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.  No interests were declared.

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 Executive’s remit may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Monday, 5 January 2009.

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

Cllrs Crisp and Gillies were in attendance to speak on items 4 and 5 on the agenda.  The Chair agreed to hear their comments as part of the debate on those items.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of Annex E to Agenda Item 4 (Called-in Item – West of York Household Waste Site – Land Option), on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  This information is classed as exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Annex E to agenda item 4 (Called in Item: West of York Household Waste Site – Land Option), on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, which is classed as exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

To reconsider the decision taken on 23 December 2008 regarding the above item, if requested to do so by the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling-in) meeting on 5 January 2009.

The report on this item was published as part of the agenda for the Executive meeting held on 23 December 2008 and the agenda for the Scrutiny Management (Calling-in) meeting to be held on 5 January 2009.  The links to those agendas on the Council’s website are provided below.

http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=102&MId=3582&Ver=4

http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=602&MId=3662&Ver=4

Members re-considered the decisions they had taken at the Executive meeting on 23 December 2008 regarding proposals to carry out an appraisal of land at Harewood Whin as the preferred site for a replacement Household Waste Recycling Centre to serve the west of the City.

The Executive decisions on this item had been called in by Cllrs Scott, Potter and Merrett and subsequently considered by the Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) (Calling In) at a meeting on 5 January 2008.  The SMC (Calling In) had resolved:

“That Option B be approved and that the decisions be referred back to the Executive for the reasons stated by the Calling-In Members, with a particular recommendation that the Executive develop a waste management strategy before deciding on what recycling facilities are required.”

Cllr Gillies addressed the meeting on this item.  He urged the Executive not to proceed with the appraisal of the Harewood Whin site and the purchase of land to the east of Newgate Bridge, but instead to investigate further potential sites, in order to prevent both unnecessary expenditure of Council funds and possible adverse effects upon residents of Rufforth and Wetherby Road.

Having considered the matter in the light of the recommendations of the SMC (Calling In) and the representations made at the meeting, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the resolutions made on this item at the Executive meeting on 23 December 2008 be deleted.

(ii) That Officers be instructed not to proceed at the present time with the purchase of the field to the east of Newgate Bridge, as illustrated in Annex B to the original Executive report.

REASON:      In accordance with the requirement to re-consider the original decisions of the Executive and in order to respond to the issues raised by the Calling-in Members and discussed at the SMC (Calling In) meeting.

To reconsider the decision taken on 8 December 2008 by the Executive Member for City Strategy regarding the above item, as requested by the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling-in) meeting on 5 January 2009.

The report on this item was published as part of the agenda for the meeting of the Executive Member for City Strategy and Advisory Panel held on 8 December 2008 and the agenda for the Scrutiny Management (Calling-in) meeting to be held on 5 January 2009.  The links to those agendas on the Council’s website are provided below.

http://sql003.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=438&MId=3562&Ver=4

http://sql003.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=602&MId=3662&Ver=4

Members re-considered the decisions taken by the Executive Member for City Strategy at the meeting of the Executive Member and Advisory Panel (EMAP) on 8 December 2008 regarding proposals to introduce waiting restrictions in the Holly Bank Road area of Acomb.

The Executive Member’s decisions on this item had been called in by Cllrs Alexander, Crisp and Bowgett and subsequently considered by the Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) (Calling In) at a meeting on 5 January 2008.  The SMC (Calling In) had resolved:

“That Option B be approved and that the decisions be referred back to the Executive Member to reconsider, at the Executive (Calling In) meeting on 6 January 2009, taking into account the observations made by the Holgate Ward Members and the observations made by this Committee that:

a)                 the traffic regulations should not be implemented unless the no. 16 bus service is re-instated on the ‘Holly Bank Road loop’ and

b)                 that consideration should be given to introducing a 20 mph speed limit zone in the area.”

Cllr Crisp addressed the meeting on behalf of the Calling-In Members.  She emphasised that they supported the re-instatement of the no. 16 bus service but that the views of residents affected by the parking restrictions should be considered.  She asked the Executive to consider, before reaching a decision, whether First York could confirm that the service was definitely to be re-instated (contrary to what the Holgate Ward Members had been told), and to give assurances that the restrictions would be removed if the service was withdrawn.

Cllr Gillies addressed the meeting as the Chair of the Advisory Panel that had advised the Executive Member at the EMAP meeting.  He accepted that there were two sides to the argument but pointed out that the Advisory Panel had taken a balanced view of the issues and that the Executive Member’s decisions had been based on that advice and should therefore be supported.

Having considered the matter in the light of the recommendations of the SMC (Calling In) and the representations made at the meeting, the Executive Member for City Strategy proposed, and it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the decisions taken on this item by the Executive Member on 8 December 2008 be endorsed.

REASON:      For the reasons already recorded in respect of those decisions in the minutes of the EMAP meeting.

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to monitor speed levels on the affected roads and, if necessary, bring forward proposals to once of the 6-monthly speed review meetings, to address any issues.

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to consider the possibility of introducing parking restrictions at the junction of Clive Grove and Holly Bank Road.

REASON:      In accordance with the requirement to re-consider the decisions of the Executive Member and in order to respond to the issues raised by the Calling-in Members and discussed at the SMC (Calling In) meeting.