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.

The following personal non prejudicial interests were declared in relation to Executive Items 9 (Revenue Budget 2008/09) and 10 (Capital Programme 2008/09 – 2010/11):

Cllr Scott as a member of the union, Unite, as a Theatre Royal member, and as a holder of a Respark permit.

Cllr Fraser as a retired member of Unison in relation to staffing issues, and as a user of visitor permits in Respark zones.

Cllr Merrett in relation to charges for school meals, Music and Arts services for schools, and school sports clubs as his daughter used these services.

Cllr Horton as a holder of a bus pass.

Cllr Gunnell as an employee at York CVS.

Cllr King as he was a Member of the Theatre Board, as a holder of a bus pass, and in relation to homecare workers.

Cllr Potter as Chair of the trustees of York Wheels, as Older People’s Champion, and in relation to music tuition fees, which she paid for her daughter. 

Cllr Simpson-Laing in relation to voluntary sector funding as an employee of a voluntary organisation, funding for after school clubs as her daughter attended one, and in relation to music tuition fees, which she paid for her daughter. 

Cllr Simpson-Laing also declared a personal prejudicial interest in relation to Confidential Annex A to Executive item 10 (Capital Programme Budget 2008/09 – 2010/2011) as she lived near one of the approved sites for disposal and was involved in a campaign to save it. She left the room during discussion of this Annex.

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 12 February 2008, 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:

                                    Annex A to Executive Agenda Item 10 (Capital programme Budget 2008/09 – 2010/11 – Minute 158 refers) on the grounds that it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any 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 revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 23 January 2008.

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 February 2008, at 5.00 pm.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation scheme.

Pat Linton, a representative of the customer voice group at Sycamore House, addressed the committee in relation to the proposed budget cuts to Sycamore House. She highlighted that Sycamore House was now shared with Union Terrace, now known as Independent Living Skills customers, and their staff were employed by the PCT. She queried whether the PCT contributed towards the upkeep and maintenance of the building, or if it was wholly funded by the Council. Ms Linton emphasised that Sycamore House was not a drop in but customers had to be referred by a medical professional in order to attend, and without Sycamore House, many of the customers would suffer from social isolation and the stigma associated with mental illness.

To consider the items on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 12 February 2008, 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 1 February 2008. 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 9 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 12 February 2008:

The Shadow Executive:

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

         Executive on 26 February

§        CPA Use of Resources 2007

§        Review Report – Neighbourhood Management

§        Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Future Working Within the Leeds City Region

§        Businesses in City Centre Peripheral Streets

         Executive on 11 March

§        Future of City Archives Services

§        Review Report – Provision of Woodland and Tree Management Strategy

§        Revised Framework Agreement - Derwenthorpe

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 12 February 2008, at page 13. The report, responding to a request made at the Executive meeting on 18 December 2007, presented proposals to instigate a pilot project to tackle deprivation in one geographically targeted area of the City, on the basis of the latest published information on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

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

The Shadow Executive:

• welcomed the report;
• noted with some concern that there were significant pockets of deprivation in York and areas where there were significant difficulties accessing services;
• agreed that Westfield should be used as the Pilot area, but noted there were other areas, namely Guildhall, Clifton and Heworth, which should not be ignored;
• agreed that this supported the government initiative of Neighbourhood Management;
• agreed that the Background Paper should have been available in an accessible format for the public and this should be addressed by report authors in future.

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 12 February 2008, at page 21. The report sought approval to publish the Local Development Framework  Allocations Development Plan for consultation purposes, subject to the recommended amendments agreed by the LDF Working Group at their meeting on 22^nd January 2008.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  noted 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 8 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 12 February 2008, at page 175. The report asked the Executive to recommend to Council an integrated Treasury Management Strategy Statement (including the annual investment strategy), the proposed Prudential Indicators for 2008/09 to 2011/12 and the use of the revised Treasury Management Policy and the Treasury Management Practices.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  supported the recommendations.

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 February 2008, at page 231. The report presented the Revenue Budget proposals for 2008/09, detailed the potential financial position for the Council in 2009/10 and 2010/11 and asked the Executive to make appropriate recommendations to Council on the Budget.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• recommended that the potential cut in relation to Sycamore House should not be taken;
• reserved their position until Budget Council on 21 February 2008.

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 February 2008, at page 339. The report  set out the proposed capital programme budget for the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 and asked the Executive to make appropriate recommendations to 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:

·  reserved their position until Budget Council on 21 February 2008.

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 February 2008. The report sought endorsement for the submission of a bid for funding from the Regional transport Board for the development of 3 Park & Ride sites at Askham Bar, the A59 near Poppleton, and Clifton Moor. The matter was urgent due to the need to meet the submission deadline of 15 February 2008 and the amount of work required to prepare the bid.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• expressed concerns about the late production of the report and their ability to comment properly on the report;
• may make further comments on the report;
• in principle supported the Phase 1 bid, but agreed that there was a need to ensure that the schemes have the ability to meet long term demand, and pointed to the success of Askham Bar;
• agreed that in relation to the Phase 2 bid, while there was a need to reduce congestion on the Outer Ring Road, it was important that whatever options were put forward, a lasting solution was found;
• suggested working with the Traffic Congestion Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee;
• agreed that the right sites needed to ensure the best possible results were achieved;
• agreed that both bids needed to be seen as part of a process of proper traffic management;
• agreed, in relation to both bids, that there needed to be proper consultation with the residents

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.