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 Fraser declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6 (School Crossing Patrol – Vacancies – Minute 230 refers) as a member of the retired section of Unison.

Cllr Merrett declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6 (School Crossing Patrol – Vacancies – Minute 230 refers) as a Governor of St Paul’s School which currently has a school crossing patrol vacancy.

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 20 May 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 20 May 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 30 April 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 13 May 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 20 May 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 9 May 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 13 of the papers circulated for the Executive meeting to be held on 20 May 2008:

The Shadow Executive:

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

         Executive on 3 June

·        Sustainability Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement

         Executive on 17 June

·        Administrative Accommodation Review – End of Stage 3 Report

·        LDF City Centre Area Action Plan: Issues and Options

·        Policy Prospectus 2008/09

The Shadow Executive considered a topic which was listed as item 5 on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 20 May 2008. The Chair of the Executive was to provide an oral report concerning the proposed political management arrangements for the 2008/09 Municipal Year.

Having considered the topic, the following comments were agreed:

The Shadow Executive:

·  awaited with baited breath.

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 20 May 2008, at page 15. The reportinvited Members to discuss, comment upon and approve a corporate Sustainable Procurement Policy, which set out the Council’s commitment to sustainable procurement, supported the vision of York being an exemplary sustainable city and would help the Council in delivering the governments challenging targets set out in the Sustainable Procurement National Action Plan.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• agreed that this was not a policy document but a statement of intent;
• were disappointed that the Scrutiny Report on Sustainable Procurement had not been mentioned or considered, raising concerns about the mechanisms in the Council for ensuring Scrutiny Reports were acted upon, and also raising larger issues regarding scrutiny within the Council
• noted that there was no base line inventory;
• considered the definition of sustainability was too weak, for example it should not be limited to “minimising” and there was no mention of

§        the eco and carbon reduction targets that were defined in council policies

§        the Brundtland definition as adopted at the UN Conference on Sustainability in Rio

§        targets being set and an assessment of achievements

• recommended that the Executive should consider making use of the Reserved Contracts facility by virtue of Article 19 of the EU Directive 2004/18/EC which supported factories and businesses, such as Remploy and Yorcraft, especially with the building of the new HQ building, and cross referenced to Regulation S6 of the Financial Regulations;
• noted with some concern the delay of the guidance manual which may cause some confusion.

The Chair thanked Liz Ackroyd for all her help to the Shadow Executive over the last 5 years and for all the hard work that she had done while at the 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 20 May 2008, at page 117. The report from the Group Leaders recommended no immediate change to the current Special Responsibility Allowances for Members.

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

The Shadow Executive:

• reiterated the submissions of the Labour Group to the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to the allocation of SRA’s;
• highlighted that there was no requirement to increase the budget for SRA’s;
• highlighted that there was a need to reallocate allowances currently paid, between the various SRA’s.

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 has been prepared at the request of the Shadow Executive to respond to a number of specific queries raised regarding the recruitment and retention of School Crossing Patrol Officers (SCPOs).

This report has been prepared at the request of the Shadow Executive to respond to a number of specific queries raised regarding the recruitment and retention of School Crossing Patrol Officers (SCPOs).

Officers reported that they had short listed some applicants which they would be interviewing shortly and they were hopeful that 2 or 3 vacancies might be filled.

Members held a wide ranging discussion about current vacancies, recruitment and retention issues, including rates of pay, safety and uniform, and additional steps that could be taken to reduce vacancies.

The Chair thanked officers for producing the report and for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED:             That the contents of the report be noted.

REASON:                  To inform the Shadow Executive.