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. A list of standing personal interests previously declared are attached.

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.

Councillor D’Agorne declared personal non prejudicial interests in Agenda items 4 (Executive Leader) as a supporter of the paper written by the Environment Forum and in Agenda item 5 (Interim Report of the Water End Task Group) as the Cycle Champion.

Councillor Kirk declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda item 4 (Executive Leader) in relation to his briefing report and his reference to the Derwenthorpe scheme as she was employed by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 8 December 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to the deletion of the words ‘to input’ in the remit in resolution (i) of Minute 32 (Scoping Report – Newgate Market) and its replacement with ‘as contribution to’.

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 Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5.00pm on Monday 25 January 2010.

To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, the details are set out at the foot of this agenda.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme from Sandra Hussein, in relation to Agenda item 5 (Interim Report of the Water End Task Group). She explained the difficulties she encountered in manoeuvring out of her driveway owing to the increased volume of traffic. She confirmed that she was worried on safety grounds for her grandchildren, particularly in relation to the left turn into The Avenue and she requested the closure of Westminster Road.

David Hughes made representations, on behalf of his neighbours, as a long term resident of the area and as a pedestrian user of the roads in the vicinity of Water End. He referred to the increase in the volume of traffic which made it unsafe for local children. He also confirmed that traffic had increased since the changes to the Water End junction. He confirmed that the only solution was to block the road to prevent through traffic and he suggested that the area should be made more attractive for pedestrians.

The Executive Leader will be in attendance to report on progress to date and forthcoming priorities in relation to his portfolio. A briefing note will follow.

The Executive Leader was in attendance to report on progress to date and forthcoming priorities in relation to his portfolio.

He circulated a briefing note (copy attached to these minutes) to Committee Members, which included answers to questions raised by Cllrs Pierce and D’Agorne relating to the following:

·        revisions being made to the economic strategy in light of economic conditions;

·        rebuttal of the criticisms levelled by the Environment Forum regarding the economic strategy being imposed on York and

·        work being done to align the Economic Strategy with the Council’s strategy to cut the city’s carbon output.

The Executive Leader thanked the Committee for the opportunity to address them and he made reference to a recent report, which indicated that the country was now moving out of recession. He also referred to the high level of skills in the city, which would enable us to compete at a national level together with the reduction in the number of school leavers leaving without any qualifications.

Members then commented and questioned the following aspects of his report;

• The figure of only 5% of York residents working in Leeds
• Whilst York was good in terms of attracting inward investment it was not good at retaining existing employees;
• What strategies were being adopted in relation to business births/start ups and employment growth in view of York’s position as 26^th in the country;
• Reference to the high elderly/student population and comparisons with the Yorkshire and Humber area;
• Small business initiatives and retention of graduates in York;
• Business start up costs in comparison with the national average;
• Reference to the Planning Committees recent approval given for a hotel on Blossom Street, against Officers recommendations, and the possible need for a change in policy in this respect;
• Details of the Executive Leader’s personal targets;
• Details of the offer by Mike Childs, of Friends of the Earth;
• Further details in relation to recycling of business waste.

It was noted that the Executive Leader together with Officers would provide a written reply in relation to the Local Area Agreement targets and Performance Indicators with details of those met and those requiring corrective action. ^1.

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for his attendance and his informative briefing note and updates.

This report presents Members with information received to date regarding the review into traffic issues at the junction of the A19 and Water Lane at Clifton Green along with associated traffic issues at Westminster Road and The Avenue.

The Committee considered a report which presented Members with information received to date regarding the review into traffic issues at the junction of the A19 and Water Lane at Clifton Green along with the associated traffic problems encountered in Westminster Road and The Avenue.

Members were reminded that, at their meeting in August 2009, they had been asked to consider a Councillor Call for Action in relation to these traffic issues.

The Scrutiny Officer reported on the work undertaken and the information gathered to date, and to the following Annexes:

• Water End Traffic Flow Changes
• Clifton Bridge and Water End Cycle works costings
• Evaluation of Path Conversion
• John Berrill Almhouses Footpath
• Comments of Task Group, 5 January 2010
• Land Compensation Act Briefing Note

The Chair referred to the comments of the Task Group and to Cllr Steve Galloway’s reference to the Group’s membership not being politically balanced. Councillor Scott confirmed that he was happy to step down from the Group and for Cllr Holvey to take his place.

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that the next step was the arrangement of a public event for the Task Group, local residents, cyclists and road users to enable them to give their views on the evidence received to date. This would be held in the Clifton Green area of the City.

The Committee were informed that the Executive Member for City Strategy had previously indicated that an examination of the Water End junction would be undertaken when the revised layout had been in operation for a suitable period of time with Officers reporting back to the Executive Member in Spring 2010.

Further details were provided by the Legal Officer on the implications of the Land Compensation Act 1973, Part 1. In particular in relation to public works and increases in traffic flows on side roads which he stated would not give rise to a claim for compensation. He also confirmed that he was unaware of any successful claims that had been agreed by the authority.

Arising out of discussions Members made the following points:

·        Questioned details of damage to the cycle counter, in particular when it was installed and when it became non functioning. Officers confirmed that they would follow this point up.

·        If vehicles waited behind the cycle path across the access to the Homestead it was pointed out that drivers had very little road visibility.

·        Suggested that improvements could be made to the junction capacity if Clifton Green was reconfigured.

Following further discussion

RESOLVED:             i)  That the briefing on the Land Compensation Act      1973 be received and noted.

ii)                  That arrangements be made for a public event in the Clifton Green area of the City in early February to allow residents etc to give their views on the evidence received to date and to enable collation of this for  consideration by the Task Group at a future meeting.

REASON:                  In order to progress this review.                       

Members are asked to review the Committee’s work plan for 2009/10. Extracts from the Forward Plan are included for Members’ information.

The Committee examined their 2009/10 work plan together with relevant extracts from the Executive Forward Plan.

The Scrutiny Officer requested a volunteer to facilitate the discussion arranged for Wednesday 10 February 2010 at 5pm, at the Fulford Social Hall in relation to the safety issues at Broadway shops.  Councillor Kirk confirmed that she would be available to facilitate the discussion with Councillor Hyman confirming his availability if it proved necessary.

It was suggested that the Newgate Market review commence on Thursday 4 March with a Committee tour at 3pm, followed by a scoping meeting for the review at 4pm, with a return to the market area at 7pm. However, the Scrutiny Officer still needed to confirm Officer availability.

The Scrutiny Officer reported that the Committee’s work plan for March was rather heavy and that it was proposed to slip the Annual Report from the Local Strategic Partners to a later meeting to enable any new Committee members to receive the update. She reported that a May meeting of the Committee could be arranged to sort out their workload and to finish work prior to the Annual Council meeting.

RESOLVED:             That the Committee’s work plan be updated to reflect the above changes. ^1.

REASON:                  To assist in the planning of work for this Committee.