Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or pecuniary interests not included on the register of interests which they may have in respect of the business on the agenda.

Councillor Flinders declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 Called In item: Park and Ride Contract Option as First operates rail services on instruction from his employer.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 9 October 2015.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast or audio recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts  or,if sound recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

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

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 14 July 2015.

Resolved:           That the minutes of the last meeting held on 14^th July 2015 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

                             References to Cabinet be changed to Executive.

To consider the decisions made by the Executive at their meeting held on 24 September 2015 in relation to the above item, which has been called in by Councillors D’Agorne, Looker and S Barnes in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for the call-in and the remit and powers of the Corporate & Scrutiny Management Policy & Scrutiny Committee (Calling-In) in relation to the call-in, together with the original report and the decisions of the Executive.

Members received a report which asked them to consider a decision made by the Executive on  24 September 2015 to approve the proposed specification principles and contract arrangements for the Council’s Park and Ride service, its procurement and programme timescales.

Details of the Executive’s decision were attached at Annex A to the report and the original report of the Acting Director of City and Environmental Services, attached at Annex B.

The original decision had been called in post decision by Councillors D’Agorne, Looker and S Barnes on the following grounds:

I.     The need for further community consultation on the detail, particularly in relation to intermediate stops and operating hours;

II.   The proposal should specify ultra-low emission vehicles will be a core requirement. This is essential to ensure that the City of York is able to meet air quality commitments in the city centre and thus comply with our Air Quality Strategy and EU directives

III.  Minimum levels of evening services and overnight parking provision should be clearly specified as a core specification.

Councillor D’Agorne addressed the meeting on behalf of the group of Calling-In members. He highlighted their principle concern about the impact the Park and Ride contract in its current form may have on York being able to meet its air quality commitments. He questioned why the contract was not requiring only low emission vehicles and also queried whether any consultation had been undertaken before adding additional stopping points to Park and Ride routes, in particular route number 7. Later services until at least  9pm on weekdays and until 10.30pm on weekends were also considered important.

Councillor Looker also spoke on behalf of the group of Calling-In members. She referred to significant hotspots for air quality problems In York, many of which are located in areas frequently used by buses. She felt that it is becoming increasingly important that the issue is tackled and the 8 year park and ride contract provided an opportunity to work towards hitting air quality targets. In relation to the extension of services into the evening, she felt it was important for bus companies to support the early evening economy, even if it was just at weekends,  and it should be a requirement of the contract.

The Executive Member for Planning and Transport spoke in response to the points made for the call-in of the decision. In relation to the comments made about later services and additional stops, he agreed that after 7pm there could be some scope for Park and Ride services to be amended to run later and stop at additional stops. He also considered an increase to the length of stay in Park and Ride car parks to 72 hours to be reasonable. In relation to the comments made by Councillor D’Agorne regarding the consultation and intermediate stops for route number 7, it was discussed at Executive that there will be further work involving residents and the Ward Councillors regarding which stops to retain. In response to comments made about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.