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.

No interests were declared.

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 22 April 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 not be excluded from the meeting as there was no exempt information detailed on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 22 April 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.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 2 April 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 15 April 2008, 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 22 April 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 11 April 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 7 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 22 April 2008:

The Shadow Executive:

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

Executive on 6 May

§        Residents Opinion Survey Results 2007/08

§        Use of LPSA2 Reward Grant

§        Gas Servicing Future Procurement

§        Back Park Petition – Executive Response

§        A Review and Updating of the Protocol Governing the Political Management of the Council for the 2008/09 Year

§        Financial Support to Voluntary Organisations

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 5 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 22 April 2008, at page 11. The report presented the minutes of the recent meetings of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Working Group and the Social Inclusion Working Group and asked Members to consider the advice given by the 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:

·        Noted the minutes of the LDF Working Group.

·        Expressed concern in relation to the survey conducted and whether it could be representative.

·        Noted the low online response rate.

·        Highlighted that “destination shopping” was important, particularly for peripheral streets.

·        Were pleased to note some successes with the Social Inclusion Working Group, particularly the away day.

·        Noted that the youth connection was still missing and expressed disappointment that the Executive Member had failed to address this.

·        Also noted that the promised youth event had not taken place.

·        Highlighted that voting rights and the number of councillors represented were still issues that needed to be addressed.

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 22 April 2008, at page 27.  The report presented for approval the Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme, which set targets for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from City of York Council activities and outlined a project structure enabling these targets to be achieved.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Welcomed the report and noted that it was produced following the Labour manifesto commitment to a climate change strategy and the policy consensus.

·        Expressed concerns regarding whether staffing provision was sufficient to accomplish the plan, particularly in the light of problems implementing the Green Travel Plan.

·        Noted that the Eco-Depot payback time had not been calculated and that “failures” of various initiatives at the Eco-Depot were not mentioned.

·        Acknowledged the challenge of reducing carbon emissions of housing stock and highlighted the need for an emphasis on carbon savings, not necessarily cost savings.

·        Expressed the view that the Plan was a reasonable start but not adventurous enough when projects which were already committed to were taken out.

·        Reminded the report authors and the Executive that the Labour Group were no longer participants at Group Leaders’ Meetings and that this forum was not an adequate form of consultation.

·        Noted that the report did not reflect the Council’s total impact, in terms of purchase of services and goods, staff travel to work and housing stock.

·        Highlighted that the Council would be in new buildings in 2050 and that targets set needed to take this into account.

·        Noted the need for private housing and commercial sector initiatives to reduce the overall carbon footprint for York and also the need to take account of re-fitting of buildings vacated by the Council.

·        Expressed the view that there was not adequate school representation on the forum and that the target set for the new Joseph Rowntree School was poor.

·        Highlighted that the Member Champion with responsibility for the environment was not mentioned in the report.

·        Reminded the Executive of the Sustainable Procurement Scrutiny 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 7 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 22 April 2008, at page 93.  The report provided details of the results of the Regional Transport Board meeting on 4 April, which assessed bids from Local Authorities in the region for funds to undertake major schemes, and sought approval for the release of funds from reserves to progress the development of the Access York bid.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• Welcomed the decision of the Regional Transport Board, demonstrating the success of cross-party support and the meeting with Rosie Winterton.
• Supported the use of the contingency fund.
• Reminded the Executive of their previous comments, regarding expectations for the Outer Ring Road bid.

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 22 April 2008, at page 101.  The report presented the final reports for parts A and B of the Highways Ad-hoc Scrutiny Review and asked the Executive to approve the recommendations previously agreed by Scrutiny Management Committee.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Noted the recommendations.

·        Expressed concern regarding the length of time it had taken to bring the recommendations forward.

·        Expressed the view that the report was not well set out, was difficult to read and not as coherent as it might have been.

·        Highlighted that the highway maintenance budget was less than in the final year of the Labour administration.

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 received a briefing on an item of urgent business, relating to ICT procurement for the new Joseph Rowntree School, which the Chair of the Executive had agreed to consider at the Executive meeting on 22 April 2008. 

Having received the briefing, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·        Would provide comments to the Executive, if needed, after they had seen 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.