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.  

Cllrs Aspden, Funnell, Sue Galloway, Gunnell, Horton, Orrell, Pierce, Potter, Runciman, Sunderland and Waller each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of the recommendation contained in Minute 148 of the Executive meeting on 12 December 2008 at item 6 on the agenda (Minute 57 refers), as members of the York Credit Union (YCU).  Cllr Looker declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the same item, as a Director of the YCU.  These Members all left the room during consideration of that recommendation and took no part in the discussion or decision thereon.

Cllrs Cregan, Horton and King each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the Notice of Motion on the national concessionary fares scheme at item 14(i) on the agenda (Minute 65 refers), as recipients of a bus pass. They left the room during consideration of that motion and took no part in the discussion or decision thereon.

Cllr Galvin declared a personal interest in both of the above items, as a member of the YCU and a recipient of a bus pass, stating that he had received legal advice indicating that his interest was not prejudicial.

Cllr Gillies also declared a personal, non prejudicial interest in the Motion on national concessionary fares, as the recipient of a bus pass.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 November 2008.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 November 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider any announcements made by the Lord Mayor in respect of Civic business, and in particular the nomination of the Lord Mayor Elect and the Sheriff of York for the Municipal Year 2009/10.

The Lord Mayor announced the receipt of the following gifts, which were on view in the Council Chamber:

• An original document recording the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by York community leaders and representatives in 2008
• A Yorkshire Flag, presented to the City by the Ridings Association.

The Lord Mayor then announced the imminent departure of Terry Collins, Director of Neighbourhood Services, who would be leaving City of York Council on 30 January 2009 to take up the post of Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods at the new Durham County Unitary Council.  On behalf of himself and all Members, the Lord Mayor placed on record Council’s thanks to Terry for his contribution during his time at York.

Finally, The Lord Mayor invited Cllr Gillies to nominate the Lord Mayor Elect for the Municipal Year 2009/10.  Cllr Gillies nominated, and Cllr Waller seconded, Cllr John Galvin as the Lord Mayor Elect and this nomination was unanimously agreed.  Cllr Galvin replied that he would be honoured to accept this office and nominated Mrs Jill Burnett as Sheriff for the 2009/10 Municipal Year.¹

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, 21 January 2009.

It was 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 Bowgett, on behalf of residents objecting to ‘rat running’ on Grantham Drive.

(ii)               Cllr Gunnell, on behalf of residents calling for improvements to the no. 11 bus service for the South Bank / Bishopthorpe Road areas and Micklegate Ward generally.

(iii)             Cllr Potter, on behalf of local residents calling for the completion of the James Street Link Road between Heworth Green and James Street.

(iv)              Cllr Potter, on behalf of residents supporting the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit throughout the City in residential areas.

(v)                Cllr Simpson-Laing – on behalf of local residents regarding the extension of yellow lines on Iver Close.

(vi)              Cllr Simpson-Laing, on behalf of residents of Sovereign Park seeking a rebate of and reduction in Council Tax.

(vii)            Cllr Reid, on behalf of residents requesting the closure of the snicket between Moor Lane Bridge and Old Moor Lane.

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

(i)                 Cllr Gunnell, on behalf of residents calling for improvements to the no. 11 bus service for the South Bank / Bishopthorpe Road areas and Micklegate Ward generally. ¹

(ii)               Cllr Potter, on behalf of local residents calling for the completion of the James Street Link Road between Heworth Green and James Street. ²

(iii)             Cllr Potter, on behalf of residents supporting the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit throughout the City in residential areas. ³

(iv)              Cllr Simpson-Laing – on behalf of local residents regarding the extension of yellow lines on Iver Close.⁴

(v)                Cllr Simpson-Laing, on behalf of residents of Sovereign Park seeking a rebate of and reduction in Council Tax. ⁵

(vi)              Cllr Reid, on behalf of residents requesting the closure of the snicket between Moor Lane Bridge and Old Moor Lane. ⁶

(vii)            Cllr D’Agorne, on behalf of residents calling for a 20 mph speed limit for residential streets in the South Bank area of the City. ⁷

It was noted that the petition to be presented by Cllr Bowgett on ‘rat running’ in Grantham Drive was not yet available and would be presented at a future meeting.

RESOLVED: That the above petitions be referred to the Executive or appropriate committee. ^1-7

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:

A written report was received from the Leader, Cllr Andrew Waller, on the work of the Executive.

In commenting on the Leader’s written report, Cllrs Scott and Gillies both expressed their thanks to Terry Collins, the outgoing Director of Neighbourhood Services, on behalf of themselves and their respective Groups, and asked that this be recorded.

Members then considered the minutes requiring confirmation from the Executive meeting held on 23 December 2008, as set out below.

Minute 146 - Web Casting of Council Meetings

Cllr Waller moved, and Cllr Runciman seconded, the following recommendation contained in Minute 146 of the Executive minutes:

“That, should Council wish to proceed with this option, then the funding for the capital works be taken from the Council’s reserves and that any ongoing funding requirements should represent a growth bid against the 2009/10 revenue budget.”

Cllr Scott then moved, and Cllr Alexander seconded, an amendment to the above recommendation, as follows:

“In line 1, delete the words ‘should Council wish’ and replace with ‘Council wishes’.  After the word ‘option’, delete the words ‘then the’ and replace with ‘and agrees that’.  After the words ‘funding requirements’, delete the words ‘should represent’ and replace with ‘are submitted as’.”

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

The original recommendation was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the recommendation contained in Minute 146 of the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 23 December 2008 be approved.¹

Minute 148 - Granting a Loan to an Outside Body (York Credit Union)

Cllr Steve Galloway moved, and Cllr Moore seconded, the following recommendations contained in Minute 148 of the Executive minutes:

“(i)      That a loan not exceeding £100,000 - if possible structured so that the first £52,000 is a preferential loan with the remainder to be classified as a subordinated loan - be made to the York Credit Union to enable them to provide loans to their members during the present difficult economic situation. The loan interest to be calculated at the current rate being obtained by the Council on its other investments.²

(ii)               That Council seek the agreement of the Credit Union to the appointment of a member of staff from the Council’s Resources department to its Executive Board, in order to allow the Council to maintain a check on the financial position of the Credit Union, or by

Following a debate on the recommendations, and questions as to the intended purpose of recommendation (ii) above, Cllr Steve Galloway sought leave to alter that recommendation to read as follows:

“That Council maintain a check on the financial position of the York Credit Union by such means as are acceptable to the Director of Resources.” ²

Council having agreed to that alteration, the altered recommendations were then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the recommendations contained in Minute 148 of the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 23 December 2008 be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

To consider the following recommendations for approval from the Audit and Governance Committee:

Members considered the minutes requiring confirmation from the Audit and Governance Committee meeting held on 13 January 2009, as set out below.

Minute 37 – Proposed Change to the Council’s Constitution Regarding Petitions

Cllr Pierce moved, and Cllr Brooks seconded, the following recommendation contained in Minute 37 of the Audit and Governance Committee minutes:

“That Option 1 be agreed and that Standing Order 7 be amended to provide for ‘residents to initiate a debate at Full Council upon any issue touching and concerning the City of York where a minimum of 1,000 residents petition’.”

Clllr Aspden then moved, and Cllr Holvey seconded, an amendment to the above recommendation, as follows:

“In line 2, after the words ‘Full Council’, insert the words ‘following the receipt of a petition’ … At the end of the paragraph, delete the word ‘petition’ and replace with ‘on the electoral roll of the City of York sign such a petition’.”

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

Following a debate as to whether the original recommendation should be revised to include business rate payers and / or young people, Cllr Jamieson-Ball then moved, and Cllr Runciman seconded, that Standing Orders be suspended to enable the matter to be referred back to the Audit and Governance Committee for further consideration.

On being put to the vote, the motion to suspend Standing Orders was declared CARRIED.

Standing Orders having been suspended, Cllr Jamieson-Ball moved, and Cllr Runciman seconded, that the recommendation be referred back to the Audit and Governance Committee for further consideration.

The motion to refer back was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED:That the recommendation in Minute 37 be referred back to the Audit and Governance Committee for them to consider the matter further in the light of the debate this evening and to make a new recommendation to Council.¹

Minute 38 – The Audit of the Financial Statements 2007/08 – A Progress Report

Cllr Pierce moved, and Cllr Brooks seconded, the following recommendation contained in Minute 38 Audit and Governance Committee minutes:

“That authority be given to the Audit and Governance Committee to approve the Statement of Accounts and the Annual Governance Statement.”

On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the recommendation contained in Minute 38 of the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee meeting held on 13 January 2009 be approved. ²

To receive a report from Councillor Galvin, the Chair of the Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) on the work of the SMC, including a motion to be moved by Cllr Galvin in respect of the advice offered by the Working Group set up by Council to advise on the implementation of the re-structure of the scrutiny process.

A written report was received from Cllr John Galvin, the Chair of the Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) on the work of the SMC since the last report to Council, on 27 November 2008.  The report included a recommendation arising from the advice of the Working Group set up to consider the new Scrutiny structure, which would be formally moved in due course.

The Lord Mayor then announced that notice had been received of three amendments to the motion to be moved on the Scrutiny structure, one of which had been ruled out of order under Standing Order 15.3.6, on the grounds that it was the second amendment to be submitted by the same Member, namely Cllr D’Agorne. 

Cllr Waller then moved, and Cllr Runciman seconded, that Standing Orders 12.5 and 15.3.2 be suspended to enable him to propose an amendment outside the time limits set down in those Standing Orders, in the same terms as the amendment ruled out of order.

On being put to the vote, the motion to suspend Standing Orders was declared LOST.

Cllr Galvin then moved, and Cllr Pierce seconded, the following recommendation to Council, contained in paragraph 17 of his report, arising from the advice of the Working Group set up to consider the detailed implementation of the new scrutiny structure agreed by Council at the last meeting (Minute 45 refers):

“That the role of the SMC and functions common to all standing scrutiny committees as set out in Annex A be approved and that Council consider which model (A or B) it wishes to adopt as the basis for the standing scrutiny committees, in line with the previously agreed changes to the scrutiny structure.”

Cllr D’Agorne then moved, and Cllr Taylor seconded, the first amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“At the start of the second sentence after the words ‘And, that’, delete the words ‘Council considers which model (A or B) it wishes to adopt’ and replace with ‘Council adopts Model A …..’ At the end of the motion, add the following words ‘and subject to:

• further consultation taking place with the group leaders and chief officers on the precise remit of each Committee;
• no loss of provision for the public to access relevant reports and make representations in advance of a decision, nor in their ability to participate at the point of decision making."

Cllr Scott then moved and Cllr Looker seconded, the second amendment to the above motion, as follows:

At the start of the second sentence after the words ‘and that’, delete the words ‘Council considers which model (A or B) it wishes to adopt’ and replace with ‘Council adopts Model B’.

The above amendments were then put to the vote as alternatives, with Members being asked in respect of each to vote for or against the amendment, or to abstain.  The results of the votes were as follows:

Amendment 1 - 21 in favour, 24 against, 1 abstention.  Declared LOST.

Amendment 2 – 24 in favour, 21 against,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To consider a report prepared by the Head of Civic, Democratic and Legal Services, in response to the motion approved at the last meeting of Full Council, setting out detailed proposals and costings for including in the Civic Calendar an annual event to mark Holocaust Day.

Cllr Waller moved, and Cllr Crisp seconded, the recommendation contained in a report at page 43 of the Council papers, prepared by the Head of Civic, Democratic and Legal Services, in response to a motion approved at the last meeting of Full Council (Minute 43 (iv) refers).

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the recommendation in the report be approved and that Holocaust Memorial Day be incorporated as an annual event in within the Civic Calendar, subject to sufficient resources, as identified in the report, being provided for that purpose within the budget process for the relevant year. ¹

To consider a report of the Head of Civic, Legal and Democratic Services which recommends that the ‘local choice’ function to approve the Local Area Agreement (LAA) be allocated to the Executive.

Cllr Waller moved, and Cllr Runciman seconded, the following recommendation contained in a report of the Head of Civic, Democratic and Legal Services at page 47 of the Council papers:

“That Full Council allocate to the Executive the functions relating to the Local Area Agreement, as listed in paragraph 22, Schedule 2 of the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, as amended.”

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST and it was

RESOLVED: That the recommendation not be approved.

To receive a written report from the Executive Member for City Strategy, 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 Steve Galloway, the Executive Member for City Strategy.

Notice had been received of twelve questions on the report, submitted by Members in accordance with Standing Orders.

The first seven questions were put and answered as follows:

(i)        From Cllr Bowgett:

“Can the Executive Member for City Strategy please outline the date he was first aware that First had applied to cease the current No 16 bus service and replace it with an extension of the No 5 service?”

            The Executive Member replied:

            “On the 8^th January 2009.”

(ii)        From Cllr Potter:

“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy agree that it is bad news for York residents that First have unilaterally withdrawn the concession which allowed weekly/monthly tickets purchased for use on Park and Ride Services to be used from & to intermediate stops?  And will you join with me in making further representations on this issue to First?”

            The Executive Member replied:

“Yes.  I am already making representations on the issue; however, we have no statutory powers to intervene.”

(iii)       From Cllr Funnell:

“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy inform Council of when exactly he knew that First were cutting the 13 bus service and hiding it behind renumbering the number 16 service?”

            The Executive Member replied:

“I am told that First registered changes to their commercial services on 8th January.”

(iv)       From Cllr D’Agorne:

“Having seen the ‘competition’ from other bids to the Regional Transport Board, how does the Executive Member expect the Access York Phase 2 bid to fare when set against other more imaginative ‘greener’ project proposals from around the region?”

            The Executive Member replied:

“Consultants acting on behalf of the Regional Assembly have prioritised the bids based on a formulae which takes into account various parameters. These do include environmental impact but also give a strong weighting to other factors such as the effect that the scheme would have on economic prosperity and its ability to reduce accident levels.

The Access York phase 2 bid will be ranked towards the top of the list of schemes based on this criteria but, as over £3Bn of bids have been received, and the available resources amount to only £300 million in total for the region, it follows that most bids will not be successful.”

(v)        From Cllr Bowgett:

“Why did the Executive Member for City Strategy not inform Holgate Councillors that the number 16 bus service was being removed and replace by number 5?”

            The Executive Member replied:

“It is not for me to so inform you. These are commercially registered services and First are free to change them having given the appropriate notice. The change of service number actually makes little practical difference to the service within the Holgate Ward.”

In response to supplementary questions, the Executive Member confirmed that he was aware of the possibility of changes to bus routes but was surprised that the changes had been made so quickly following the Christmas break.  He indicated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

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)

·  Without Walls Partnership – meeting on 19 November 2008

·  Quality Bus Partnership – meeting on 11 December 2008

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

Minutes of the following meetings of outside bodies had been made available for Members to view on the Council’s website:

• Without Walls Partnership – meeting on 19 November 2008
• Quality Bus Partnership – meeting on 11 December 2008

No questions had been submitted to representatives on the above bodies.

To consider the appointments and changes to membership of committees and outside bodies set out on the list attached to this summons.

RESOLVED: That the appointments and changes to membership of committees, working groups and outside bodies set out in the revised list circulated around the Council Chamber (and attached as Annex 1 to these minutes) be approved. ¹

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)

None

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

(i)         From Cllr Steve Galloway

“Council notes the campaign being launched by the Local Government Association to ensure that the national concessionary fares scheme is fully funded by central government grant at individual local authority level.

Council further notes that in the case of the City of York Council for 2009/10 the difference, between the government grant announced for concessionary fares and the actual cost, could be as much as £1 million.

Council resolves to support the LGA campaign and instructs the Chief Executive to write to the LGA, together with the City’s 4 MPs, with details of the potential impact of the grant settlement on the City, its Council Tax level and public service standards.”

(ii)        From Cllr Lookder

            Council notes that:

·        The Barbican auditorium has failed to hold any entertainment events since the agreement was entered into with Absolute Leisure and in fact has lost significant contracts such as the UK Snooker Championships, which had been such a successful part of the York scene, and a number of potential conference opportunities.

·        There is still no start date for the proposed alterations and adaptations to the auditorium, which have received planning permission, and so consequently no clear idea as to when the venue will re-open for business.

·        When the economic outlook is uncertain, it is imperative that the city maximises its opportunities for a wide variety of business opportunities and the loss of conference income and major entertainment events income are making York a less and less attractive destination for visitors and business clients.

·        The building is falling into disrepair and is rapidly becoming a major eyesore both for residents and visitors to the city.

·        Absolute Leisure has failed to meet set deadlines for the proposed refurbishment and the £3m deposit required to fulfill this.

Council recognises that:

·        the current Liberal Democrat administration has failed to provide York residents with an entertainments programme as befits a city such as York.

Council recommends:

·        That the Executive be requested to instruct Officers to cease all negotiations with Absolute Leisure and seek a new solution for the auditorium.

Council invites the Leader of the Council to take responsibility for this project and provide a written progress report at all future Full Council meetings until the Barbican Auditorium is in full operational usage.”

(iii)       From Cllr D’Agorne

            “Council notes:

i) That it is now over 5 years since the closure of the Barbican, resulting in the loss of sports and swimming facilities in the area and the departure of the UK Snooker Championship from the city.

ii) That Absolute Leisure has failed to comply with the legal agreement with the council by the deadline, meaning that the future of the auditorium is now in jeopardy, with further delay before it is  ...  view the full agenda text for item 65.

(i)            National Concessionary Fares Scheme

It was moved by Cllr Steve Galloway and seconded by Cllr Reid that:

“Council notes the campaign being launched by the Local Government Association to ensure that the national concessionary fares scheme is fully funded by central government grant at individual local authority level.

Council further notes that in the case of the City of York Council for 2009/10 the difference, between the government grant announced for concessionary fares and the actual cost, could be as much as £1 million.

Council resolves to support the LGA campaign and instructs the Chief Executive to write to the LGA, together with the City’s 4 MPs, with details of the potential impact of the grant settlement on the City, its Council Tax level and public service standards.” ¹

Cllr Potter then moved, and Cllr Bowgett seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“In line 1 after the word ‘Council’, insert the following words: ‘welcomes the concessionary bus fare scheme that allows residents in York to have free bus travel and ….. to continue ‘notes the campaign etc’.

Delete the second paragraph and replace with the following:

‘Council also notes that in 2003/05 £560k was received from central government  for half price concessionary bus fares for older people. Council welcomes the additional £863k in 2006/07, £1,112k in 2008/09 and £1,975k in the next financial year for the very popular and extremely well used concessionary free bus travel for older people.’

In the third paragraph, after the words ‘City’s 4 MPs’, delete all and replace with the following:

‘to explain the unintended consequences of the scheme in those local authorities that are tourist destinations outlining the increased costs incurred due to increasing numbers of non- residents use of local bus services and requesting that the method of distribution be reviewed to ensure that the resource available is redistributed to address this situation’.”

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

The original motion was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED:            That the above notice of motion be approved. ¹

(ii)        The Barbican Auditorium

            It was moved by Cllr Looker and seconded by Cllr Crisp that:

            “Council notes that:

·        The Barbican auditorium has failed to hold any entertainment events since the agreement was entered into with Absolute Leisure and in fact has lost significant contracts such as the UK Snooker Championships, which had been such a successful part of the York scene, and a number of potential conference opportunities.

·        There is still no start date for the proposed alterations and adaptations to the auditorium, which have received planning permission, and so consequently no clear idea as to when the venue will re-open for business.

·        When the economic outlook is uncertain, it is imperative that the city maximises its opportunities for a wide variety of business opportunities and the loss of conference income and major entertainment events income are making York a less and less attractive destination for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

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 Leader, from Cllr Aspden

“What steps are being taken to promote environmentally sustainable job in York?”

(ii)        To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Galvin:

“In the light of the resolution at the Council Meeting of 25th September referring to a link road between Bishopthorpe Road and Sim Balk Lane, will the Executive Member please advise Council as to the progress made to date on the first part of the resolution i.e:

‘To aid the development of the Terrys Site, the Council instructs the appropriate officers to develop as a matter of urgency and in a timescale to inform any future planning application, an assessment of the need for, and effectiveness of providing, a Link Road between Bishopthorpe Road and Sim Balk Lane to the south side of the A64.’”

(iii)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Galvin:

“Will the Executive Member also advise as to when the report referred to in the remainder of the resolution will be presented to Council i.e:

‘Officers are therefore instructed to report to the Full Council as soon as possible addressing the potential for funding the Link Road, with a contribution from Developers and other sources.

The report should also indicate how any proposed future development allocated through the LDF process could contribute to the construction costs of such a link road proposal.

Such report also to investigate the possibility of constructing a new junction to the west of London Bridge to facilitate speedy access on to the A64 slip roads.’”

(iv)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:

“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy outline the progress on implementation of the council's Green Transport Plan and indicate the latest modal split figures compared to the starting base line, including a breakdown of the figures by department?”

(v)        To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:

“Can the Executive Member for City Strategy explain why requests for lighting column repainting in Micklegate Ward going back to at least February 2005, which were part of an extensive list of lighting columns agreed for repainting in September 2007, had still not been completed when this area of responsibility was recently transferred to Neighbourhood Services?”

(vi)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:

“Will the Executive Member for City Strategy inform Council what action has been taken since the last Council meeting to re-invigorate the stalled Carbon Management Programme and what steps are being taken to properly resource the need for data analysis to inform the implementation of the programme?”

(vii)      To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Potter:

“Will the Executive Member for City Strategy describe what progress has been made in respect of setting a target to achieve at least a 5% reduction in the Council’s energy consumption over the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 66.

Thirteen questions had been submitted to the Executive Leader and Executive Members under Standing Order 10(c).  The guillotine having fallen at this point, Members agreed to receive written responses to these questions.  The questions and the written responses are set out below:

(i)         To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Aspden:

“What steps are being taken to promote environmentally sustainable job in York?”

Reply

“I have asked for the  Chief Executive to convene an “Eco Jobs Task Group” from the Council, York Science City and partners, in particular the Business Forum and Economic Development Partnership to examine how the city can create more locally based jobs based on environmental technology.

I would expect that this group will produces an interim report within six months, with a final report by September 2009 as an update to the Future York report dealing specifically with environmentally based sectors.”

(ii)        To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Galvin:

“In the light of the resolution at the Council Meeting of 25th September referring to a link road between Bishopthorpe Road and Sim Balk Lane, will the Executive Member please advise Council as to the progress made to date on the first part of the resolution i.e:

‘To aid the development of the Terrys Site, the Council instructs the appropriate officers to develop as a matter of urgency and in a timescale to inform any future planning application, an assessment of the need for, and effectiveness of providing, a Link Road between Bishopthorpe Road and Sim Balk Lane to the south side of the A64.’”

Reply

“An assessment of the need and effectiveness of providing a link road in conjunction with LDF issues is currently in preparation. It is anticipated that the report will be completed in order that it may be considered by Members in early Spring. This work includes an assessment of the volume of traffic that would be expected to use such a link together with the land use policy issues, funding and additionally will seek to address the other items relating directly to the regeneration of Terry's including sustainable transport and accessibility.”

(iii)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Galvin:

“Will the Executive Member also advise as to when the report referred to in the remainder of the resolution will be presented to Council i.e:

‘Officers are therefore instructed to report to the Full Council as soon as possible addressing the potential for funding the Link Road, with a contribution from Developers and other sources.

The report should also indicate how any proposed future development allocated through the LDF process could contribute to the construction costs of such a link road proposal.

Such report also to investigate the possibility of constructing a new junction to the west of London Bridge to facilitate speedy access on to the A64 slip roads.’”

            Reply

“As for ii above”.

(iv)      To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:

“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy outline the progress on implementation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.