Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members will be invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

The Chair invited any declaration of interest in business on the agenda at this point in the meeting.  No declarations were made.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 21 April 2008 were approved as a correct and signed by the Chair.

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. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday 13 June at 5 pm.

The Chair reported that no registrations had been made to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report seeks approval of the membership of Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committees, as required under the Scrutiny Procedure Rules in the Constitution.

Members considered a report setting the appointments to membership of Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committees for 2008/9.  Although these appointments had been noted at the Annual Meeting in May 2008, Members were reminded that constitutionally this Committee was authorised to formally approve membership of any Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committees.

It was agreed to formally appoint those Members to the following Ad-Hocs set out in the report:

• Traffic Congestion Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committee
• ‘Cultural Quarter’ Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committee
• Barbican Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committee

RESOLVED:             That the above Scrutiny Sub-Committees be formally re-established in 2008/9 and the membership be approved as set out in the report.

REASON:                  In line with constitutional requirements.

This report re-presents a request from Traffic Congestion Ad-hoc Scrutiny Committee for additional funding to finance a citywide survey on the broad strategic options available to the city to tackle traffic congestion.

Members considered a report from the Head of Civic, Democratic & Legal Services, representing a request from Traffic Congestion Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee to fund a citywide survey on the broad strategic options available to the city to tackle traffic congestion.

Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) had initially supported this funding request in February 2008 and asked the Executive to consider providing the required £17,000 from available contingencies.  At a meeting on 6 May 2008, the Executive had considered the request and had agreed to fund either the cost of the full city-wide survey or a lesser sum of £6k to assess public opinion through ‘Talkabout’ or other consultative modules.

At this meeting, SMC’s opinion on their preferred option now was being sought. After an initial debate, Members agreed to proceed with a full city-wide survey as a means of obtaining greater engagement with residents on the broad strategic options for tackling traffic congestion.

RESOLVED:             That the request from Traffic Congestion Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committee for funding up to £17k for a full city-wide survey be approved and the necessary be released from contingencies (and/or reserves) in due course to fund such a survey.

REASON:                  To enable consultation to proceed, as appropriate.

This report sets out the current resources available to support scrutiny in York and addresses the likely impact of the new Local Government & Public Health Act 2007 upon those resources.

Further to a request at the last meeting of this Committee in April 2008, Members considered a report from the Head of Civic, Democratic & Legal Services setting out current available resources to support scrutiny in York and addressing the likely impact of the new Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 upon those resources.  

In addition to receiving information in the report on the status of the current staffing structure for the scrutiny function, Members were also informed that a review of the scrutiny structure was underway to assess what might be done to make scrutiny more effective in York, in light of recent CPA findings and ongoing concerns from officer and Members about the function.

RESOLVED:             That the report and current resources be noted.

RESOLVED:             To ensure Members are fully informed as requested about the level of resources to support the scrutiny function in York.