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 4 November 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 4 November 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 15 October 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 15 October 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 28 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 13 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 4 November 2008:

The Shadow Executive:

·        Note that the Executive agenda seems very light at the moment and hope both that this will not result in a build up of business for next year and that it is not indicative of closed decision making.

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

      Executive on 2 December

·        Child Poverty in York

·        The Future of York City Archives

·        Corporate Strategy Refresh

The Shadow Executive considered a report which was listed as item 5 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 4 November 2008, at page 17.  The report outlined the current understanding of the Council’s aims and objectives in respect of the Castle Piccadilly area, explained the legal position (particularly in relation to procurement) on the options open to the Council in achieving its objectives and sought approval for a recommended course of action.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Express the view that the aims and objectives should more explicitly refer to rather than relying upon reference to the planning brief and should place greater explicit emphasis on sustainability and environmental issues.  The development should have  high sustainability as a key objective.

·        Express concern that only one of the five processes mentioned at paragraph 13 of the report was detailed therein and that the options could not therefore be properly assessed.

·        Do not agree with the proposal to delegate the approval of procurement criteria to officers.  There will be a tension between the key issues of income and community goals that should be for Elected Members to decide.

·        Cannot, for the reasons above, recommend approval of the proposals in 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 6 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 4 November 2008, at page 23.  The report asked the Executive to consider a recommendation from the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services to approve the service plans for food law enforcement, health and safety law enforcement and animal health enforcement.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·        Note the report and agree with 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 under item 7 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 4 November 2008, at page 31, as the Leader had agreed to hear it as urgent business.  The report responded to a resolution made by the Executive at their last meeting, on 21 October 2008, which requested detailed project plans for specific actions to assist the City of York during the current period of economic downturn.

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

The Shadow Executive:

·  Reserves its position until the detailed project plans are provided.

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.