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 asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Hogg declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 4 (York Theatre Royal Performance Update) as he was employed by the National Railway Museum.

Councillor Vassie declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Items 4 (York Theatre Royal Performance Update), 5 and 6 (Revenue and Capital Budgets 2008/09) as he was a member of the Regional Arts Council.

Councillor Hogg declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Items 5 and 6 (Revenue and Capital Budgets 2008/09) as he was a member of the York Tourist Board.

Councillor King declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Items 5 and 6 (Revenue and Capital Budgets 2008/09) as he was a member of the York Tourist Board.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th December 2007.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Member for Leisure and Culture and Advisory Panel held on 4 December 2007 be approved and signed by the Chair and the Executive Member as a correct record.

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 5pm the working day before the meeting.

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

However, the Chair agreed to hear representations from Angela Dudding from Unison, regarding Agenda Items 5 and 6 regarding the Revenue and Capital Budgets 2008/9. She raised concerns regarding the proposals for closing the Crèche at Edmund Wilson Leisure Centre which employed the equivalent of 1.7 full time staff. She also expressed concerns regarding the effect any closures or change of hours would have on staff at the libraries and archives.

Written representations were received on behalf of York and District Schools Sports Association who raised concerns regarding the proposals to cease financial support to the organisation.

Written representations were received from Active York who also raised concerns regarding the proposals for cessation of funding to the following voluntary organisations: York and District School Athletics Association, York City Baths Club and City of York Athletics Club.

This report is to inform the Executive Member of the progress and performance of the York Theatre Royal under the current Service Level Agreement (SLA) which runs to March 2008.  Reports will from now on be brought to EMAP at the half-year point as well as in May to report on the full year performance.  This report covers the first half of 2007/8 (though being the first report additional background information is also included in Annexes 1 and 2).

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Note the performance of the York Theatre Royal.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

RESON:                     To fulfil the Council’s role under the Service Level Agreement.

Members considered a report regarding the progress and performance of the York Theatre Royal under the current Service Level Agreement (SLA) which runs to March 2008. The three year SLA is a joint agreement between the Council and the York Theatre Royal and it sets out:

·        The key objectives of the partnership

·        Performance targets and indicators to be met by the Theatre

·        Performance information to be provided

·        Review and reporting procedures

·        Partnership arrangements between the Council and the Theatre

Members received a presentation from Dan Bates the Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal that covered the following themes:

·        The programme

·        Producing work

·        Presenting work

·        Partnership in Education and Theatre (PET)

·        The Youth Theatre

·        Financial

·        The future

Members felt that future reports to the Committee should include more in depth and explicit financial information.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Note the performance of the York Theatre Royal to date and for Officers to ensure that the new SLA contains explicit targets/indicators for all key objectives.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

RESON:                     To fulfil the Council’s role under the Service Level Agreement.

This report presents the 2008/09 budget proposals for Leisure & Culture.  It includes:

·         The revenue budget for 2007/08 (Annex 1) to show the original budgets.

·         The base budget for 2008/09 including the 2007/08 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).

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Consider whether the budget proposals are in line with the Council’s priorities.

·        Comment on the budget proposals for savings and growth which have been prepared by Officers and are contained in the report, which are intended to form part of the Council’s budget to be considered on 12 February 2008.

·        Consider the budget proposal for consultation for Leisure and Culture for 2008/09 contained in the report.

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 and Culture Budget for 2008/09.

Members considered a report that presented them with the 2008/09 budget proposals for Leisure and Culture; this included:

• The revenue budget for 2007/08 to show the original budgets.
• The base budget for 2008/09 including the 2007/08 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.
• Fees and Charges proposals.
• Other revenue budget options for consultation.
• The existing approved capital programme.
• Proposals for new capital schemes.

The Officer reported some amendments to Annex 4 of the report. The proposed charges for 2008/09 for Bowls (including reservation fee and woods) were now as follows:

·        Concession per hour                                          £1.60

·        Season ticket – adults                                        £66.00

·        Season ticket – concessions                            £30

·        Season ticket – concessions (half season)     £15

Members and Officers discussed the crèche facility at the Edmund Wilson Leisure Centre and it was suggested that the facility could be kept open for 16 hours providing a saving of £16,000. the price would be increased from 80p to £1.00 per 30 minute session. It was suggested that peak hours would be 9am to 1pm Monday to Thursday but it could be a flexible service. If this was to be the preferred option then full cost recovery from schools would have to be sought in relation to School Swimming Support to achieve a further saving of £2,000. The remaining £8,000 would come from an increased usage of Yearsley Pool.

Members made the following further comments:

·        All library staff & Archives staff would be effected if the proposed cuts were implemented

·        Users of the libraries & City Archive would be effected by the proposed cuts

The Labour Group reserved their position on the budget proposals.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Note the report.

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 and Culture Budget for 2008/09.

This report has been amalgamated with the Revenue Budget 2008/09 report above.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Consider whether the budget proposals are in line with the Council’s priorities.

·        Comment on the budget proposals for savings and growth which have been prepared by Officers and are contained in the report, which are intended to form part of the Council’s budget to be considered on 12 February 2008.

·        Consider the budget proposal for consultation for Leisure and Culture for 2008/09 contained in the report.

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 and Culture Budget for 2008/09.

The report for the Capital Budgets had been amalgamated with the report for the Revenue Budgets therefore Minute 33 refers.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Consider whether the budget proposals are in line with the Council’s priorities.

·        Comment on the budget proposals for savings and growth which have been prepared by Officers and are contained in the report, which are intended to form part of the Council’s budget to be considered on 12 February 2008.

·        Consider the budget proposal for consultation for Leisure and Culture for 2008/09 contained in the report.

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 and Culture Budget for 2008/09.