Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.  Councillor Gillies declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 (minute 28 refers) “Report on Possible Topics for Scrutiny Review”, as his daughter had previously worked for the Drugs Action Team.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1 December 2009.

RESOLVED:That the minutes of the meeting of 1 December 2009 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is Monday 18 January 2010 at 5.00 pm.

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

A presentation was given by David McCabe, Group Manager - North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.  He gave details of the service’s involvement in the Safer York Partnership.   The Fire and Rescue Service were a delivery mechanism for a number of projects including youth engagement work, road safety initiatives, drink driving campaigns and the carrying out of home risk assessments.  They also played a strategic role in steering particular initiatives.

At the request of Members, an update was given on the proposed development of a fire station to the south of the city. It was noted that a project brief was currently being finalised. 

Mr McCabe was thanked for his attendance at the meeting.

This report presents two topic registration forms which have recently been submitted, together with a list of other suggested topics.  Members are asked to consider and agree which, if any, of these they would like to proceed with to scrutiny review.

Members received a report that presented two topic registration forms, which had recently been submitted, together with a list of other suggested topics.  Members were asked to consider and agree which, if any, of these should proceed to scrutiny review.

(a)   Salt bins/pavement, road and path gritting

Consideration was given to the registration form that had been submitted by Councillor Bowgett on the topic of “Salt bins/pavement, road and path gritting”.  Councillor Bowgett paid tribute to the work that staff had carried out in very difficult weather conditions.  She explained the reasons for submitting the registration form, including having received a number of complaints from residents, particularly in respect of footpaths. 

Members endorsed the comments that Councillor Bowgett had made regarding the tremendous work that staff had carried out.  Views were put forward that the roads, particularly the main routes, had been well gritted during the severe weather conditions and that the key concerns related to footpaths, salt bins and cycle paths. 

A copy of the current gritting policy had been attached as Annex D to the report.  It was noted that officers had already been instructed to review the council’s current policy on gritting and would welcome the Committee’s participation in that process.  

Members noted the emails that had been submitted by Councillor D’Agorne in support of a review on this issue.  He requested that the review included consideration of actions required to make cycle routes safer when adverse weather conditions occurred.

Discussion took place as to the most appropriate time at which to carry out a scrutiny review, particularly in view of the officer review of the policy that was to be undertaken.  It was agreed that the scrutiny review should commence as soon as possible to ensure that any amendments to the policy could be put in place in readiness for next winter.  It was, however, important that the review did not duplicate the work that was being carried out by officers.

Officers agreed to provide a report for the next meeting updating Members on how the “Highway Maintenance Services – Winter Maintenance Manual” had been applied during recent weeks and the lessons learnt.

(b)   The effectiveness of CCTV in relation to the costs involved

Consideration was given to the registration form that had been submitted by Councillor Bowgett on the topic of “The effectiveness of CCTV in relation to the costs involved.”  Information on the use of CCTV in York had been provided by the Safer York Partnership and circulated to the committee.  Officers stated that a report on CCTV was due to be presented to the Executive in Spring 2010 and would cover issues referred to in the registration form.  The report could be made available to the Committee for their consideration and comments prior to it being presented to the Executive.

(c)   Impact of drug use on the City of York

Councillor Gillies suggested that the committee may wish to consider undertaking a review on the impact of drug use on the city.  Issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Members are asked to review the committee’s workplan for 2010.

Consideration was given to the work plan for the Committee for 2010. 

RESOLVED:That the work plan be updated to reflect the decisions taken by the Committee under item 5 of the agenda (minute 28 refers).