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.

Councillor Scott declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (Effective Organisation Programme – Efficiency Review) as his wife was a member of Unison and employed by the Authority.

Councillor King declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (Effective Organisation Programme – Efficiency Review), as his daughter was a Union member and employed by the Authority.

Councillor Gunnell declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (Effective Organisation Programme – Efficiency Review) as her sister was a Union member and was employed by the Authority.

Councillor Crisp declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (Effective Organisation Programme – Efficiency Review) as a retired Unison member.

Councillor Simpson-Laing declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (Effective Organisation Programme – Efficiency Review) as a Unison member and in Agenda item 6 (Air Quality Update) as a resident in an AQMA.

To consider excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of any exempt information relating to briefings on Executive business, as detailed on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 7 July 2009, 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 relating to briefings on Executive business, as detailed on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 7 July 2009, under Section 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 17 June 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Shadow Executive held on 17 June 2009 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 30 June 2009, 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.

To receive any briefings requested on Executive business for Tuesday 7 July 2009.

[Please note that the reports relating to these items will be published on the Council’s website on Friday 26 June 2009. The website address is www.york.gov.uk  Copies of the Executive agenda and reports can also be obtained by telephoning Democracy Support Group on York (01904) 551088.]

The Shadow Executive received briefings on the following items of business on the agenda for the Executive meeting on 7 July 2009:

• Effective Organisation Programme – Efficiency Review (Agenda item 6)
• Street Level Services and Area Based Working (Agenda item 9)
• Castle Piccadilly Regeneration Project (Agenda item 10)

This report responds to the Shadow Executive’s request for a briefing report on air quality in the City and Council plans to meet the 2011 target on reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) within the Air Quality Management Area.

Members received a briefing report, which responded to their query regarding air quality problems in the city, and plans the council had in place to meet its 2011 target.

The briefing report confirmed that in April 2009 the Authority had submitted a ‘Update and Screening’ report to DEFRA which provided an update on new air quality monitoring results collected during 2008. This report had concluded that there were still a number of locations within the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) where the local and national objective levels were still being exceeded.

Officers confirmed that although the long term aim of the council remained to meet the annual average nitrogen dioxide objective in all areas of the city, modelling and monitoring of air quality indicated that this may not be possible within the financial constraints of the second Local Transport Plan (LTP2). It was confirmed that in setting the target emphasis had been placed on the need to demonstrate an ongoing year on year improvement across the AQMA.

Officers went on to point out that the Council had already achieved a lot in terms of modal shift to walking, cycling and public transport but that the levels of NO₂ still appeared to be deteriorating. It was pointed out that only a step change in transport policy was likely to deliver any measurable and sustainable improvement.

The Chair thanked Officers for their informative briefing report, which he stated, showed a mixed picture in relation to air quality targets. He also thanked Officers for the work they were undertaking to improve air quality in the city.

RESOLVED:             That the briefing be noted.

REASON:                  To inform and update the Shadow Executive and help shape the effectiveness of future action.