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 Merrett declared a personal, non prejudicial interest in item 6 on the Executive agenda (Cycling City Strategy), as a member of Cycling England and an Honorary Member of the CTC, and in item 9 on the Executive agenda (Waste Management Strategy), as an employee of a company involved in a bid in relation to the Council’s waste management activities.

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 23 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 not be excluded from the meeting as there was no exempt information detailed on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 23 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.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 3 September 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 3 September 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 16 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 23 September 2008:

The Shadow Executive agrees to provisionally request officers’ attendance for the following items on the Executive Forward Plan:

         Executive on 7 October

·        Maximising Attendance

·        First Corporate Performance & Finance Monitor

·        First Capital Monitor

·        Thriving City Report Back

·        Update on Review of Community Transport

·        Customer Strategy

            Executive on 21 October

·        Strategic Risk Register, Annual Risk Management Report & Update on Risk Management Strategy.

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 5 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 23 September 2008, at page 23.  The report introduced the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for York, which was intended to improve health and wellbeing across the City.  It asked the Executive to accept the report, make recommendations for future inclusion and agree how those recommendations which related to City of York Council should be taken forward.

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

The Shadow Executive recommends that both options (1 and 2) be agreed, to ensure that priorities are embedded within partner organisations as well as in the Council, since partners will be required to implement the recommendations in the JSNA.

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 23 September 2008, at page 63.  The report asked the Executive to approve a draft strategy and action plan for submission to Cycling England, following the success of the Council’s bid for cycling city status and associated grant funding.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Supports the Strategy, but is concerned that it may not be radical enough to make the step change required to increase the number of cyclists and the distance and frequency of cycling journeys.

·        Has concerns in particular about the access to the station and Scarborough Bridge, the lack of provision of whole routes to key destinations and the fact that the funding put into the Strategy may not amount to an increase in the number of cyclists overall.

·        Considers that a more radical approach is needed in order to reach non-cyclists and find out why they do not cycle.

·        Considers that work should be undertaken to review and monitor existing green transport plans before adding new plans.

·        Advises the Executive to take a holistic approach and to consider this item in conjunction with the next item on the agenda (Outer Ring Road Improvement Options).

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 23 September 2008, at page 91.  The report presented the results of a study of the projected performance of the Outer Ring Road, provided options for improvements to be included in a proposed Access York Phase 2 bid to the Regional Transport Board (RTB) and sought approval in principle to submit a bid to the RTB.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Supports Option B2, but considers that stronger detail is required of ancillary measures to support the city centre and capture the potential gains arising from the improvements.

·        Welcomes the measures set out in paragraph 60 of the report with regard to the city centre.

·        But is concerned that the notional figure of £4m is not enough to satisfy provision of ancillary measures around the city centre needed to improve alternative transport provision, including cycling.

·        Is concerned that the trip generation effects of the various improvements have not yet been evaluated.

·        Welcomes the emphasis placed upon the traffic congestion scrutiny topic.

·        Is concerned that a number of the proposed junction improvements are not compatible with Cycling City objectives.

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 23 September 2008, at page 129.  The report set out the Council’s financial position for the next three years and potential options for bridging the gap between the expected budgetary position and the funding available, and sought endorsement of a number of longer term improvements to the financial planning and budget process to help secure the Council’s financial position in the future.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Considers that this is a poor report.  It is lacking in that there are no details of potential growth items and contains no detail of departmental cost pressures. It is therefore not rigorous and does not give a true picture.

·        Would like more detail on how the efficiency agenda is to be achieved, especially in the light of delays to the Hungate project, and would request a timetable and a report back on Member involvement.

·        Is very concerned that the current administration had no handle on the financial situation.

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 23 September 2008, at page 139.  The report provided an update on the Waste Strategy approved by the Executive in October 2007, considered the impact of the Waste Strategy for England 2007, and recommended the adoption of a 50% recycling target for the City and action plans to achieve this.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Supports the Strategy, with the exception of the recommendation in paragraph 69.3 of the report.

·        Would want to see the results of the pilot in The Groves area, and in particular the implications for flats and the various types of properties with no rear access before a decision is made on Alternate Week Collections – this must come back to Members for a decision.

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.

he Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 10 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 23 September 2008, at page 159.  The report sought approval for a comprehensive waste minimisation strategy and action plan for the period 2008 to 2011.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Welcomes this report – the Strategy is key to achieving the goals set out in the previous agenda item.

·        Considers that there should be more emphasis on reducing business waste, especially biodegradable and food waste.

·        Is concerned about some of the management issues around Household Waste Sites with items brought for recycling ending up in landfill.

·        Is pleased with the variety of campaigns but feels that better communication is needed to ensure that residents are engaged than has happened in the past.

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 23 September 2008, at page 189.  The report asked the Executive to consider introducing a permits scheme to help control trailers and the size of vehicles using the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres, in order to reduce the level of illegal trade waste disposal and limit the amount of construction and demolition waste that can be disposed of at the sites.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Is happy with the recommendations in the report (Options 1 and 2) but, with regard to Option 1, wonders what the position is with voluntary organisations – whether they are likely to be offered a reduced rate.

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 responds to the Shadow Executive’s questions relating to the Local Government Information Unit’s (LGIU) Carbon Trading Councils Scheme (COT), and the current City of York Council’s Carbon Management Programme.

The Shadow Executive received a report which responded to their questions relating to the Local Government Information Unit’s (LGIU) Carbon Trading Councils Scheme (COT), and the current City of York Council’s Carbon Management Programme.

Officers reported at the meeting that they had recently met with Carbon Action Yorkshire and would now be looking at signing up to a pilot whereby a scheme similar to the LGIU COT could be trialled within a small part of the Council between January and December 2009.  This would enable the work to be managed and resourced more easily, ensuring that the Council was well placed to respond to the introduction of the mandatory Carbon Reduction Commitment in 2010.

Members welcomed this additional information, which set a more positive note than the written report, and expressed the hope that directorates would sign up to the pilot scheme and that outside organisations would also be able to participate, under the Council’s leadership.

RESOLVED:That the report, and the update information provided at the meeting, be noted and that Officers be thanked for their attendance.

REASON:            To inform the Shadow Executive.