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.

At this point in the meeting, the Chair invited Members to declare any interests they had on the business of the meeting.  The following interests were declared:

Councillor Merrett declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 7 (City Strategy Capital Programme 2006/07 – First Monitoring Report).

Councillor Hyman declared a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (Science City York: Future Governance), left the room and took no part in the discussion and decision thereon.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Members for City Strategy and Advisory Panel held on 17 July 2006.

RESOLVED:             The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2006 were signed as a correct record by the Chair, with an amendment to the third bullet point in the second paragraph of minute 29 (Tenders for Provision of Subsidised Bus Services) to read, “Members thanked Officers for their hard work in ensuring there were minimum cuts in bus services, whilst still remaining within budget”.

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, 8 September at 10:00 am.

The Chair reported that the following registrations to speak at the meeting had been received in relation to the following:-

Minute No. 37 - Public Rights of Way – Proposal to Extinguish Public Rights along Certain Alleyways in the Clifton Designated Area, York;

Mr David Nunns, Footpath Secretary, Ramblers Association

In addition, the Chair advised that he had given permission to Councillor Scott to address the meeting, as Ward Member.

Vehicle Activated Sign – an issue within the Panel’s remit:

Mr B Mellors on behalf of Bishopthorpe Parish Council. In response to Mr Mellor’s comments, the Executive Member for City Strategy advised the Panel that a report on speed management across the city would be submitted to the next meeting and she suggested that the issue specifically raised by Mr Mellors be incorporated within that report. 

This report seeks endorsement in principle for proposals to expand the range of activities encompassed by the Science City York partnership and to establish it as a company limited by guarantee.

Members received a report which sought endorsement in principle for proposals to expand the range of activities encompassed by the Science City York partnership and to establish it as a company limited by guarantee.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Leader be advised:

(i)         That the proposals for the future governance of Science City York, as outlined in paragraph 6 of the report, be approved in principle, subject to no additional costs to the City Council and no risks to the delivery of current contracts;

(ii)               That the objectives and remit for Science City York be reported back to Members for comment;

(iii)       That adequate arrangements be put in place for reporting back of the activities of the Science City York Board.

Decision of the Executive Leader

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

REASON:            To enable Science City York to be well managed.

The report informs the Executive Leader and Panel Members of progress against the Chief Executive’s Directorate’s service plan actions and targets, along with the current financial position.

Members received a report which informed them of progress against the Chief Executive’s Directorate’s service plan actions and targets, along with the current financial position.

Current projections were that the Chief Executive’s Department would underspend by £33k or 0.3% of the gross expenditure budget. 

In relation to the partial availability of data on crime due to recent changes to Police district boundaries, it was agreed to provide all Members with the latest figures as soon as those were available.

Annex 2 of the report provided detailed performance for Best Value and Local performance indicators, including staff management targets (sickness, stress and turnover). At this first reporting stage, against those measures which were able to be reported upon in-year, the overall position generally looked promising, with some further work required to improve some areas of corporate customer first results.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Leader be advised:

(i)         That the first monitor position for both finance and performance relative to the Chief Executive’s Directorate be noted.

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 and capital expenditure by Economic Development Services, together with details of performance against Best Value performance indicators, Customer First targets and Staff Management targets.

Members received a report which presented the latest projections for revenue and capital expenditure by Economic Development Services, together with details of performance against Best Value performance indicators, Customer First targets and Staff Management targets.

Economic Development was expected to control expenditure within its budget of £1,843k. 

Performance on most key indicators was improving or on target. Levels of sickness absence were above the council average and corporate target.  The Directorate management team were reviewing individual cases of sickness absence and also looking into improved management training in order to address the issue.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Leader be advised:

(i)         That the financial and performance position of the portfolio be noted;

(ii)        That a report back be made to the next Economic Development Partnership Board detailing progress in relation to indicators C4: VJ15d (balance of firms where turnover has grown rather than fallen) and C5: VJ15c (balance of firms expecting turnover to rise in the future rather than fall).

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 sets out progress to date on schemes within the City Strategy Capital Programme for 2006/07 and seeks approval for amendments to the 2006/07 budget.

Members received a report which set out progress to date on schemes within the City Strategy Capital Programme for 2006/07 and sought approval for amendments to the 2006/07 budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised:

(i)         That the adjustments set out in Annexes 1 and 2 of the report be agreed, subject to the approval of the Executive to the proposed funding changes.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:            To manage the Capital Programme effectively.

This report presents a proposal to extinguish public rights along a total of 19 alleyways in the Clifton designated area, using legislation under the Highways Act 1980, which will enable the installation of lockable alley gates.

Members received a report which presented a proposal to extinguish public rights along a total of 19 alleyways in the Clifton designated area, using legislation under the Highways Act 1980, which will enable the installation of lockable alley gates.

The report presented two options for consideration:

·  Option A – to extinguish public rights over all of the alleys detailed in the report;

·  Option B – to do nothing and let public rights remain over all the alleys detailed in the report.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised:

(i)         That Option A be accepted;

(ii)        That the Director City Strategy be authorised to instruct the Head of Civic, Democratic & Legal Services to make Special Extinguishment Orders for each of the alleys detailed in the report, to extinguish public rights along them and allow lockable gates to be fitted;

(iii)       That if no objection are received to the making of these Orders, or that if any objections that are received are subsequently withdrawn, the Head of Civic, Democratic & Legal Services be authorised to confirm the Orders;

(iv)       That if objections are received and not subsequently withdrawn, a further report be placed before the Executive Members and Advisory Panel, to enable Members to consider whether or not to pass the relevant opposed Orders to the Secretary of State for determination;

(v)        That it be agreed to consult residents on and make arrangements for refuse collections when lockable gates are fitted.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:      To meet the criteria of the legislation, as  set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the report, which allows the closure of alleys found to be facilitating the commission  of criminal and/or anti-social behaviour.

This report advises of the outcome of a review of last season’s Winter Maintenance Service and recommends the continued use of safecote as a treatment material, with no changes to the defined network for treatment of roads and footways.

Members received a report which advised of the outcome of a review of last season’s Winter Maintenance Service and recommended the continued use of Safecote as a treatment material, with no changes to the defined network for treatment of roads and footways.

The report presented two options for consideration:

·  Option 1 – to formally approved the use of Safecote as the proprietary de-icing product for York’s road network;

·  Option 2 – to revert back to use of neat rock salt as the proprietary de-icing product for York’s road network.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised:

(i)         That the use of Safecote as the de-icing agent to be used during the winter maintenance season on the defined road network be approved;

(ii)        That the outcome of the analysis and risk assessment of the treatment of the Council’s car parks in wintry weather and the proposal not to carry out routine treatment but to carry out an annual risk assessment be noted;

(iii)       That each ward councillor be provided with a list of where the salt bins are and which ones are used, and that stickers be provided to indicate that the salt bins can be used.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:(i) The trial of this material in 2005/06 has shown it to be a better de-icing agent than neat rock salt as well as bringing efficiency savings of £21,000;

                        (ii) The risks involved in not carrying out treatment balanced against the prohibitive costs of £350,000.

This report provides information on the development and structure of a draft Transport Asset Management Plan and seeks approval to publish the Plan in its current form.

Members received a report which provided information on the development and structure of a draft Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP) and sought approval to publish the Plan in its current form.

The report presented three options for consideration:

·  Option 1 – to note and approve the report and agree to the structure of the TAMP and its publication in its current form;

·  Option 2 – to note the report and suggest nay changes they would like to see within the TAMP before publication;

·  Option 3 – to note the report and reject the TAMP and its publication.

Members noted that the final sentence of paragraph 10 of the report should read, “Also to establish a whole life and environmentally sustainable approach towards highway maintenance”.

Some Members expressed concern that the TAMP had not been circulated to them and that the report did not clearly indicate that it was available to view in the Members’ Library.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised:

(i)         That it be noted that the Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP) has been developed in accordance with the ‘Framework for Highway Asset Management’ and the ‘Guidance Document for Highway Infrastructure Asset Valuation’;

(ii)        That the report be noted and approved and the structure of the TAMP and its publication in its current form, in accordance with Option 1, be agreed.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:      To demonstrate a whole life approach to the maintenance of highway assets.

This report presents the latest projections for revenue and capital expenditure for the City Strategy portfolio area, together with details of the department’s performance against Best Value Performance Indicators, Customer First targets and Staff Management Targets.

Members received a report which presented the latest projections for revenue and capital expenditure for the City Strategy portfolio area, together with details of the department’s performance against Best Value Performance Indicators, Customer First targets and Staff Management Targets.

The provisional outturn position for the portfolio showed an underspend of £63k for the financial year.  The main reason for the underspend was improved parking income offset by overspends within street lighting and shortfall on planning income.

Performance on key Best Value Indicators was improving, in particular in relation to planning.  Customer first targets were generally being achieved or exceeded, with problem areas remaining in Planning and Sustainability letter answering.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised:

(i)         That the financial and performance monitoring position of the portfolio be approved.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:      In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures.

This report provides an update on progress towards developing a new rail station at Haxby.

Members received a report which provided an update on progress towards developing a new rail station at Haxby.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised:

(i)         That the current progress in developing Haxby Rail Station be noted.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:            To update Members on scheme progress.