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 9 September 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:

(i)                 Annexes E, F, H & I of Executive Item 7 (Hungate Council Headquarters - Update) (minute 62 refers) on the grounds that it contained information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular 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 amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006;

(ii)               Executive Item 8 (Update Report on the Progress Towards a Community Stadium) (minute 63 refers) on the grounds that it contained information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular 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 amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006;

(iii)             Annex 2 of Executive Item 12 (Improved Direct Communications with Residents) (minute 67 refers) on the grounds that it contained information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular 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 amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006;

(iv)              Annex 2 of Executive Item 15 (Museum Gardens Public Toilets) (minute 70 refers) on the grounds that it contained information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular 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 amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 20 August 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 20 August 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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 2 September 2008, at 5.00 pm.

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

The Shadow Executive made the following comments on the Forward Plan at page 17 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 9 September 2008:

The Shadow Executive:

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

      Executive on 23 September

·  Waste Strategy

·  Customer Strategy

·  Cycling Demonstration Town Bid Strategy

·  Adopted Regional Spatial Strategy and Partial Review

·  Outer Ring Road Improvement Options

·  Update on Review of Community Transport

·  Waste Minimisation Strategy and Action Plan   

      Executive on 7 October

·  Maximising Attendance

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 9 September 2008, at page 23.  The report presented the minutes of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Working Group, the Social Inclusion Working Group and the Young People’s Working Group and asked the Executive 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:

·  Highlighted the need for a city centre site to be found, in relation to the Myplace bid referred to in the minutes of the Young People’s Working Group.

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 9 September 2008, at page 53.  The report provided an update on progress made on this project since the withdrawal of the planning application, outlined the process to be adopted to review the Council’s options and to select an appropriate way forward and asked the Executive to give a steer as to which options should form the basis of a more detailed appraisal.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Appreciated the work that had been done;

·  Reiterated the need for a city centre, single site solution, delivered on budget and with the savings promised;

·  Were not able to comment on the criteria for assessing sites as these were not clear or easily assessable;

·  Highlighted that community ownership was important and that the list of sites should be made public as soon as possible.

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 9 September 2008, at page 87.  The report provided an update on the progress made towards meeting the conditions of a proposed loan to York City Football Club, prior to consideration of the proposal at Full Council on 25 September 2008, as requested by the Executive at their meeting on 15 July 2008.

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 a community stadium;

·  Were concerned that the figures now provided were significantly different to those previously provided;

·  Were also concerned that a community stadium was now more difficult to deliver;

·  Recommended that all options should be put forward to a special meeting of Full Council;

·  Also recommended that all options needed to be made available to the public and that proper consultation should take place before this Council 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.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 9 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 9 September 2008, at page 105.  The report provided an update on the relocation options for Beckfield Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre and on negotiations concerning the interim contract for waste disposal.

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 upgrading of the Beckfield Lane site and examination of alternative site options;

·  Recommended Option 3 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 9 September 2008, at page 111.  The report presented the Council’s income policy framework for discussion, comment and approval.  The policy aimed to improve efficiency and ensure consistency in the way that income was generated, collected, monitored and reported.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Commented that significant changes to concessions at section 4 of the document should be referred to Members at an appropriate forum and should not be left to officers to determine.

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 9 September 2008, at page 135.  The report provided details of the outcome of a study into integrated cross-city bus ticketing for York and sought the Executive’s recommendation for progressing one of the options identified by the study.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Were very disappointed with the report;

·  Noted that if the Council wished to transform public transport a cross-city bus ticket needed to be introduced;

·  Supported Option A, starting as soon as possible, with funding phased over two financial years.

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 9 September 2008, at page 145.  The report sought approval to proceed with the production of a new monthly Council publication designed to improve direct communications with residents, and asked the Executive to approve a preferred supplier to work in partnership with the Council on this.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Did not agree with the recommendation;

·  Expressed the view that the publication should be separate, delivered at a different time and with guarantees;

·  Supported Option A2.3.

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 9 September 2008, at page 177.  The report sought approval and funding for a set of proposed actions to tackle deprivation within the worst performing Index of Multiple Deprivation area in the City.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Continued to support the use of a pilot scheme;

·  Needed to see details of the expected effect initiatives would have on SOA indicators;

·  Supported one to one initiatives;

·  Expressed the view that the health and education initiatives were very weak;

·  Suggested that Home Start should be used and Age Concern should be approached to develop a scheme for benefit take up initiatives.

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 14 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 9 September 2008, at page 187.  The report asked the Executive to decide whether they wished York to be considered as a site for a Big Screen.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Supported further feasibility work;

·  Expressed the view that this should concentrate on the community gains and opportunities;

·  Highlighted the cultural gains a big screen would bring.

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 15 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 9 September 2008, at page 193.  The report sought approval to grant a long lease of the site of the Museum Gardens toilets, together with an adjacent store building and an adjoining area, to The Lendal Tower Venture.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Supported granting of the lease;

·  Highlighted the need to ensure toilets are available via open public access at the Art Gallery, the Theatre Royal and the Yorkshire Museum;

·  Also highlighted the need to pursue open access of toilets in the city.

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.