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, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests which they might have had in respect of the business on the agenda.

Councillor Neil Barnes declared a pecuniary interest on Agenda Item 6 (Update on Major Developments within York) as his employer sponsored the Community Stadium. However as the report was for information only he did not withdraw from the meeting when this item was considered.

No other interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Economic Development and Transport Policy & Scrutiny Committee held on 15 September 2015.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting. In relation to Minute Item 18 (Attendance of Executive Member for Transport and Planning), Councillor Barnes questioned why the word street clutter had been used in a future report, which would include 20mph speed signs. Councillor Warters responded that he had used this word and it was agreed that the word be amended to street furniture.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 15 September 2015 be signed and approved by the Chair as a correct record subject to the amendment detailed above.

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 Tuesday 17 November 2015 at 5.00 pm the working day before the meeting.

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 under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement will be in attendance to present a report on opportunities and challenges for York’s Economy.

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement in which he set out opportunities and challenges for York’s Economy.

Questions from Members to the Executive Member included;

·        Did more housing on York Central conflict with economic development on the site?

·        What more could be done to encourage graduates to stay in the city?

·        What were the implications for the Local Plan with the housing market around the University, given that the University were against the Article 4 direction.

·        What was the current progress on the Business Improvement District (BID) bid, were the voting intentions of businesses known?

In response the Executive Member informed the Committee that;

·        There would be two reports on York Central regarding housing numbers and the overall vision which would be considered by the Local Plan Working Group and Executive respectively. It was also hoped that there would also be further information given in the Comprehensive Spending Review in regards to economic development on the site through an Enterprise Zone or devolution.

·        The rail industry and insurance companies were examples of enterprise in which graduates could be encouraged to stay in York.

·        The University was also providing more accommodation on campus which would minimise the impact of student accommodation on the local area, but the Executive Member recognised that it was a complex issue.

·        He also acknowledged that the University had plans at  Heslington West and Heslington East therefore wanted to fewer planning restrictions.

·        It was noted that CYC had voted yes for a BID and that it was hoped that other businesses would also vote the same way.

It was confirmed that the Council would continue to pay the National Living Wage and procure from contractors who paid this.

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

Reason:   In order to keep the Committee informed of the opportunities and challenges for York’s economy.

This report provides Members of the Economic Development and Transport Policy 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 which provided them with an update in relation to the major transport initiatives in the city.

Officers stated that they were undertaking a feasibility study into the improvements to the cycling and pedestrian bridge adjacent to the Scarborough railway bridge. This had not been detailed in the published report.

During discussion the following schemes were mentioned;

Outer Ring Road Upgrade

Some Members felt that the roundabouts on the northern section of the Outer Ring Road needed upgrading. Officers responded that improvements were being carried out on the roundabouts and removing the roundabouts was expensive, and the key issue would be to identify the funding source to cover this. The cost to do the seven roundabouts would be approximately £35 million.

Streetworks

One Member informed Officers that residents had experienced inconvenience in his ward from recent work to install high speed internet cables and had been concerned by a lack of information about this. Officers responded they were aware that different subcontractors were carrying out this work and that notification letters should have been sent out to residents giving advance warning of works. It was noted that any remedial works would be the responsibility of the contractors.

Haxby-Clifton Moor Cycle Route

It was reported that this was now open, there was some additional landscaping that was due to take place and 200 people a day were using the route.

Highway Regulation

One Member asked about temporary traffic regulation order signs and expressed concerns that these were not removed following events. Officers stated that they would check on this.

Clarence Street/Lord Mayor’s Walk Junction Improvements

It was reported that Officers were trying to work with the utility company in order to make the works the least disruptive.

Coppergate Camera Enforcement

Officers commented that it was a matter for the courts to decide the legality of the signs, but noted that it was complex legislation and it was not risk free to introduce highway regulation.

Resolved: That the updates be noted.

Reason:    So that Members are informed of major transport initiatives in the city.

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

Members considered a report which provided them with an update of major development projects in the city.

Discussion took place around the following development projects;

Community Stadium

One Member queried whether the project would rely on “‘limited public sector funding” and asked Officers to clarify this. Officers confirmed that it would be a limited amount of large funding. He also asked where the 250 construction workers would park on the site whilst the stadium was being built. Officers responded that as this was a delivery project question that they could not currently answer the question.

It was confirmed that the estimated completion date of the Community Stadium would be 60 weeks from the start of construction works.

In response to a query from Members if there were sufficient staff to support each development project it was confirmed that staff resources were available for each project.

Guildhall

It was reported that the decision on the future of the Guildhall had been delayed, as Members wanted to be more convinced of the business case for delivery.

York Central

In response to a question from a Member about access to the York Central site, Officers reported that if a bid to become an Enterprise Zone was successful the Council would be able to fund the necessary infrastructure on the site.

One Member asked if there was a downside to Enterprise Zone status and did the balance of whether York Central was planned to be housing or offices determine the amount of government funding. They also asked about the site being awarded housing zone status.

Officers responded that having housing zone status did bring specific funding from the Homes and Community Agency but this was for site clearance.

In response to a question about air quality and transport, Officers stated that the development would have sustainable transport at the heart of it.

Resolved: That the report and updates be noted.

Reason:    So that Members are informed of major developments in the city.

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

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Scrutiny Officer made reference to the fact that Executive meetings had now moved to the end of the month and so when the Committee received the 2^nd Financial Quarter Monitoring Report in January, the figures would be out of date. He suggested that there needed to be a reappraisal for how this be managed. The Economic Dashboard updates had also been moved on the work plan to reflect this change.

Resolved: That the work plan be noted subject to the above amendments.

Reason:   To ensure that the Committee has a planned programme of work in place.