Agenda, decisions 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.

Cllr Hyman declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 9, Petition from residents of North Moor Road regarding Huntington Primary School Safety Zone (minute 66 refers), as a governor of Huntington Primary School.

Cllr Potter declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the same agenda item, as her mother had signed the petition, and left the room and took no part in the discussion or the decision thereon.     

Cllr D’Agorne declared a personal interest in the same agenda item as he sat on the East Area Planning Sub Committee who had previously discussed the school safety zone.

Cllr Scott declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 4, Chief Executives Monitor 2 Finance & Performance Report 2007/08 (minute 61 refers), as a solicitor specialising in employment law.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Members for City Strategy and Advisory Panel held on 29 October 2007.

RESOLVED :That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Members for City Strategy and Advisory Panel held on 29 October 2007 be approved and signed by the Chair and the Executive Members as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Panel’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday 7 December at 5pm.

It was reported that there was one registration to speak under the Councils Public Participation Scheme.

Representations were received from the lead petitioner regarding Agenda Item 9, Petition from Residents of North Moor Road regarding Huntington Primary School Safety Zone. He stated that 60% of residents had noticed vibrations in their properties and were concerned. He stated that vehicles travelled at a higher speed than 22mph, and that the council officer had only visited his home and not others in the street. The residents recognised the need for a school safety zone but wanted to work with the council to resolve the issue.

Cllr Moore spoke on Agenda Item 11, Drainage in York. He stated that he supported the report but wished to raise some shortfalls. He stated that he supported the growth bid, highlighted the importance of working proactively with Yorkshire Water, and the requirement for contingency plans. He also stated the drainage planning policy was not satisfactory, and that consultation with partner agencies did not always happen and if it did comments received from them were often inadequate.             

This report presents the second performance monitor of 2007/08 for the Chief Executive’s Directorate.  It includes the latest position on the Directorate’s local and best value performance indicators, an update on key projects and the latest projections against revenue expenditure.

 Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Leader be advised to note the performance and financial outturn position for 07/08.

Decision of the Executive Leader

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

REASON :                 To inform the Executive Leader on progress made against service plan targets and budget. 

Members considered a report which presented the second performance monitor of 2007/08 for the Chief Executives directorate. It included the latest position on the directorates local and best value performance indicators, an update on key projects, and the latest projections against revenue expenditure.

The report provided an executive summary of performance, and a performance and financial overview corporately and by directorate.

Members raised issues regarding the new speech recognition system at the Customer Contact Centre and whether disability groups had been contacted for their views on this, and it was agreed that this would be done¹.  

Members also discussed the growth bid for an Equalities Officer, telephone response times, and sickness figures.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Leader be advised to note the performance and financial outturn position for 07/08.

Decision of the Executive Leader

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

REASON :                 To inform the Executive Leader on progress made against service plan targets and budget.  

This report presents the latest projections for revenue expenditure and capital expenditure for Economic Development and Partnerships, and performance against target for a number of key indicators that are made up of Best Value Performance Indicators, Customer First targets (letter answering) and Staff Management Targets (sickness absence).

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Leader be advised to note the financial and performance position of the portfolio.

Decision of the Executive Leader

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

REASON :                 In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures. 

Members considered a report which presented the latest projections for revenue and capital expenditure by Economic Development and Partnerships, as well as performance against target for Best Value Performance Indicators, Customer First Targets, and Staff Management targets.

The report included a financial summary detailing approved budget and carry forward, and key variances.

Members discussed the methods of reporting sickness levels and the importance of it being consistent to enable comparisons to be made, the shortfall of income in open markets, and business confidence/increase in turnover for businesses.   

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Leader be advised to note the financial and performance position of the portfolio.

Decision of the Executive Leader

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

REASON :                 In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures. 

This report presents the latest projections for revenue expenditure and capital expenditure for the City Strategy portfolio, and performance against target for a number of key indicators that are made up of Best Value Performance Indicators owned by City Strategy, Customer First targets (letter answering) and Staff Management Targets (sickness absence).

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to :

a)                 Note the financial and performance position of the portfolio;

b)                 Recommend to the Executive to release a contingency sum of £200k to support pressure on Concessionary Fares budget;

c)                  Approve the virement of £198k within Engineering Consultancy income and expenditure as detailed in paragraph 20 of the report.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures. 

Members considered a report which presented two sets of data from the City Strategy directorate. These were the latest projections for revenue expenditure and capital expenditure for City Strategy portfolio, and monitor 2 (2007/08) performance against target for a number of key indicators that were made up of Best Value Performance Indicators owned by City Strategy, Customer First targets and staff management targets.

The report provided a management summary of the financial and performance overview. Members discussed the increase in sales of Respark, the shortfall in parking income, concessionary fares, improvements in sickness figures, repairing of streetlighting and Millennium Bridge lighting, and the city wide retail study.     

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to :

a)                 Note the financial and performance position of the portfolio;

b)                 Recommend to the Executive to release a contingency sum of £200k to support pressure on Concessionary Fares budget¹ ;

c)                  Approve the virement of £198k within Engineering Consultancy income and expenditure as detailed in paragraph 20 of the report².

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures. 

This report sets out progress to date on schemes in the City Strategy Capital Programme for 2007/08. It reports on budget spend to the end of October 2007, which is seven months into the capital programme year, gives an update on any scheme works that have occurred since the end of October to give a more accurate picture of progress, and any adjustments that need to be made, and asks the Executive Member for City Strategy to approve the amendments to the 2007/08 budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to approve the adjustments as set out in Annexes 1 and 2 of the report.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                   To manage the Capital Programme effectively.

Members considered a report which set out the progress to date on schemes in the City Strategy Capital Programme for 2007/08. It reported on budget spend to the end of October 2007, which is seven months into the capital programme year. It also gave an update on any scheme works that had occurred since the end of October to give a more accurate picture of progress, and of any adjustments that needed to be made.

Members discussed the BLISS system for the Leeds Bradford Airport Coach and were informed that this would be funded by First. The Tram/Train Study and the four major compensation events in connection with Moor Lane Roundabout were further discussed.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to approve the adjustments as set out in Annexes 1 and 2 of the report¹.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 To manage the Capital Programme effectively.

This report responds to a petition that requests the introduction of a residents parking scheme for Holgate Bridge Gardens.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to :

a)                 Include this area on the residents parking request list and begin investigations and consultation once it reaches the top of the list;

b)                 Introduce up to 40 metres of double yellow lines from the junction with Holgate Road to try and alleviate the problems associated with access by large vehicles, to be investigated in the Annual Review this year.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :            To facilitate parking for residents and their visitors as requested and to ease access and egress in the street

Members considered a report which was in response to the receipt of a petition that requested the introduction of a residents parking scheme for Holgate Bridge Gardens. The petition had been signed by 11 people from the 12 properties in the street. A plan attached as Annex B to the report showed the area of the scheme that had been requested. If taken forward this would be a new zone rather than an extension to any of the existing zones in the area.

The report presented three options :

a)                 Add this area to the list for investigation;

b)                 Reject the request for inclusion in a residents parking scheme;

c)                  Add this area to the list for investigation, and as an interim measure introduce up to 40 metres of double yellow lines in the first half of the street to alleviate access problems.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to :

a)                 Include this area on the residents parking request list and begin investigations and consultation once it reaches the top of the list¹;

b)                 Introduce up to 40 metres of double yellow lines from the junction with Holgate Road to try and alleviate the problems associated with access by large vehicles, to be investigated in the Annual Review this year².

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 To facilitate parking for residents and their visitors as requested and to ease access and egress in the street. 

This report advises Members of the receipt of a petition from 16 residents who object to having the current speed humps, which form part of the Huntington Primary School Safety Zone, adjacent to their properties.  It outlines options for Members’ consideration and seeks approval of the recommendation not to make changes to the current arrangements.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to agree that :

a)                 The size of the speed bumps be checked;

b)                 The comments of Members be taken into account;

c)                  The alignment of the speed bumps be checked;

d)                  A more scientific approach be adopted to measure the level of vibrations under controlled circumstances.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 To address the issues raised in the petition. 

Members considered a report which advised them of the receipt of a petition from 16 residents who objected to having the current speed humps, which form part of the Huntington Primary School Safety Zone, adjacent to their properties. They claimed that they are continually disturbed by heavy vehicles, causing properties to shake and vibrate whenever their wheel clips the edges of the humps. Although the residents recognise the requirement for measures to be in place to reduce traffic speeds outside the school, they were asking the Council to consider alternative measures that will not cause distress to local residents.  

Members discussed the type of speed humps in the area, the relocation of humps as to whether this would alleviate the issue, their concerns regarding the assessment of vibration levels, speed monitoring, and the need to address residents concerned. 

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to agree that :

a)                 The size of the speed bumps be checked¹;

b)                 The comments of Members be taken into account²;

c)                  The alignment of the speed bumps be checked³;

d)                  A more scientific approach be adopted to measure the level of vibrations under controlled circumstances⁴.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 To address the issues raised in the petition. 

This report responds to a petition signed by 22 residents living in the Woodthorpe area, requesting the closure of the snicket leading from Carrfield into Heron Avenue, because of problems with criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.  It recommends leaving the snicket open to public use, as the criteria for a Gating Order, which would allow for the restriction of public access along it, has not been met. 

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to approve that :

a)                 A Gating Order be made for a period of 12 months;

b)                 A review be carried out at the end of this period to review the crime and anti-social behaviour statistics in 12 months.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 To address the issues raised in the petition.

Members considered a report which was in response to the receipt of a petition signed by 22 residents living in the Woodthorpe area, requesting the closure of the snicket leading from Carrfield into Heron Avenue, because of problems with criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

Members discussed the level of crime in the area, and the Ward Councillor updated that much of the problem in the area related to graffiti. Previous gating orders had been made in the area, and Members suggested that if a gating order was made that the opportunity be used to tap into the systems already in place for locking and unlocking gates in the area.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to approve that :

a)                 A Gating Order be made for a period of 12 months¹;

b)                 A review be carried out at the end of this period to review the crime and anti-social behaviour statistics in 12 months².

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :                 To address the issues raised in the petition.

This report reviews the effects on the drainage system in York as a result of the rainfall events which occurred during June 2007.  It also advises Members on the relationships between the various organisations who deal with the discharge of surface water from within the city.  The report reviews the gully cleaning service in line with the motion to Full Council on 4 October 2007 and examines options to improve maintenance of the highway drainage assets.

  Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to note  :

a)         The rainfall which fell on the 25 June 2007 was an exceptional event which overwhelmed the capacity of the drainage infrastructure, there were local exceptions to this and remedial works have either been carried out or further investigations are ongoing;

b)         The work being undertaken as part of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs research into their Integrated Urban Drainage Management project which will report in September 2008 and hopefully establish a better legal framework for those involved in drainage run-off to operate within;

c)         The collaborative work undertaken by Council and Yorkshire Water Services staff to identify potential problems in the drainage network, this work is still ongoing;

d)         The work carried out over recent years to the gully cleaning service and that the information outlined in paragraphs 75 to 77, is used to inform the budget setting process for 2008/09;

e)         The work carried out to produce the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and the new guidance given to Planning Development Control Office;

f)          The pressure being put on the budgets supporting river and surface water flooding, along with resources to react to the riparian ownership duties, flood emergencies and warping, and that the information outlined in paragraphs 78 to 83, is used to inform the budget setting process for 2008/09.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :    

a)         To inform the Executive Member of the severity of the conditions which caused the event.

b)         To advise the Executive Member of the ongoing work being undertaken at a national level, so decisions for the future can be taken in light of emerging national guidance.

c)         To manage the drainage assets efficiently.

d)         To demonstrate the strategic importance of the service and to enable it to develop and improve within set parameters to deliver the most sustainable outcome.

e)                             To advise the Executive Member of improvements in the planning process.

f)          To demonstrate the strategic importance of the service and to enable it to develop and improve within set parameters to deliver the most sustainable outcome.

Members considered a report which reviewed the effects on the drainage system in York as a result of the rainfall events which occurred during June 2007. It also advised Members on the relationship between the various organisations who deal with the discharge of surface water from within the city. The report reviewed the gully cleaning service in line with the motion to Full Council on 4 October 2007 and examined options to improve maintenance of the highway drainage assets.

Members discussed planning policy issues, gully cleaning, consultation with partner agencies, and maintenance of watercourses. Members requested that Annex A be amended to reflect the correct Wards¹. 

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to note  :

a)         The rainfall which fell on the 25 June 2007 was an exceptional event which overwhelmed the capacity of the drainage infrastructure, there were local exceptions to this and remedial works have either been carried out or further investigations are ongoing;

b)         The work being undertaken as part of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs research into their Integrated Urban Drainage Management project which will report in September 2008 and hopefully establish a better legal framework for those involved in drainage run-off to operate within;

c)         The collaborative work undertaken by Council and Yorkshire Water Services staff to identify potential problems in the drainage network, this work is still ongoing;

d)         The work carried out over recent years to the gully cleaning service and that the information outlined in paragraphs 75 to 77, is used to inform the budget setting process for 2008/09;

e)         The work carried out to produce the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and the new guidance given to Planning Development Control Office;

f)          The pressure being put on the budgets supporting river and surface water flooding, along with resources to react to the riparian ownership duties, flood emergencies and warping, and that the information outlined in paragraphs 78 to 83, is used to inform the budget setting process for 2008/09.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON :    

a)         To inform the Executive Member of the severity of the conditions which caused the event.

b)         To advise the Executive Member of the ongoing work being undertaken at a national level, so decisions for the future can be taken in light of emerging national guidance.

c)         To manage the drainage assets efficiently.

d)         To demonstrate the strategic importance of the service and to enable it to develop and improve within set parameters to deliver the most sustainable outcome.

e)                             To advise the Executive Member of improvements in the planning process.

f)          To demonstrate the strategic importance of the service and to enable it to develop and improve within set parameters to deliver the most sustainable outcome.