Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, 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.

Members were asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests, other than those listed on the standing declarations attached to the agenda, that they may have in the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 18 June 2013.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Economic and City Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 18 June 2013 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 by 5pm on Monday 22 July 2013.

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 details of the 2012/13 Outturn for both finance and performance in City & Environmental Services (excluding Highways, Waste and Fleet), Economic Development and Housing Services. 

Members considered a report that provided details of the 2012/13 outturn for both finance and performance in City and Environmental Services (excluding Highways, Waste and Fleet), Economic Development and Housing Services.

Discussion took place in respect of some of the factors as to why car parking income was £258k below budget.  Issues such as the bad weather during last summer, the continued effect of the economic downturn, the closure of parking at St Leonards and the temporary closure of Haymarket car park had all had an impact.  Officers explained how the overspend had been offset by savings elsewhere, including reduced use of taxi cards and an underspend on employee costs within School Crossing Patrols and Drainage and Network Management.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     To update the Committee on the latest finance and performance position.

In this item Members are asked to consider briefing notes on two topics and to make a decision as to which of these topics they would like to progress to review during this municipal year. The topics are;

·         Construction Skills

·         Supporting Online Working  

Members considered briefing notes on the following topics:

·        Construction Skills

·        Night-time Economy

·        Supporting Online Working

Members were asked to decide which of the topics they would wish to progress during this municipal year.

(i)           Construction Skills

Consideration was given to a briefing note on Construction Skills.  The Chair suggested that the review should look at how City of York Council and its partners could work together to ensure that local York people were able to support the city’s ambition for housing and construction growth that is predicted to require over 4,000 building jobs within the next two years.  The Committee recognised the national and particularly, northern England shortage of skilled builders and agreed that the review should focus on what the Council and its partners could do to address that skills gap, particularly where it might generate work and prospects for local young unemployed people.

(ii)          Improving the City’s Night-time Economy

Members noted that the Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee had requested that each scrutiny committee carry out a scrutiny review related to improving the city’s night-time economy.  The intention was that the Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee would collate the findings and recommendations from these reviews into one report that would be presented to Cabinet for consideration.   A paper was tabled which gave examples of key areas that each overview and scrutiny committee could review. (A copy of the paper is attached to the on-line agenda for this meeting). 

Members suggested that the following topics could form the basis of a scrutiny review:

-      Night-time transport (including bus services and car parking)

-      Later retail opening hours

It was noted that a scrutiny review on the night-time economy had been carried out several years ago.  It was suggested that the report that had been published would provide useful background information when carrying out the forthcoming review.

(iii)        Supporting Online Working

Consideration was given to a briefing note on “York as a Super-Connected City – the Economic Impact and Potential of Enhancing York’s Digital Capacity” and to a progress report on super-connected cities  that had been considered by Cabinet on 4 June 2013.  

Members’ attention was drawn to the following possible topics for scrutiny:

-      How City of York Council can support all businesses to take advantage of faster broadband to stimulate business growth (and jobs) in York. 

-      How CYC can help residents further with online skills so that they have the skills to apply for jobs online and consider opportunities for working from home “on-line”.  Members suggested that this topic could also incorporate issues such as whether council tenancy agreements deterred on-line working.

Resolved:           (i)      That the Construction Skills Review be

undertaken first, followed by the Night-time Economy Review.

(ii)          That the remit of the Construction Skills scrutiny review, as circulated by the Chair, be approved.

(iii)        That the members of the Construction Skills scrutiny review task group be Councillors D’Agorne, McIlveen and Watt.

(iv)        That a remit for the Night-time Economy review, focussing on transport and later  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

This report gives an update on the implementation of recommendations arising from the E-Planning Scrutiny Review.

Members considered a report that provided an update on the implementation of recommendations arising from the E-Planning Scrutiny Review.

Members requested further information as to when Parish Councils would cease to have paper copies of planning applications sent to them.  They also requested further details of the charging arrangements in respect of room hire.

Resolved:  (i)      That a further update on recommendations (iv)

                             and (v) be presented to the Committee.¹

                   (ii)      That the remaining recommendations in respect

of the E-Planning Scrutiny Review be formally signed off as complete.

Reason:     To enable the Committee to monitor progress in the implementation of the recommendations.

This report advises Members of the current position in York of the effects of the welfare reforms and the actions that have been taken to mitigate the impacts on those who are affected.

Members considered a report that advised them of the current position in York of the effects of the welfare reforms and the actions that had been taken to mitigate the impacts on those who were affected.

Statistics were provided on the number of residents who were affected and the impact of the changes on rent arrears.  Officers detailed the type of support that was being provided, as outlined in paragraph 10 of the report.  Members noted the arrangements that were in place in respect of home moves through direct exchange or via transfer where suitable accommodation was available.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     In order for the Committee to recognise the current position and the actions taken to mitigate the impact for those who are affected by welfare reforms in York.

This report provides Members of the Economic & City Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an overview and update in relation to the major transport initiatives in the city currently being progressed.

Members considered a report that provided an overview and update in relation to the major transport initiatives in the city currently being progressed.

Resolved:  That the present position in relation to major transport initiatives in the city be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that the Committee is kept up to date with progress.

This report provides Members with an overview and update in relation to the major development and planning proposals in the city at this time.

Members considered a report that provided an overview and update in relation to the major development and planning proposals in the city at this time.

Resolved:  That the present position in relation to major developments and planning applications in the city be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that the Committee is kept updated on progress.

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s work plan for the

municipal year 2013/2014.

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year 2013/2014.

Resolved:  That, subject to the following amendments, the Committee’s work plan for 2013/14 be approved:

·        Meeting of 24 September 2013:

-      agenda item on External Funding Scrutiny Review to be placed above the item on the Out of Hours Childcare Scrutiny Review

-      agenda item to provide update on night-time economy scrutiny review

-      agenda item on Grand Depart  to be given higher priority

·        Meeting of 19 November 2013

-      include an agenda item on report on Construction Skills scrutiny review

Reason:     To progress the work of the Committee.