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, other than the standing declarations that they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Merrett declared personal non prejudicial interests in Agenda Item 7 (Update on Recommendations from the Water End Councillor Call for Action(CCfA)) as the Council’s Cycle Champion, a member of the Cycling Touring Club and as a member of the Cycle England Board. He also declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 8 (Update on the Broadway Shops Councillor Call for Action (CCfA)) as a member of the Co-operative Society.

Councillor D’Agorne also declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 7 as the former Cycle Champion.

Councillor Kirk declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 5 (Progress Report-Local Enterprise Partnerships) as an employee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

No other interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 7 December 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the Economic and City Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 December 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is: Monday 24 January 2011 at 5pm.

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

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

The Chair of SMC will attend the meeting to learn about the Committee’s views on the effectiveness of scrutiny generally in York and specifically on the success of ongoing changes and improvements to current scrutiny practices. This will help inform SMC in its efforts to improve the experience of scrutiny at work in York.

The Chair of Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) was in attendance to listen to the Committee’s views on the current performance of the scrutiny function in York.

Discussion took place between Members and the Chair of SMC which related to;

• The length of time taken to conduct scrutiny reviews
• The details included in and the length of scrutiny reports.
• The urgency of dealing with Councillor Call for Actions(CCfA) in a timely manner.
• That there is not enough time to undertake effective pre decision scrutiny
• That improvements had been made to the topic registration process.
• Consideration to be given to the extension of the Executive Forward Plan beyond six months.
• That good policy development requires items to be on the Executive Forward Plan, at least six months in advance.
• The continuity of Membership of the Committee across municipal years to ensure momentum.

The Chair of SMC outlined his thoughts on the importance of using scrutiny as a way to address Members’ concerns.

The Committee thanked the Chair of SMC for his attendance and for listening to their concerns in relation to the operation of scrutiny in York.

This report provides an update on progress with establishing the North Yorkshire/ York and the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnerships. 

Members received a progress report on the establishment of the North Yorkshire/York and Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).

Officers informed Members of the developments that had taken place in relation to the establishment of LEPs, since the report had been written.

They circulated a comparison paper between the North Yorkshire/York and Leeds City Region LEP. This paper was attached to the agenda after the meeting, which was subsequently republished online. Included in the paper were nine possible priorities for the Business Plan of the North Yorkshire/York LEP.

Discussions between Members and Officers related to;

• The Bio Refinery project and Regional Growth Funding for this.
• “Retro fitting”, bringing existing housing stock up to a certain standard through the use of new technologies to promote energy efficiency.
• Perceived concerns over a narrow focus on job creation.
• Possible tensions between supporting and contributing to a LEP that had a different budgetary position to York.

In relation to a question relating to why support from the York/North Yorkshire LEP was being given to the Leeds City Region LEP, Officers responded that this was because economic development would take place across the geographic spine of both LEPs.

Members felt that it would be beneficial to consider a further update report on the progress on development of both the York/North Yorkshire and Leeds City Region Business Plans.

It was reported that the draft business plans were to be completed in March and it was suggested therefore, that the Committee’s early March meeting be moved to 5 April.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That an update report on the developments to the LEP’s Business Plans be considered by the Committee at their 5 April meeting.

(iii)That the Committee’s meeting on 8 March be rescheduled to the 5 April, in order to accommodate this.

REASON:                              To keep the Committee informed of progress. 

This report informs Members of the Council’s duty to complete a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment and of the required timetable.

Members received a report which informed them of the Council’s duty to complete a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) and the required timetable for this.

Officers underlined that only current available information was required for the assessment and that indicative surface water maps produced by the Environment Agency were being used in relation to assessing surface water flooding.

Members asked Officers questions regarding;

·        Whether the flood risk assessment would look at the impact of the intensity of rainfall recorded.

·        Whether the assessment would take into consideration major new developments which had already been granted planning approval

In response to questions from Members, Officers stated that the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment would be based on ongoing events and probabilities and would be used along with other risk assessments to assist development.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment be brought before the Committee for consideration at their rescheduled meeting in April.

REASON:                              To keep the Committee updated on progress that has already been made.

This report presents Members with an update on progress made in implementing the recommendations arising from the Water End Councillor Call for Action.

Members received a report which updated them on progress made in the implementation of recommendations arising from the Water End Councillor Call for Action(CCfA).

Some Members commented on how they welcomed the third recommendation, that the presented policy of reviewing new highway schemes after 12 months be modified to 3 months if Ward Members make a request for it, had been greatly beneficial to some areas in the city.

RESOLVED: (i) That the report be noted.

(ii)               That the update on Recommendation 1 be noted.

(iii)             That Recommendations 2 and 3 be signed off as complete.

REASON:                              To raise awareness of recommendations that still need to be implemented.

This report provides Members with an update on the outcome of a further facilitated discussion that took place on 10^th November 2010. It also asks Members to consider whether this Committee should have any further involvement with maintenance, parking and safety issues at the Broadway parade of shops.

Members received an update report relating to maintenance, parking and safety issues at the Broadway parade of shops.

Councillor D’Agorne, as one of the Ward Members who had originally submitted the Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) gave his thoughts to the Committee on the outcome of the CCfA. He stated that the primary concern of pedestrian safety had been addressed by the marking out of white lines to designate a safe area. He felt that, as a key player, it would be beneficial for the community if the Co-op gave consideration to provide funds for any alterations to the service road that may be agreed.

A representative of Broadway Area Good Neighbour and Residents Association (BAGNARA) was in attendance at the meeting. She agreed with Councillor D’Agorne’s views and suggested that the Co-op may wish to consider funding any further alterations to the service road as part of a community project.

Members felt that the CCfA had addressed the issues of maintenance, parking and safety at Broadway shops and therefore the Committee’s involvement in this matter was concluded. However, it was noted that further discussions might take place, but that these would be facilitated by the Ward Councillors. Also, if in the future residents had any further concerns on this matter they could refer it back to Ward Members who would take appropriate action.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)That there would be no further involvement from the Committee in this matter.

(iii)That no further update be provided for the rescheduled April meeting.

REASON:                              To address the concerns raised in the submitted CCfA in light of the difficulties pertaining to private land ownership and the Council’s legal status in relation to this.

Members are asked to review the Committee’s Work Plan for 2011.

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for 2011.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the work plan be noted.

(ii)               That the following items be added to the work plan ¹:

·        That the March meeting of the Committee be moved to 5 April 2011.

·        That an update report on the draft business plans of the Local Enterprise Partnerships(LEPs) be considered by the Committee at their April meeting.