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.

Councillor Potter declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive item 7 (Thriving City – Report Back) as a member of the York Credit Union.

Councillor Looker declared a personal prejudicial interest in Executive item 7 (Thriving City – Report Back), in relation to any issues relating to the Credit Union, as a Director of the York Credit Union.  No such issues were raised at the meeting, so she did not withdraw from the room.

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 21 October 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 Annexes 2 and 3 to Executive Item 9(Edmund Wilson Pool, Thanet Road) (minute 103 refers) on the grounds that they 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 revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

To approve and sign the minutes of the Shadow Executive meeting held on 1 October 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 1 October 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record, subject to an amendment to minute 84 (Declarations of Interest) to indicate that Cllr Simpson-Laing declared a personal interest in Executive agenda item 10, as parent of a child using the schools music service.

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 14 October 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 15 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 21 October 2008:

The Shadow Executive:

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

Executive on 4 November

·  Castle Piccadilly Update

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 21 October 2008, at page 17.  The report presented the results of an independent review of the decision to locate the Council’s new headquarters in the city centre, together with an appraisal of potential sites.  It also sought approval to begin a procurement process to support the development of potential solutions that may come forward for consideration, and proposed a set of high level criteria for procurement.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Support the concept of a competition.

·  Reiterate the requirements for the headquarters – city centre location, excellent BREEAM rating, delivered on budget with the savings promised.

·  Highlight the need for good public transport links as accessibility to all is a key requirement.

·  Express concern that Members are excluded from the approval of a set of detailed criteria, if delegated as recommended.

·  Advise that no more money is spent on the Hungate site until the other sites have been found to be unsuitable.

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 21 October 2008, at page 29.  The report followed on from the report on York’s economic position presented to the Executive on 15 July 2008.  It presented the findings of consultation with stakeholders and asked the Executive to consider options on further action and areas of investment.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Welcome the report and express the view that it illustrates the lack of a joined up approach.

·  Commend the work of Future Prospects and suggest that the door knocking approach referred to in paragraph 93 is taken throughout.

·  Agree that benefit take up is important and note the need for cross-departmental working on this.

·  Note that the report does no more than provide an analysis on the housing market and no more than currently being done by the Council anyway.

·  Support the use of Neighbourhood Action Plans (NAPs) and ward planning, as described in paragraph 42, as a useful mechanism in service planning, but not the use of Ward Committee surgeries, as set out in paragraph 45, owing to low levels of public involvement.

·  Welcome the u-turn in relation to the City Centre Partnership.

·  Note that the Council as commercial landlord has a role in promoting economic growth and suggests that rent levels are reviewed, especially for entrepreneurial development.

·  Look forward to a report which has both impirical and empirical results from the Kingsway Project.

·  Highlight the need for information on skills sets and jobs to be collated, analysed and made available.

·  Express concern about literacy levels, particularly for adults, as set out in paragraph 91, and note that the York Business Forum expressed similar concerns.

·  Note that the Council’s leadership role is not mentioned in the report, despite being highlighted 18 months ago and again by the York Business Forum.

·  Note that the procurement section (paragraphs 31-33) makes no reference to the Resources Scrutiny Board’s report on procurement.

·  Also note that the Economic Development Partnership Board needs to start work now.

·  Support the recommendations in the report, subject to the comments above.

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 21 October 2008, at page 49.  The report provided information on the Council’s significant business risks, as identified by deployment of the risk management strategy, and detailed progress made in embedding risk management arrangements across the organisation.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Note 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 9 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 21 October 2008, at page 63.  The report outlined options for the site of Edmund Wilson Pool, following closure of the pool and the opening of a new pool at York High School in October 2009, and sought approval to sell the site to T.E. Beteiligungs GmbH.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Is concerned about the conflict of interest caused by the Ward Councillors also being members of the Executive.

·  Is also concerned that nobody has asked the community what they would like on the site.

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.