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.

At this point in the meeting Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in the business on the agenda. No additional interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic Development and Transport Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 July 2015.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 22 July 2015 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 14 September 2015 at 5.00 pm.

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

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at:

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

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

The Executive Member for Transport and Planning will be in attendance to talk and answer questions about the priorities and challenges in his portfolio as they relate to the remit of this committee i.e. Transport and Highways Strategies, Civil Engineering and Highways, and Parking Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Member for Transport and Planning which he presented setting out his priorities and challenges, in his portfolio area, as they related to the remit of the Committee which included Transport and Highway Strategies, Civil Engineering and Highways and Parking Services.

Members questioned various aspects of the report and the Executive Member and Officers provided the following information:

·               That the Inspector involved with the Coppergate traffic regulation had provided sufficient evidence to inform the Council in relation to future work

·                    Confirmation that the automated email response received from the Traffic Management Team would be examined by Officers

·                    Confirmed that city wide consultation was not proposed  in relation to the Council motion on Congestion. There was however ongoing work and assessments being undertaken in relation to the city’s traffic lights and, in particular, an examination of two specific junctions, details of which would be reported in due course

·                    The Local Transport Plan priorities across the city were due for refresh which would involve public consultation

·                    That the upgrade of seven roundabouts would compliment the dualling of the Outer Ring Road

·                    Confirmed that an examination would undertaken of the impact on road surfaces from electric buses

·                    Confirmed that all options for the road networks would be examined

·                    That a report on street clutter street furniture [amended at meeting on 18 November 2015], inc 20mph signs was due for consideration by the Executive Member in the near future

·                    Assurances given that the draft Guidelines for A-Boards would take account of small businesses

·                    That the parking strategy would examine the quality and management of the city’s car parks

·                    NCP were undertaking a trial at the Marygate car park, prior to possible longer term procurement

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for his report and attendance at the meeting.

Resolved: That the Executive Member’s report be received and noted.

Reason:     In order to keep the Committee informed of the Executive Member’s priorities.

The Executive Member for the Environment will be in attendance to present a report which details the priorities within his portfolio and to answer any questions that Members might have.

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Member for the Environment which set out his priorities and challenges in his portfolio area for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Executive Member expanded on the contents of his report and Officers and the Executive Member commented on Members questions, the main ones being:

·                    Detailed mapping work was being undertaken to identify flooding problem areas

·                    Any blocked gulley’s required reporting for further investigation

·                    Confirmation that a member of the highway team was undertaking a gulley review in the authorities area and that gully cleaning would be carried out before the winter

·                    Confirmation that all new developments included sustainable drainage systems

·                    Reference to the shortlisted bid for £11m made for the authority to become one of the exemplar authorities for low emission vehicles

·                    Noted the request for a balance and enforcement of spaces allocated for the charging of electric vehicles

·                    That there had been a good reception and track record from  taxi drivers in respect of idling vehicles

·                    That a range of buildings were being examined for their potential in respect of renewable energy

·                    To ensure that preparatory work is undertaken to ensure that the city can benefit from any future flood defence funding allocations

·                    A report on the use of existing recycling serviceswould be considered by the Executive Member in November

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for his report and attendance at the meeting.

Resolved: That the Executive Member’s report be received and noted.

Reason:     In order to keep the Committee informed of the Executive Member’s priorities.

This report provides details of the 2014/15 outturn position for both finance and performance across services within City & Environmental Services and Communities and Neighbourhoods. 

Consideration was given to a report which provided details of the 2014/15 outturn position for both finance and performance across services within City and Environmental Services and Communities and Neighbourhoods.

In particular Officers highlighted the overspend across Transport Services relating to the residual costs involved in the Lendal Bridge trial, loss of parking income and residents parking badges and technical issues at Marygate car park.

In respect of the performance update Officers highlighted the challenge of wage rate trends.

Members questioned aspects of enforcement of parking issues in the Micklegate area which Officers agreed to examine outside the meeting and they confirmed that there would be no impact on parking fines arising from the reduced use of the parking enforcement vehicle.  

Resolved:  That the report be received and noted.

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

This report provides details of the 2015/16 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance across services within City & Environmental Services and Communities and Neighbourhoods.

Members considered a report which provided details of the 2015/16 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance across the services within City and Environmental Services and Communities and Neighbourhoods.

Officers highlighted the examination of mitigation works to cover the shortfalls in a number of areas.

Members questioned the vacancy and business start up rates and Officers agreed to provide further details direct by email.

Resolved:  That the report be received and noted.

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

This report analyses the activity and success of York’s Local Strategic Transport Fund programme, iTravel York, to date and considers whether elements or all of the current programme could continue beyond the end of the second funding period.

Members considered a report which analysed the activity and success of York’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) programme to date and considered whether the current programme could continue beyond the end of the LSTF2 funding period.

Officers reminded Members of the funding received from Central Government and various local public and privates sector sources of funding for LSTF1 to 2015 and the one year additional sustainability transport funding to 2016. Officers confirmed that, in view of the success of the programme, work was continuing to identify possible funding sources to assist with LSTF work streams beyond March 2016. 

Members welcomed the comprehensive update report, including the scale of work undertaken, behavioural changes and how these could feed into any future bids. In answer to questions, Officers confirmed that funding was also being sought to maintain the iTravel website and that a further report would be presented to Members following the end of funding in March 2016.

Resolved:  That the update report be received and noted.

Reason:     To update the Committee on the iTravel programme.

This report provides Members with the first update on the implementation of recommendations (Annex A) arising from the previously completed Graduate Business Start-ups, Entrepreneurialism and Higher Value Jobs Scrutiny Review.

Consideration was given to a report which provided Members with their first update on the implementation of recommendations arising from the previously completed Graduate Business Start-ups, Entrepreneurialism and Higher Value Jobs Scrutiny Review.

Members considered recommendations (i) to (ix) of the review, at Annex A of the report. In respect of recommendation (ix) relating to car parking, Members noted that the car parking issues were outside the Universities control however it was noted that an examination could be made of how the available parking was allocated for start-up businesses.

Resolved:  (i)     That the report be received and noted.

(ii)    That recommendations (i) to (viii) of the Scrutiny Review be signed off and recommendation (ix) be brought back for further consideration following the outcome of discussions with the University.

Reason:     To raise awareness of those recommendations which are still to be to fully implemented.

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

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work plan for the remainder of the current municipal year.

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that it was hoped to take the Overview Report on the Low Emissions Strategy, including the update on Air Quality to the Committee’s next meeting on 18 November. Also that the Update Report on Universal Credit was being slipped to 19 January 2016, to align with work undertaken by North Yorkshire.

Members referred to the new decision making arrangements and in particular pre-decision scrutiny and how the Committee could feed into the parking strategy for the city and its effect on congestion and air quality.

Resolved:  That the Committee’s work plan be received and noted subject to the above changes.

Reason:     To keep the Committee updated on their workload for the remainder of the current municipal year.