Agenda and minutes

At this point, 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 at this point in the meeting any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2013.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the meeting of 25 February 2013 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Monday 11 March 2013.

It was reported that there were no registrations to speak at the meeting under the council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Members will receive information on the Police & Crime Panel Workplan for 2013-14. CYC representatives on the panel will be attending the meeting together with the panel support officer from North Yorkshire County Council to discuss with the Committee the panel’s priorities for the year ahead.

Members received a presentation  on the Police and Crime Panel Work Plan for 2013-14.  A copy of the presentation is attached to the on-line agenda papers for this meeting.  City of York Council representatives on the panel were in attendance, together with the panel support officer from North Yorkshire Council. 

Details were given of the composition of the Panel, including the mechanism by which the independent members were appointed, and the Panel’s responsibilities.  Discussion took place regarding the panel’s priorities for the year ahead.  It was noted that the Plan was primarily derived from the Police and Crime Plan.  Details were given of the consultation that was currently taking place on the Plan.  It was noted that Cabinet had submitted a response which had been broadly supportive of the contents of the Plan but emphasised the need to identify synergies with the valuable work carried out by the Safer York Partnership.   Members requested that the Committee be consulted on future plans but recognised that the timescale was such that it was not possible for this to take place in respect of the current plan. 

It was noted that the key messages were published after every Panel meeting.  Members requested that these be included in regular reports to the committee. 

Members agreed that it would be useful to invite the Police Commissioner to attend a future meeting.   

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the Police and Crime Panel Work Plan

                                      be noted.

                             (ii)      That key messages arising from Police and

Crime Panel meetings be presented to Members.

                             (iii)     That the Police and Crime Commissioner

be invited to attend meetings of the committee on an annual basis and that representatives from the Police and Crime Panel also be invited to attend on an annual basis.  The arrangements should be such that there is a presence from the Police on a six monthly basis.

REASON:           To ensure that the committee is aware of the work of the Police and Crime Panel.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on financial performance, service plan improvement actions and performance measures for Environmental Services and Public Protection.

Members considered a report that provided an update on financial performance, service plan improvement actions and performance measures for Environmental Services and Public Protection.

Members noted the overspend in specific areas and that the targets for commercial waste income and for parking services had not been achieved.

Members requested further information on the following issues:

·        The historic performance of commercial waste

·        A briefing note on recycling rates

·        Air quality projects referred to in paragraphs 19 and 20 of the report

RESOLVED:       That the financial and performance position of the portfolio be noted.

REASON:           In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures.

Members will receive a briefing on the use of A-Boards outside of the City Centre and are asked to consider whether they wish to carry out a full scrutiny review into this topic.

Members considered a briefing paper on the use of A-Boards outside of the city centre and were asked to consider whether they wished to carry out a full scrutiny review into this topic.

It was noted that the Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability was currently considering taking forward a zero tolerance zone for the city centre. Members discussed whether any such policy should be restricted to the city centre or should be citywide.

Officers explained the current arrangements that were in place.  If complaints were received about A-Boards the matter was  investigated and if the board was found to be causing an obstruction letters were sent to the board owner and to the owners of neighbouring businesses if they were displaying similar boards.

Members raised the following issues:

·        It was noted that, although some Members believed that the Council had adopted a policy in respect of A-Boards, officers had been unable to confirm this to be case.

·        The difficulties that A-Boards posed to disabled people.

·        The damage caused to trees when signs were fixed to them.

·        The licensing of A-Boards was a possibility but would be a huge administrative burden.

·        As well as posing a risk to pedestrians, A-Boards were unsightly.

·        Officers’ comments about the difficulties of enforcing a citywide ban were noted.

Some Members stated that unless the A-Boards posed a danger to pedestrians, businesses should be allowed to display them.  This was particularly important in the current economic circumstances.  Other Members stated that they were in support of a zero tolerance policy being introduced on a city wide basis.  A view was also put forward that, prior to any introduction of a citywide policy, an evaluation of the effectiveness  of a city centre policy should be carried out after a suitable period of time. 

A motion was put forward that it be recommended to the Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability that a citywide ban on A-Boards be implemented.

Councillors Healey and Steward requested that it be recorded that they voted against the proposal.

RESOLVED:       That it be recommended to the Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability that a citywide ban of A-Boards be implemented.

REASON:           To ensure the removal of the many and varied obstructions from the public highway, the protection of trees, and the safety of all public highway users.

Members will receive an update report on the findings from the Domestic Waste Scrutiny Review and will be asked whether they wish to continue with the review.

Members considered an update report on the findings from the Domestic Waste Scrutiny Review. 

The Chair of the Task Group explained the background to him submitting the scrutiny topic.  He expressed his concern at the lack of progress that had been made on the review and explained the reasons for this, including an officer being absent because of sickness.   The Task Group had ascertained that, due to the planned timing of work, it would not be possible to complete the comparison work that they had requested in support of objective iii of the review until later in the municipal year 2013/14.

 Officers stated that the team involved in providing the information was small in number and hence the absence of an experienced member of staff did have an impact.  Nevertheless the Task Group had been provided with information, which was presented in the Interim Report.  Officers stated that they would circulate a briefing note detailing the work that had taken place this year to promote recycling.  They would also take on board the Task Group’s findings in respect of the way Southampton City Council had used data to help focus their behaviour change campaigns.     

Some Members expressed concerns that the services and information provided by St Nicholas Fields were not equal to those provided by the Council.

Members considered the following options:

(i)           Reform the Task Group to conclude the work on the review, at the appropriate time in the new municipal year once the comparison data was available.

(ii)          Discontinue the formal Task Group review and request that officers present comparison data arising from the control areas to the full committee once the initiatives had been completed in the 2013/14 municipal year.

(iii)        Conclude the review at this stage and decide whether or not to recommend that control areas be introduced as part of the work on the initiatives in 2013/14.

Officers stated that it would be possible to carry out further work and report back to the Task Group within three months.

RESOLVED:       That further information be presented to the Task Group within three months.

REASON:           To progress the scrutiny review.

This report presents information gathered in support of the Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s review on Improving Community Resilience and asks Members to agree the recommendations arising.

A report had been circulated which provided information gathered in support of the Committee’s review on Improving Community Resilience.

RESOLVED:       That this item be deferred to the next meeting.

REASON:           To enable full consideration to be given to the report.

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

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work plan.

As agreed earlier in the meeting the following additions to the work plan were agreed:

·        Attendance of Police Commissioner and representatives of the Police and Crime Panel to be scheduled into the work plan.

·        Item on Improving Community Resilience to be included on the agenda for the next meeting.

RESOLVED:       That, subject to the inclusion of the above items,

                             the work plan be approved.

REASON:           To ensure that the committee has a planned programme of work in place.