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.

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.

Councillor Looker declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 4 as she is a Member of York Museums Trust and she is Company Secretary for York Theatre Royal.

Councillor Crisp declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 4 as she is a Member of the York Theatre Royal Board.

Councillor Hogg declared a personal non-prejudicial interest as he has a working interest in the Yorkshire Film Archive and as a Member of the York Museums Trust.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2008

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 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 19 January 2009 at 5pm.

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

This report presents the 2009/10 budget proposals for Leisure and Culture. The Executive Member is asked to consider the budget proposals in Annexes 2,3 and 7 which will be considered by the Executive as part of the intended budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)     That the budget proposals within the report be noted.

(ii)   That the comments that had been made regarding the proposals be noted.

(iii)That it be noted that Members of the Labour group and Conservative group reserved their position for Budget Council.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                                          As part of the consultation on the Leisure & Culture budget for 2009/10.

Members received a report that presented the 2009/10 budget proposals for Leisure and Culture. The report included:

• The revenue budget for 2008/09 (Annex1) to show the original budgets.
• The base budget for 2009/10 including the 2008/09 budget rolled forward and adjusted.
• The provisional allocation of pay and price increases for the portfolio.
• Budget service pressure costs and savings proposals for the portfolio area (Annexes 2 and 3)
• Fees and Charges proposals (Annex 4)
• Other revenue budget options for consultation (Annex 5)
• The existing approved capital programme (Annex 6)
• Proposals for new capital schemes (Annex 7)

Officers advised that if the proposals were approved, along with the proposed budgets for other service area’s, they were confident that there would be a balanced budget for the Authority. Members were advised that alternative options for savings are included in Annex 5.

The Executive Member was asked to consider the budget proposals included in the report and identify their preferences, and were invited to provide comments on the budget proposals in the report.

Clarification was sought regarding the proposed withdrawal in participation from North Yorkshire Culture and whether York would be missing out on any funding for the 2012 Olympics as a result. It was confirmed that York will be capable of providing its own programme of events. Members also queried the reduction in the Museums Client Budget. Officers advised that some funds would remain to fulfil some obligations but the majority of work would be completed this financial year,  the 10k could be taken out without causing any problems.

Councillor Vassie updated that in relation to Yearsley Pool, he anticipates the cost of buying steam from Nestle to heat the pool would continue to reduce, as the Pool continued to prove energy efficient. He also commented that in context of the savings proposals and the economic climate, it is to be welcomed that the plans for the Archives and Libraries have progressed in the past year.

Members of the Labour Group and the Conservative Group reserved their position for Budget Council.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)     That the budget proposals within the report be noted.

(ii)   That the comments that had been made regarding the proposals be noted.

(iii)That it be noted that Members of the Labour group and Conservative group reserved their position for Budget Council.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                                          As part of the consultation on the Leisure & Culture budget for 2009/10.