Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests 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.  The following interests were declared:

• Councillor Merrett - a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 6(i) (Notices of Motion – Provision of a Swimming Pool on the Kent Street Site) as his daughter was a member of the York Baths Club;
• Councillor Hogg -a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 6(iii) (Notices of Motion – Policing in York) as his father was a North Yorkshire Police pensioner;
• Councillor Fraser - a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 6(iv) (Notices of Motion – Funding of the York Older People’s Assembly) as the Council’s nominee on the Board of Trustees of the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS).

To approve and sign the minutes of the ordinary Council meeting held on 12 April 2007 and the Annual Council meeting held on 24 May 2007.

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 12 April 2007 and the Annual Council meeting held on 24 May 2007 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

To consider any announcements made by the Lord Mayor in respect of Civic business.

The Lord Mayor announced receipt of the following gifts:

• Receipt of a flag and two books presented by visitors from the Swedish Parliament;
• Receipt of a medal and declaration from Munster commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the twinning and renewing the twinning agreement.

She also reported that she had recently attended a civic reception to celebrate Clifton Without School winning a national football tournament and that the trophy was on display in the Council Chamber.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the remit of Council may do so.  Anyone who wishes to register, or requires further information, is requested to contact the Democracy Officer for this meeting.  Contact details are listed at the foot of this agenda.  The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Wednesday 27 June 2007.

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

To consider any petitions received from Members in accordance with Standing Order No.7.  To date, notice has been received of petitions to be presented by:

i)    Cllr Potter, on behalf of the residents of Morrit Close, requesting that bungalows be built on the Council land adjacent to their homes.

The following petitions were presented by Members under Standing Order 7:

i)                   A petition presented by Cllr Potter, on behalf of residents of Morrit Close, requesting that bungalows be built on the Council land adjacent to their homes;

            ii)         A petition presented by Cllr Hudson, on behalf of Rufforth Parish Council, supporting the proposal to construct a cycle path linking Rufforth to Acomb.

To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 11:

A – Motions referred from the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 11(a)(i)(copies of the relevant report to the Executive are attachedand an extract from the Executive minutes will be circulated at the meeting)

(i)         From Cllr Scott

“Council instructs Council officers as a matter of urgency to seek to retain the option of a pool on the Kent Street site.  To enable the re-provision of a pool on the site this Council asks

a)   That officers take no active steps to promote the sale of the site, save as might be required by law;

b)   That officers enter into negotiations to withdraw from the agreed sale.

c)   The £2m funding currently earmarked for a University Pool to be retained by the Council for pump priming a pool development at the Kent Street site or other appropriate city centre location.

d)            Officers provide a report which examines alternative design solutions for a replacement pool including examining

i)      whether an agreement can be reached with the car park owner for car parking facilities to provide the customer parking off the coach park site, or

ii)   the possible release of the end bay of the car park, and

iii)  the redesigning of the previously proposed pool etc to provide front servicing to remove the need for the access road to the back.”

B – Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Orders 11(a)(ii)

(ii)        From Cllr SF Galloway

            “Council:

a)     Notes the publication of the important Future York report on the economic well being of the City

b)     Places on record its thanks to Christopher Garnett and the other members of the Future York Group for the time that they have invested and the quality and depth of the report that they have produced.

c)      Welcomes the underlying conclusion of the report which is an endorsement of the economic strategy that has been pursued by the Council on behalf of the City for the last few years

d)     Urges residents and local businesses to consider and make their views known on the recommendations made in the report so that when the Council comes to consider its reaction, it can do so confident that, any refinements which may be necessary to the City’s economic strategy, will have the support of the local community.”

(iii)       From Cllr Orrell

a)     “Council extends a welcome to the new Chief Constable Graham Maxwell and looks forward to further cementing the constructive partnership with his staff which has led to  significant reductions in crime levels in our City over the last 2 years.

b)      Whilst Council recognises the financial pressures being felt by many public agencies including the Police, it would be deeply concerned if any reduction in “front line” neighbourhood or reactive policing resources were advocated as a way of tackling any budget deficit.

c)      Council looks forward to discussing with the new Chief Constable how it may  ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

In accordance with Standing Order 11, five notices of motion had been received:

(i)         Provision of a Swimming Pool on the Kent Street Site

This motion had been referred from the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 11(a)(i):

“Council instructs Council officers as a matter of urgency to seek to retain the option of a pool on the Kent Street site.  To enable the re-provision of a pool on the site this Council asks

a)   That officers take no active steps to promote the sale of the site, save as might be required by law;

b)   That officers enter into negotiations to withdraw from the agreed sale.

c)   The £2m funding currently earmarked for a University Pool to be retained by the Council for pump priming a pool development at the Kent Street site or other appropriate city centre location.

d)   Officers provide a report which examines alternative design solutions for a replacement pool including examining

i)    whether an agreement can be reached with the car park owner for car parking facilities to provide the customer parking off the coach park site, or

ii)   the possible release of the end bay of the car park, and

iii)  the redesigning of the previously proposed pool etc to provide front servicing to remove the need for the access road to the back.”

As proposer of the motion, Cllr Scott put forward an amendment with Council’s consent:

“Delete wording from ‘retain the option of a pool’ to ‘this Council’ and replace with ‘provide the options for a City Centre Pool and’.

On point a) to add ‘To preserve all options’ at the beginning and delete the word ‘That’.

To delete points b) and d) and re-label point c) as new point b).

To add a new point c) to read, ‘A further report be provided outlining possible options on sites, including the Kent Street site and all necessary design and redesign options for a any proposed building, and this be included in the Leisure Review already commissioned.’”

The amended motion was then moved by Cllr Scott, and seconded by Cllr Potter:

“Council instructs Council Officers as a matter of urgency to seek to provide the options  for  a City Centre Pool and asks:

 a) To preserve all options officers should take no active steps to promote the sale of the site, save as might be required by law

 b) The £2m funding currently earmarked for a University Pool to be retained by the Council for pump priming a pool development at the Kent Street site or other appropriate City Centre location.

c) A further report be provided outlining possible options on sites, including the Kent Street site and all necessary design and redesign options for a any proposed building, and this be included in the Leisure Review already commissioned.”

Cllr Gillies then moved, and Cllr Galvin seconded, a further amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“To insert the words ‘County Standard Swimming’ before ‘Pool’ in the first sentence.

To  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To receive and consider a written report from the Leader on the work of the Executive, and the Executive recommendations for approval, as set out below:

Meeting                      Date                            Recommendations

Executive26 June 2007 Minute 20 – 2007/08 Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP) and Year-End Performance Review of 2006/07

                        Minute 21 – Statement of Accounts

                        Minute 22 - Corporate Procurement Strategy 2007-2010

                        (minutes to be circulated at the meeting)

[Copies of the Statement of Accounts (subject to validation) are available for inspection at Guildhall Reception and in the Members’ Library.  Hard copies will be circulated to Members on 22 June 2007.]

A written report was received from the Leader, Cllr Steve Galloway, on the work of the Executive.  He then moved, and Cllr Jamieson-Ball seconded, the minutes requiring confirmation from the Executive meeting on 26 June 2006, namely:

• Minute 20 – 2007/08 Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP) and Year-End Performance Review of 2006/07;
• Minute 21 – Statement of Accounts (subject to the inclusion of a number of minor corrections made following the Executive meeting, which were incorporated in or attached to the revised copies of the accounts circulated at the meeting);
• Minute 22 – Corporate Procurement Strategy 2007-2010.

RESOLVED: That the above minutes and the recommendations of the Executive be approved.

To receive a written report from the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, and to question the Executive Member thereon, provided any such questions are registered in accordance with the timescales and procedures set out in Standing Order 8(2)(a).

A written report was received from Cllr Waller, the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services.

Notice had been received of seven questions put by Members in accordance with Standing Orders, as follows and as set out on the list circulated around the Council Chamber:

(i)         From Cllr Potter:

            “I note the increase in staff satisfaction but also note the high number of working days lost due to absence, the high turnover of staff and the low percentage of staff appraisals undertaken in this Directorate, so can the Executive Member inform Council what he intends to do about this poor state of affairs and to further improve staff satisfaction?”

(ii)        From Cllr Brian Watson:

            “Will the Executive Member look at improving access for pedestrians bringing recyclables to the Hazel Court recycling centre following complaints from local residents?”

(iii)       From Cllr Merrett:

            “Is the Executive Member now pleased that he listened to Labour's suggestions that  physically brushing footpaths clean  would increase cleanliness and improve the BVPI 199 figures and does he not now wish he had introduced this much earlier as we had suggested?”

(iv)      From Cllr Potter:

            “What provision is the Executive Member making to enable more Ward Committees to have JAG meetings facilitated by the Neighbourhoods team so that this important work around community safety issues can be fully integrated into Neighbourhood Action Planning?”

(v)       From Cllr Alexander:

            “What is the Executive Member going to do about graffiti on private land that is not linked to the public utilities?”

(vi)      From Cllr Simpson-Laing:

            “What work is being undertaken to improve air quality in those areas that are close to breaching standards around the inner ring road?”

(vii)     From Cllr Firth

            “What steps have been taken by Neighbourhood Services to tackle the recent and, in some cases, ongoing floods in the York area?”

Members agreed to accept written responses to these questions.

To deal with the following questions to the Executive Leader and / or other Executive Members, in accordance with Standing Order 10(a):

(i)         To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Vassie:

            “Can the Executive Member report on the success of the relaunched Yozone card?”

            [Deferred from the meeting on 12 April 2007 as the guillotine had fallen.]

(ii)        To the Executive Member for Adult Social Services, from Cllr Fraser:

            “In the light of continuing failures to maintain services to customers reliant on Home Care, and the recent decision to re-tender part of the contract in the West locality, will the Executive Member for Adult Social Services take responsibility for the inadequate implementation of her decision to reorganise the service?”

            [Deferred from the meeting on 12 April 2007 as the guillotine had fallen.]

(iii)       To the Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion, from Cllr Gunnell:

            ““Will the Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion explain why the young people of Strensall and Haxby feel excluded?”

            [Reworded question submitted in place of one deferred from the meeting on 12 April 2007 as the guillotine had fallen.]

(iv)       To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Potter:

            “What action is being taken to ensure that the LPSA2 targets relating to violent crime, vehicle interference, reducing the reporting of noise nuisance and people feeling free from crime and violence will be met so that grant income can be maximised and reinvested into community safety?”

(v)        To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Holvey:

            “Would the Leader confirm the current levels of unemployment in the City and compare them with rates over the last few years? Would he provide information on how wage levels are changing in the City and particularly with regard to the traditionally low paid sectors?”

(vi)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

            “Will the Executive Member for City Strategy promise to undertake a review of the Council’s Conservation Team in light of the known and expected development that is to come forward in the City over the next decade?”

(vii)      To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

            “Can the Executive Member for City Strategy explain why the City’s Variable Message Signs are not being used to promote modal shift, report on Air Quality and advertise Council Transport Campaigns?”

(viii)     To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

            “Would the Executive Member for City Strategy join with me in welcoming the Government's latest initiatives on Climate Change, which called for Local Authorities to adopt their own local strategies and inform members when she expects the first papers to go to City Strategy?”

(ix)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:

            "In the light of the 'Future York' recommendations on dualling of the outer ring road, will the Executive Member provide its members and new council members with the Executive summary of the Halcrow Outer Ring Road study, reported to EMAP on July 6th 2005? Could she  advise  ...  view the full agenda text for item 22.

In accordance with Standing Order 10(c)(i), the following questions had been put and the following written responses had been given, as set out on the list circulated around the Council Chamber:

(i)         To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Vassie:

            “Can the Executive Member report on the success of the relaunched Yozone card?”

            [Deferred from the meeting on 12 April 2007 as the guillotine had fallen.]

“The 'YOzone roadshow' has visited 9 state secondary schools in York, plus Bootham School & Tadcaster Grammar. I am pleased to be able to report that there are now 5,300 valid YOzone cards in circulation with just over 3,500 of these are the new-style cards launched in March 2007.    This equates to a  take up of around 50%.

Yozone cards are available from St Leonard’s Place during normal office hours and full details are available on the Council’s website.”

(ii)        The question to the Executive Member for Adult Social Services, from Cllr Fraser had been withdrawn.  

(iii)       To the Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion, from Cllr Scott:

            “Will the Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion explain why the young people of Strensall and Haxby feel excluded?”

            [Reworded question submitted in place of one deferred from the meeting on 12 April 2007 as the guillotine had fallen.]

“I am very sure that the majority of young people in Strensall and Haxby are far from excluded as implied by the question but are actively engaged and involved with a range of community and leisure activities. The Youth Service, supported by both local Ward Committees, is active in the areas and has a developing range of provision.

It is unclear what issue or group of young people Cllr Scott is referring too, however if he would like to inform me of a particular concern I would be more than happy to work alongside him, the ward councillors and the Youth Service to investigate.”

(iv)      To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Potter:

            “What action is being taken to ensure that the LPSA2 targets relating to violent crime, vehicle interference, reducing the reporting of noise nuisance and people feeling free from crime and violence will be met so that grant income can be maximised and reinvested into community safety?”

“Safer York Partnership are leading on delivering the LPSA targets for Violent Crime and Vehicle Crime.

There has been a national increase in wounding incidents which contribute to the violent crime stretched target. The definition of violent crime has also changed during the recording period. This change makes it unlikely that any authority will achieve this element of the LPSA target. The numbers of incidents in the City is has been stable and, very recently, has started to show a downward trend.

The vehicle interference stretched target is also unlikely to be achieved despite there being reductions in incidents from the baseline set in 2003/04. However this element accounts for only 5% of the vehicle crime total target so there is little  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To receive recommendations from Standards Committee for approval, as set out below:

Date                            Recommendations

8 June 2007Minute 6 - The Revised Model Code of Conduct for Local Authority Members 2007

                        (A copy of the Code is attached and the minute will be circulated at the meeting)

Cllr Kirk moved, and Cllr Horton seconded, the minute requiring confirmation from the Standards Committee meeting on 8 June 2007, namely:

• Minute 6 – The Revised Model Code of Conduct for Local Authority Members 2007

RESOLVED:That the above minute and the recommendations of the Standards Committee be approved.

To receive a report from Cllr Galvin, the Chair of the Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) on the work of the SMC.

A written report was received from Cllr Galvin, the Chair of the Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) on the work of the SMC since the last report to Council on 12 April 2007.

Minutes of the following meetings of outside bodies, received since the last meeting of Council, have been made available for Members to view via the Council’s website at

http://sql003.york.gov.uk/mgListOutsideBodies.asp?bcr=1

Copies may also be obtained by contacting Democracy Support Group at the Guildhall, York (tel. 01904 551088)

Details of any minutes available for consideration will be circulated ahead of the meeting.

Members are invited to put any questions to the Council’s representatives on the above bodies, in accordance with Standing Order 10(b).

The Lord Mayor reported that there were no minutes of outside bodies to be considered at the meeting.

a)                 To consider the appointments and changes to membership of committees and outside bodies, indicated in italics on the list attached to this summons, and the appointment of proper officers.

b)         To approve the scheme of delegation for the Strategic Policy Panel and changes to the relevant article of the constitution (report to follow).

RESOLVED:(i) That the appointments and changes in membership of committees and outside bodies, indicated in italics in the revised list circulated around the Council Chamber, and the appointment of proper officers, also set out in revised papers circulated around the Council Chamber, be approved;

                        (ii)  That consideration of the proposed scheme of delegation for the Strategic Policy Panel, changes to the relevant article of the constitution and consequent changes to the scheme of delegation for the Executive be deferred for further consideration by the Group Leaders.

Members recorded their thanks to Patrick Scott, Director of Learning, Culture & Children’s Services, for his hard work and achievements and wished him well for his retirement.