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 the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annex E to Agenda Item 5 (West of York Household Waste Site – Land Option) on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  This information is 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).

RESOLVED:             That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annex E to Agenda Item 5(West of York Household Waste Site – Land Option) (minute 28 refers) on the grounds that it contained information relating to the financial or 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 meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on 3 December 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee meeting held on 3 December 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 Committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is Wednesday 17 December 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.

This report asks Members to approve, subject to approval by the Executive, the purchase through the general capital programme, of a field at Harewood Whin which has come onto the market and is an option for a replacement of the Beckfield Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).

Members received a report which asked them to approve, subject to approval by the Executive, the purchase through the general capital programme of a field at Harewood Whin which had come onto the market and was an option for a replacement of the Beckfield Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).

The reason for the matter being brought to a Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee was the need to close the land deal promptly as another party was interested in purchasing the site.

The report presented two options for consideration by Members:

·  Option 1 – To wait for the completion of the feasibility study to see what the full cost of the solution for the replacement of Beckfield Lane HWRC is and then make a decision as to what action to take;

·  Option 2 – To purchase the field and hold it in reserve for the potential development of the West of York HWRC.

Members discussed in detail the risks associated with both options.

Some Members expressed concern regarding the appropriateness of dealing with this issue at a Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee.

RECOMMENDED:That the decision on funding the purchase of the land at Harewood Whin through the general capital programme be dealt with by Full Council on 22 January 2009.¹

REASON:                  To allow the Executive’s views on the matter to be considered when the decision is taken and in the light of the risks associated with purchasing the land.