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 Holvey confirmed his standing personal non prejudicial declaration as an Economic Policy Advisor for Leeds City Council in relation to Agenda Item 7 (Update on Draft Business Plans-Local Enterprise Partnerships).

Councillor D’Agorne declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 4 (Report from Chairs of the Local Strategic Partnership) as a member of York Environment Forum.

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 Tuesday 25 January 2011.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the Economic and City Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 January 2011 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 4 April 2011 at 5.00 pm.

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 Chairs of both the York Economic Development Partnership and the York Environment Partnership will be in attendance at the meeting to discuss their ongoing work. They will also be discussing how this scrutiny committee might help the Local Strategic Partnership and work with it in the year ahead. There are no papers attached with this item.

Members received a verbal report from two of the Chairs of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) in relation to their work.

The first report was from the Chair of the York Economic Development Partnership (YEDP).

The report detailed how the Partnership was established to be an interface between the private sector and the Local Authority. The Partnership’s function was to share economic intelligence about future developments between all partners. In this role it was perceived that the Partnership was a forerunner for the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), but it was unclear as to what its situation, role and function would be following the creation of the LEPs.

The Chair of the YEDP informed Members that a number of businesses were involved in the Partnership including many of the city’s big employers such as Nestlé and CPP. It was reported that the Federation of Small Businesses would also be approached to join the partnership.

Officers confirmed to Members that the YEDP would fulfil an ambassadorial role for all the partners involved.

It was reported that the Partnership had concerns about the lack of a current Local Development Framework (LDF) published plan. This was due to the confusion that could be caused amongst developers in understanding which developments were permitted in the city.  In addition, there were concerns that although there were high skill levels in the city, these were not being retained.

The second report was from the Chair of the York Environment Partnership Board (YEBP). Additional information on the Board was tabled to Members, and this information was attached to the agenda and republished online after the meeting.

Members were informed that the YEBP had a wide ranging agenda, and that four sub groups were created to deal with this. It was reported that groups represented on the Board included two Executive Members from City of York Council, York Civic Trust, Natural England and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust.

It was reported that representatives from the Environment Agency (EA) and the Department for Environment Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had originally been represented on the Board, but that they did not have any current representation due to a lack of capacity. It was noted that the issue of Climate Change promoted dialogue across the subgroups, where most of the Board’s work took place. This allowed for both a regional and national focus through the expertise of different partners. One aspect of the work that had taken place in the subgroups was the launch of a Greener Business website.

Members asked questions about the York Tree Strategy and if expertise from the Forestry Commission had been accessed. They felt that the Council should have an influencing role on the composition of the Strategy.

In relation to a question about carbon modelling, Officers responded that work that had been carried out on this by a specialist group which was working to a 20% reduction in carbon usage by 2020. It was noted that this target had been approved by Council in 2009.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

This report provides Members with updated information on the implementation of recommendations made as a result of previously completed scrutiny reviews on Guidance for Sustainable Development (Annex A) and Planning Enforcement (Annex B).

Members received a report which appraised them of updated information on the implementation of recommendations made as a result of previously completed scrutiny reviews on Guidance for Sustainable Development and Planning Enforcement.

An updated version of Annex A (Guidance for Sustainable Development) to the report was circulated amongst Members. This was subsequently attached to the agenda, which was republished online after the meeting.

In relation to the review on the Guidance for Sustainable Development review, Officers advised Members that;

• The final draft of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy had been completed.
• The Interim Planning Statement (IPS) on Sustainable Development was being used to inform Development Management decision making.
• That a Renewable Energy Viability Study had been conducted as part of the LDF evidence base.
• That Planning Policy Statement 5 (Planning for the Historic Environment) included Policy HE1 on Climate Change and promoted appropriate adaptation of Historic Buildings
• That the Council Executive/Without Walls Partnership Board had agreed a Climate Change Framework and Action Plan for the City, which would be published in April 2011.

In relation to the review on Planning Enforcement, Members were informed that the recommendation for necessary mobile communications technology to be used by Officers, would be completed soon. Officers told Members that the new technology would enable the Enforcement team to write notes on site and therefore it was hoped that the level of customer service would improve.

It was noted that the weekly list of Enforcement cases sent out to Members had dropped gradually and Members wished for this to be reinstated. Officers confirmed that the weekly list would be reinstated with immediate effect.¹

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That the remaining recommendations from the Guidance for Sustainable Development scrutiny review be signed off as complete these being; 3,4,5,12,13,14,15,16,17, 19, 21 and 25

(iii)             That the remaining recommendations 1(i),2 ,4(i), 4(ii), 5 and 5(i) from the Planning Enforcement scrutiny review be signed off as complete.

REASON:                              To raise awareness of recommendations arising from previous scrutiny reviews.

This report updates Members of progress on the preparation of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment being carried out to comply with the Flood Risk Regulations 2009.

Members received a report which updated them of progress on the preparation of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment(PFRA) being carried out to comply with the Flood Risk Regulations 2009.

An additional briefing paper on the PFRA was circulated by email to Members before the meeting. This was subsequently added to the agenda and republished online after the meeting.

Members were informed of what the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment was and how although analysis from the Environment Agency (EA) had only been carried out on certain areas in York, the assessment suggested that there was not a significant risk identified overall.

Members noted that over several years many dykes and drains had been fully cleaned out which reduced the risk of flooding. They were informed about how the pumping station at Foss Basin had taken away the danger of the risk of flooding from Tang Hall Beck. Members were also informed about a scheme that was being formulated to improve flood defences in the Water End area of the city.

RESOLVED:         That the report and additional briefing paper be noted.

REASON:                              To enable an agreed report to be presented to the Executive followed by the EA in accordance with their statutory timetable.

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

Members received an update report which appraised them on progress with the establishment of both the Leeds City Region and the York/North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).

Officers informed Members that progress had been much slower than anticipated. However, business plans for both LEPs had been produced. It was reported that Leeds City Region LEP Board had not met yet, but would meet towards the middle of April. Additionally, the chair of the York/North Yorkshire LEP Board would be announced in April.

Members raised concerns about limited resources if York was a member of both the LEPs. However, they also commented that York’s membership of the North Yorkshire LEP could be seen to strengthen that particular LEP. Members expressed their wish to receive further updates on the progress of the two LEPs. Officers suggested that if Members felt it useful, that a report could be produced before the Executive took the decision of whether to remain in the North Yorkshire/York LEP.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That a further progress report be considered at a future meeting.

REASON:                              To keep the Overview and Scrutiny Committee aware of the continued development of Local Enterprise Partnerships.

This report provides details of the 2010/11 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance in City Strategy and Housing Services. 

Members received a report which provided details of the 2010/11 forecast outturn position for finance and performance in City Strategy and Housing Services.

Discussion between Officers and Members included exploration of issues such as;

• The deregulation of planning fees and a maximum fee set for charges
• The cost of putting planning notices into local newspapers

RESOLVED:             That the report be noted.

REASON:                  To update the scrutiny committee of the latest finance and performance position.

Members are asked to review the Committee’s Work Plan 2010-11 and the Draft Work Plan 2011-12. Extracts from the Forward Plan are also included for Members’ information.

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for 2011 along with extracts from the Forward Plan.

RESOLVED:            (i) That the work plan and Forward Plan extracts be noted.

(ii)               That the following items be removed or moved within the work plan¹ :

·        That the  training programme scheduled for June will now not take place.

·        That a further progress report on the Local Enterprise Partnerships be received by the Committee at their June meeting.

·        That the sixth monthly update reports on Major Developments within the City of York Council and Major Transport Initiatives and Issues Arising from them be moved to be considered at the Committee’s July meeting.