Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in the business on this agenda.

Councillor Looker declared a personal non prejudicial interest in item 4 as she would qualify for the free swimming.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 15 July 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2008 be signed and approved as a correct record by the Chair.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Board’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is Monday 1 September 2008 at 5.00pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report asks the Executive Member to review the Government’s newly proposed free swimming scheme and assess the value of the scheme against the national and corporate health improvement agenda and the LAA indicator set. The Executive Member is also asked to decide if the scheme should be implemented in York.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

Approve Option A:

• To confirm by 15 September 2008 that the Council wishes to participate in the over 60’s swimming scheme and accepts the grant allocation.

• To submit an expression of interest by the same date for free swimming for under 16s, subject to the Council’s allocation from Pot 2 being sufficient to cover the loss of income.

• Officers to follow up entitlement to Pot 3 and investigate the appropriateness of a submission to Pot 4.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To increase the take up of swimming in York.

Members considered a report asking them to review the Government’s newly proposed free swimming scheme and the implications for implementing this scheme at council run pools. The report also asked them to assess the value of the scheme against both the national and corporate health improvement agenda, and the LAA indicator set, and decide whether the scheme should be implemented in York.

Officers confirmed that they welcome the scheme and are pleased that the government are recognising the importance of swimming. They advised that they would like to confirm on the 15 September that York wishes to participate in the over 60s free swimming scheme and express an interest in free swimming for under 16s by the same date. Officers outlined what the scheme would mean for York including the links to the corporate priority of improving the health and lifestyles of York residents and the financial implications. Officers outlined the 4 funds available under the scheme and explained that authorities need to participate in funds 1 and 2 to be considered for funds 3 and 4.

Members questioned what the anticipated take up of free swimming would be and how this would impact on pool capacity. Officers advised that it is difficult to pre-determine take up, but once the scheme is underway a tracking system could be put in place to monitor this. In the event of a high take up, pool capacity would be managed by pool programming to allow swimming by age group as is already in place.

Members discussed the current pool provision in York. Concern was expressed about the lack of a pool in the Barbican area of York and that some residents may not be able to easily access the free swimming scheme due to  the lack of a pool in that area. Officers advised that the swimming pool strategy would need to be looked at in light of operating this scheme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

Approve Option A:

• To confirm by 15 September 2008 that the Council wishes to participate in the over 60’s swimming scheme and accepts the grant allocation.

• To submit an expression of interest by the same date for free swimming for under 16s, subject to the Council’s allocation from Pot 2 being sufficient to cover the loss of income.

• Officers to follow up entitlement to Pot 3 and investigate the appropriateness of a submission to Pot 4.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To increase the take up of swimming in York.

This report informs the Executive Member of the likely out-turn position of the 2008/09 Capital Programme. It advises of changes to existing schemes  to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the Capital programme and to inform members of any new schemes and seek approval for their addition to the Capital Programme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i)         Note the updates to scheme as detailed in the report

(ii)        Agree the scheme amendments and additions reported and summarised in Annex A

(iii)            Approve the revised capital programme as set out in Annex A

(iv)       Agree to continue to seek ways to implement a scheme to refresh the landscaping of the War Memorial Gardens in the future and in the meanwhile

(a)            Transfer the £10k into the Parks S106 Development Fund for use on a suitable scheme within the Micklegate/Holgate area with a particular steer towards refurbishment of the toilet facilities in Westbank Park

(b)              Seek additional funding sources for the War Memorial Gardens scheme, including through the 2009/10 CRAM process.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  (i)         To enable the effective management and monitoring of the capital programme

(ii) To allocate the £10k currently in the capital programme to the most appropriate use.

Members considered a report informing them of the likely out-turn position of the 2008-09 Capital Programme based on the spend profile and information to the end of July 2008. The report advised Members of changes to existing schemes to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the Capital Programme and informed them of any new schemes and sought approval for their addition to the Capital Programme.

Officers updated that the first monitor shows that the schemes are running as expected. Officers went on to outline 2 new projects under the remit of the museum service. There is 400k in the programme for 2008/09 and this will be used in the following ways; The first project will be at the Castle Museum where the cell area will be developed into an exhibit detailing York’s prison history. It is anticipated that this will be open by Summer 2009. The second project will be at the Yorkshire Museum and will see the museum transformed to have 3 comprehensive areas focusing on the history of York with the Roman era taking the lead. It is anticipated that this project will be ready by 2010.

Officers also reported on a scheme to develop the garden area behind the Art Gallery. Members welcomed this proposal.

Officers advised that there is funding amounting to 10k which has been included in the Capital Programme as a contribution towards the re-fencing of the War memorial Gardens on Leeman Road. It was intended that extra money would be found from external sources to help with this but this has not been found,. Consequently the scheme needs to be reconsidered. Members suggested that the gardens could be re-landscaped and opened up to discourage anti social behaviour and congregation rather then fencing them off. Some Members were keen to see the money used in other areas of the Micklegate/Holgate Ward and suggested it be used to refurbish the toilet facilities in Westbank Park. Members commented that other parks in other areas of the city are also in need of work doing to them.

Members suggested that a CRAM bid should be put in to enable all the work to be carried out. Members asked if officers could provide an estimate of how much all the work would cost.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i)         Note the updates to scheme as detailed in the report

(ii)        Agree the scheme amendments and additions reported and summarised in Annex A

(iii)            Approve the revised capital programme as set out in Annex A

(iv)       Agree to continue to seek ways to implement a scheme to refresh the landscaping of the War Memorial Gardens in the future and in the meanwhile

(a)            Transfer the £10k into the Parks S106 Development Fund for use on a suitable scheme within the Micklegate/Holgate area with a particular steer towards refurbishment of the toilet facilities in Westbank Park

(b)              Seek additional funding sources for the War Memorial Gardens scheme, including through the 2009/10  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

it analyses performance by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all the services funded through the leisure and Culture budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

Note the performance of services within the directorate funded through the Leisure and Culture Budget.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  .To monitor and review performance in this portfolio area.

Members considered a report which analysed performance by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all of the services funded through the Leisure and Culture budget.

Members noted the report and expressed some concern over the Library budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

Note the performance of services within the directorate funded through the Leisure and Culture budget.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To monitor and review performance in this portfolio area.