Agenda and minutes

Members were invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 April 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the SMC meeting held on 4 April 2011 be confirmed and signed 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 5:00 pm on Friday 23 September 2011.

It was reported that there were no registrations to speak under the council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report asks Members to consider whether they would like to set up an ad hoc scrutiny committee to undertake a review into the proposed scrutiny topic on city centre access.

Members received a report that asked them to consider whether they would like to set up an ad hoc scrutiny committee to undertake a review into the proposed scrutiny topic on city centre access. 

Councillor Gillies, who had submitted the topic, was in attendance and gave details as to the reasons why be believed that a scrutiny review on this topic would be worthwhile.      

Members discussed the difficulties in respect of enforcement and suggested that the review should also consider whether the current footstreet policy was working effectively or if amendments were required.  

Consideration was given to the proposed make up of the ad hoc scrutiny committee, as detailed in paragraph 8 of the report.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That an ad hoc scrutiny committee be set

up to undertake a review of City Centre Access.

                             (ii)      That the ad hoc scrutiny committee be

made up of 5 scrutiny members (3 Labour Members, 1 Conservative Member and 1 Liberal Democrat Member) and that these Members be drawn from any of the standing scrutiny committees or from SMC.

REASON:            To progress this scrutiny topic. 

This annual scrutiny report summarises the work of the five Overview & Scrutiny Committees for the period June 2010 to May 2011.

Members considered the annual scrutiny report, which summarised the work of the five Overview and Scrutiny Committees for the period June 2010 – May 2011.

The following amendments to the report were agreed:

·        Paragraph 5 to be amended to read “Full Council in October”

·        Paragraph 26 to be amended to read “York  Museums Trust”

Some Members commented on the need to improve the scrutiny function within the Council, including ensuring that Members were fully engaged with the process.  It was noted that a wider review of the committee structure would be taking place and this would also provide an opportunity to consider issues in respect of the scrutiny arrangements.

RESOLVED:       That, subject to the agreed amendments, the Annual Scrutiny Report covering the period between June 2010 and May 2011 be approved.

REASON:            To enable its presentation to Full Council, in line with Constitutional requirements.