Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, due to the absence of both the Chair and Vice Chair, Members elected Councillor Williams to Chair the meeting.

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda or any other general interests they might have within the remit of the committee which are not already included on the list of standing interests included within the agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests, other than the standing declarations, that they may have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Semlyen declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 7 as she is the landlady of two properties in Fishergate and Hull Road Ward.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 12 July 2011.

RESOLVED:                That the minutes of the Economic and City Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 July 2011 be agreed 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 by 5pm the working day before the meeting, in this case 5pm on Monday 26 September. 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.

This report provides an update on LEP progress and highlights the approach taken to the setting of priorities.  It also provides some helpful background information on the York and North Yorkshire LEP.

There will be a short presentation from James Farrar, Chief Operating Officer, York & North Yorkshire LEP entitled ‘Progress with the LEP & Benefits for York’

The report and presentation will be helpful to the Committee should it wish to provide a view prior to the Cabinet considering its future membership of the York/ North Yorkshire LEP.

Members considered a report which provided an update on Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), progress made and the approach taken to the setting of priorities. The report also provided some background information on the York and North Yorkshire LEP prior to a presentation being given by the Chief Operating Officer at the York & North Yorkshire LEP  on progress and potential benefits to the York economy.

The presentation highlighted the following:

·        Overview of the LEP

·        Priorities of the LEP

·        Benefits to York.

Some Members queried the closure of Business Link in November 2011 and the impact this would have on small businesses in York. They were advised that a clear aim of the LEP is to ensure that small businesses can continue to receive any support they may require.

Members had a discussion regarding the cost implications and benefits to York of staying in the LEP. Members felt that it was too soon to see any clear benefits or otherwise to enable them to comment on the future membership of the York & North Yorkshire LEP. The Committee requested a further progress report in six months time, to also include an update about the work of the Leeds City Region LEP .

RESOLVED:   (i)          That the report be noted.

(ii)          That a report on the progress associated with Leeds City Region and the York/North Yorkshire LEP be brought to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in six months.¹

(iii)         That Members recommended that York should remain a Member of the York/North Yorkshire LEP as it is too early to see any advantages or disadvantages of being a Member.

REASON:                     The report provided the basis of meeting an earlier Overview and Scrutiny Committee request to keep up to date with LEP progress and to have an opportunity to comment prior to a decision on the City of York Council’s membership of the York/North Yorkshire LEP.

This report provides details of the 2011/12 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance in City Strategy and Housing Services. 

Members considered a report which provided details of the 2011/12 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance in City Strategy and Housing Services.

Officers outlined the report and Members queried the following:

·        The redundancy costs mentioned in paragraph 12, in particular how predictable such costs are. Officers advised  that costs  are not always predictable as the redundancy process can take longer than anticipated in many cases.

·        The savings target mentioned in paragraph 13 of the report relating to Facilities Management. Members commented that reaching the target was highly unlikely and queried why the target had been set in the first place. Officers advised that the target was an estimate set by external consultants. Members asked that an update on the Facilities Management Review and the use of consultants in the budget process setting be brought to a future meeting.

·        The high costs associated with the repairs and maintenance at travellers’ sites. Officers agreed to email further details to the Committee.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That Officers send an email to Members further details regarding travellers site costs.¹

(iii)     That a report be brought to a future meeting to provide an update and further information on the Facilities Management Review and use of consultants in the budget setting process.₂

REASON:                     To update and keep  the Committee informed of the latest finance and performance position.

The Cabinet Member for City Strategy will update Members of the Committee on the priorities within his portfolio area.

Members received a written report from the Cabinet Member for City Strategy on his priorities for the year ahead.

The Cabinet Member outlined his priorities in the following areas:

·        Getting York Moving

·        Jobs, the Economy and Protecting the Environment

·        York City Centre

·        Air Quality

·        Tackling Climate Change.

Discussions took place, particularly around the issue of bus services in York and the issues surrounding foot streets.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for City Strategy for his attendance.

Officers will give a short presentation on the above proposed scrutiny topic. The Committee are then asked to complete the attached Topic Assessment Form (One Page Strategy) to set out clear aims and objectives for the review. The Topic Assessment Form and the questions asked within it acts as a guideline to help identify issues that need to be considered as part of any review.’

Members received a presentation on the proposed scrutiny topic: Reducing the Carbon Footprint in Privately Rented Accommodation (e.g. Heslington, Hull Road and Fishergate Wards).

The Committee were asked to complete a Topic Assessment Form to set out the clear aims and objectives for the review. This was deferred to a future meeting due to only 2 full committee members being present at this point in the meeting. The other members that were present were substitutes.

Members thanked Officers for their presentation.

RESOLVED:                That the completion of the Topic Assessment form be deferred to a future meeting, to be advised.

REASON:                     To ensure the Committee can have input as a whole.              

Members will consider the Committee’s workplan for the 2011-12 civic year.

Members considered a report which presented them with the Committee’s work plan for the forthcoming year.

Due to only two full committee members being present at this point in the meeting, it was decided that a further meeting would be scheduled to discuss the work plan in more detail.

RESOLVED:   (i)          That the report be noted.

(ii)          That an additional meeting be scheduled into the work plan to consider the deferred items (Scrutiny Topic Assessment Form and further discussion on the work plan) from the meeting on the 27^th September.³

(iii)        That work plan Items resulting from discussions relating to the Finance and Performance Monitor report and LEP Progress Report be considered at the next meeting.

REASON:                     To keep the Committee’s work plan up to date.