Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on Monday 22 December 2014.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 22 December 2014 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 Friday 2 January 2015 at 5.00 pm.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Councillor Watt made a number of comments in relation to the proposed change in appointments to the Local Plan Working Group membership as detailed in Annex A to Agenda Item 4 (Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies).

He felt that there was a need for a rebalance in the proposed membership in order for York to achieve a Local Plan. He reiterated the importance of York to have a Local Plan in place that could incorporate population changes and reminded Members that York remained open to predatory planning applications in the absence of an agreed plan. He asked the Committee to retain him as a member of the Local Plan Working Group.

Following the Council meeting on 11 December 2014 and the appointment of a new Leader of the Council and the subsequent reduction in Cabinet members, a number of changes are now required to the previously agreed list of appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies. This report details the requested changes.

Members considered a report which asked them to agree to a number of changes to Committees and Outside Bodies, as a result of the recent change in Council leadership.

An updated list of nominations from the Labour Group was circulated to the Committee (re-published with the agenda for the meeting online).

The Chair took Members through the various changes to be considered one by one.

In light of the recent resignation of Councillor Watt from the Conservative Group, some Members queried any potential impact upon overall proportionality on Committees and other bodies. Specifically, they were concerned about any impact this may have on the Conservative place being considered at this meeting on the Local Plan Working Group. As a result, clarification was sought for the next meeting.

In relation to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee, clarification was also sought as to whether the Council nominee for this ought, more appropriately, to be the Cabinet Member for Transport as discussed previously at this Committee, as opposed to the Council Leader.

Finally clarification, as to whether Councillor Cunningham had been nominated as both a member of and Chair of City of York Trading Company Shareholder Board was also requested.

Resolved: That

(i)           The following changes be agreed to Committees, Outside Bodies etc:

·        Councillor Funnell to replace Councillor Williams on Planning Committee.

·        Councillor Simpson-Laing to replace Councillor Alexander as Chair of Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee.

·        Councillor Williams to replace Councillor Alexander on the following outside bodies;

·  Leeds City Region LEP Leaders Board

·  Local Government Association- General Assembly

·  Local Government North Yorkshire and Humber

·  West Yorkshire Combined Authority

·  Visit York

·  Without Walls Partnership

·  York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP Board Member

·  As a substitute on Local Government North Yorkshire and York Housing Board

·        Councillor Levene to replace Councillor Alexander on the following outside bodies;

·  Leeds City Region LEP Employment & Skills Board (Labour substitute)

·  York Central Lead Members

·  York Economic Partnership

·        Councillor Simpson-Laing to replace Councillor Alexander on the following outside bodies;

·  Local Government Association-Councillors Forum

·  Local Government Information Unit

(ii)          Councillor Williams to be retained as the Council’s appointee to the Corporate Joint Consultative Committee and North Yorkshire Pension Fund.

(iii)        Councillor Alexander to be retained on the Gambling, Licensing & Regulatory Committee.

(iv)        Councillor Cunningham to replace Councillor Alexander on the City of York Trading Company Shareholder Board/Committee, subject to formal agreement with the Board/Committee, but, in the meantime, clarification be provided on the role of the Chair.¹

(v)         Consideration of the proposed changes to the Local Plan Working Group be deferred to the next meeting pending clarification of the proportionality issues raised.

(vi)        No appointment be made to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority-Investment Committee pending clarification on whether that role should be filled by the Cabinet Member for Transport, as discussed previously by this Committee.²

Reason:  In order to make appropriate appointments to the Council’s Committees and Outside Bodies for the municipal year.