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 Items 9 and 10 (Minutes 46 and 47 refer) as a consultee for the Tang Hall Area Asset Management Plan.

Cllr Simpson-Laing declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Executive Item 8 (Minute 45 refers) as a user of the Bus Service 22.

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 29 July 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 Annex 4 to Executive agenda item 13 (Update on Carry Forward Issues and Key Considerations in the Allocation of Surplus Resources – Minute 50 refers), on the grounds that it contains information relating to consultations and negotiations in connection with a labour relations matter arising between the authority and its employees. Such information is classed as exempt under paragraph 4 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 9 July 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 22 July 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 29 July 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 18 July 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 21 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 29 July 2008:

The Shadow Executive:

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

            Executive on 9 September

·        A Big Screen for York   

         Executive on 23 September

·        Waste Strategy

·        Customer Strategy

·        Review and Strategy For the Commercial Services Portfolio – Future Investment Strategy

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 29 July 2008, at page 25. The report asked Members to consider the benefits of web-casting Council meetings and the cost effectiveness of such an exercise.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·                    raised concerns about Paragraph 24 regarding using video broadcasts instead of webcasting, and recommended that this should not be the way forward as the broadcasting content could be edited to portray political bias;

·                     supported Option 2b and agreed that a pilot should be used;

·                     agreed that Members views should be sought and recommended that it should be used in Planning Committee meetings when considering contentious issues and at full 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 7 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 29 July 2008, at page 43. The report  sought approval for proposals to progress a major scheme bid to the Department for Transport for three new Park and Ride sites, with associated alterations to the highway infrastructure, bus corridor works and the fully operational bus services to be in place by 2011, following the success of the Council’s application to the Regional Transport Board for Regional Funding Allocation.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·                    were pleased to see this moving ahead;

·                    agreed that consultation needs to be sufficiently wide to include ward councillors, organisations, and residents in neighbouring wards, such as Acomb for the A59 and Clifton for the Wigginton Road sites;

·                    raised concerns, in relation to paragraphs 40 – 42, as to the accuracy of the history of consultation and that it was skewed politically and should not be part of the report;

·                    raised concerns that there were issues which were not mentioned in the report, including significant planning issues and implications as it would require development on Green Belt, and highlighted that siting and landscaping were sensitive matters which also should be included;

·                    asked, in relation to the park and ride at Wigginton Road, why a site to the south west of the junction was not listed as an option, which would promote two way passenger traffic and increase revenue;

·                    were pleased to know from officers that a site to the south west of the junction could be accommodated and could be included in the consultation, and recommended to the Executive that this site was included as an option;

·                    expressed concerns for the Wigginton Road site regarding the significant revenue implications for that site and believed that the figure was below current policy;

·                    supported the subway at Poppleton, and for one at Wigginton Road if one of the northern sites were progressed;

·                    highlighted the danger of progressing a project without planning permission in place.

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 29 July 2008, at page 77. The report  asked Members to note the short term arrangements put in place to maintain services for bus routes 22 and 18 and sought approval for a package of measures to modify and maintain subsidised bus services until the outcomes of the Subsidised Bus Service Review were known and new arrangements could be implemented.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·                    noted the report;

·                    raised concerns that Bus Service 22 had not been addressed in the report;

·                    highlighted that if York was to become a Sustainable City then there was a need for an effective public transport service and to maintain and fund such a network;

·                    agreed that Services 28 and 29 should be maintained and met the criteria for support;

·                    hoped that the final review would provide a holistic approach but raised concerns that political influences were being used;

·                    agreed that services should not be lost until cross ticketing was established.

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 29 July 2008, at page 89. The report presented the final report of the Tang Hall Area Asset Management Plan Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Review and asked Members 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 report;

·                    were pleased that it had finally been finished after 5 years;

·                    commended the hard work of those involved;

·                    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 10 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 29 July 2008, at page 109. The report  asked Members to approve the Area Asset Management Plan for Tang Hall which combined the strategic direction and priorities set by the Corporate Asset Management Plan and the priorities and requirements identified in individual council service plans and by the community at a local, location specific, level. The report stated options for improvement and change proposals, funding and set out an action plan and timescales for delivery.

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 recommendation and agreed to the approval of the Area Asset Management Plan;

·                    suggested that this should be applied to other wards/parts of wards, such as the Bell Farm area, albeit more quickly;

·                    hoped that Members could be given the opportunity to identify areas for Area Asset Management Plans in their wards.

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 29 July 2008, at page 191. The report presented options for the future of the former Family Centre at Sixth Avenue, Heworth and asked Members to decide whether to dispose of the property or retain it for an identified service need.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·                    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 12 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 29 July 2008, at page 199. The report sought approval for the appropriation and transfer of property held in the Housing Revenue Account or the General Fund Revenue Account to the General Fund Revenue Account or Housing General Fund, as appropriate.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·                    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 13 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 29 July. The report provided an update on carry forward issues that were deferred by the Executive at its meeting on 30^th June 2008 and provided Members with information on the levels of the Council’s reserves over the next three years including the underspend from 2007/08 in order to consider if any of these reserves should be used for specific purposes in 2008/09.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·                    highlighted that the report had been received at a late stage which was unacceptable;

·                    reserved their position and would communicate further comments to the Executive before the meeting.

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.