provisions needed to ensure delivery meets local expectations.

Members questioned officers present at the meeting and discussed the resource implications of implementing the Act, awareness in other directorates of the Act, public consultation, and councillor training on Councillor Call for Action.

RESOLVED:             That the contents of the report be noted.

REASON:                  To inform the Shadow Executive.