Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on  Monday 14 September 2009. 

Members of the public may speak on item on the agenda, an issue within the Executive Member’s remit, or an item that has been published on the Information Log for the current session.  As the information log is not yet in use, the report below has been published online with the agenda for information.

a)     Neighbourhood Services Capital Monitoring Report

b)     Neighbourhoods and Community Safety Group Legal Actions

It was reported that there had been 2 registrations to speak at the meeting under the public participation scheme. Details of these speakers are set out under the individual agenda items.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Decision Session of the Executive Member Neighbourhood Services on Tuesday 21 July 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Decision Session – Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, held on 21 July 2009 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

Service plans for food law enforcement, health and safety law enforcement and animal health enforcement are produced on an annual basis in response to national requirements. This report seeks the Executive Members approval for these plans.

RESOLVED: That the Executive Member approves the Service Plans in Food Law Enforcement, Animal Health Enforcement and Health and Safety Law Enforcement and recommends that they are referred to the Executive for approval.

REASON:      In order that the Council can discharge its statutory obligations in regard to service planning for environmental health and trading standards.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval for the National Service Plans for food law enforcement, health and safety law enforcement and animal health enforcement, which are produced on an annual basis in response to national requirements.

RESOLVED: That the Executive Member approves the Service Plans in Food Law Enforcement, Animal Health Enforcement and Health and Safety Law Enforcement and recommends that they are referred to the Executive for approval.

REASON:      In order that the Council can discharge its statutory obligations in regard to service planning for environmental health and trading standards.

The purpose of this report is to update the Executive member of the outcome of the recent Air Quality Support Grant (AQSG) applications made to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The report requires a formal decision to be taken to approve the amount of AQSG to be accepted from DEFRA.

RESOLVED:That the Executive Member approves Option A at paragraph 37 of the Officer’s report and to:

·        Accept Air Quality Grants from DEFRA totalling £16,500 and allow air quality projects outlined in paragraphs 12,13 and 16 to proceed, and to request that York be considered for any further grant that may become available in the year.

·        Note the Executive Member’s request that officers stress the importance of York requiring any further grants in correspondence to DEFRA.

REASON:      Option A represents the most appropriate way of funding the continuation of Local Air Quality Management in the City. This is a statutory undertaking that contributes towards the corporate priorities on Thriving City, Sustainable City and Healthy City.

The Executive Member considered a report which updated on the outcome of the recent Air Quality Support Grant (AQSG) applications made to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Officers updated with some amendments to the report as follows:

• Page 17 of the agenda, paragraph 11 should refer to Project 2 and that a 5 year contract had now been secured.
• Page 18 paragraph 16 should state £2500 not £2000
• Page 22 paragraph 37, take out the words ‘and 17’.
• Page 24 paragraph 48, option a, take out the words ‘and 17’.

 The Executive Member commented that it is disappointing that the projects listed on page 18 of the agenda can not be assisted further at present, due to the lack of funding, in particular, Project 7 the Joseph Rowntree School Faraday Project. Officers advised that if further funding is received then such projects will be assisted. The Executive Member asked that any letters sent to DEFRA should be strongly worded to emphasise the importance of York receiving further funding in order to assist such projects. Officers noted this request.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member approves Option A at paragraph 37 of the Officer’s report and to:

·        Accept Air Quality Grants from DEFRA totalling £16,500 and allow air quality projects outlined in paragraphs 12,13 and 16 to proceed, and to request that York be considered for any further grant that may become available in the year.

·        Note the Executive Member’s request that officers stress the importance of York requiring any further grants in correspondence to DEFRA.

REASON:                  Option A represents the most appropriate way of funding the continuation of Local Air Quality Management in the City. This is a statutory undertaking that contributes towards the corporate priorities on Thriving City, Sustainable City and Healthy City.

This report advises the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services of the receipt of three petitions from residents in the Groves area of the City and recommends how to respond to them.

RESOLVED:            That the Executive Member approves Option 1 as follows:

REASON:      To ensure the issues in the trial area can be addressed in preparation for the roll out to the remainder of the City.

The Executive Member considered a report which advised of the receipt of three petitions from residents in the Groves area of the city and recommends how to respond to them.

Officers updated that 3 petitions had been received against the use of wheeled bins in the area. The Groves area is a pilot area and the feedback from refuse collection crews indicates that so far, the pilot is working and there has been no issues such as bins being left out. Several weeks into the pilot the occurrence of overfilled bins has reduced as residents have got used to the system and residents have been taking ownership of bins by numbering them. The area will be monitored over the coming weeks as the returning Students are expected to make an impact on waste in the area.

Representations were heard from the lead petitioner of all three petitions, Mr. Lankester. He advised that the narrow width of some of the alleyways along with  narrow spaces to gather all the bins on collection day, meant there are problems with access. He stated that many residents are keeping wheeled bins on front forecourts, to the detriment of the area. He queried the wisdom of rolling out the scheme to other areas of York whilst the Groves pilot is still under review.

Councillor King as Shadow Executive Member, expressed his concern that in some areas it is not practical to take out wheeled bins and that there seems to be some confusion over recycling in general around the city, such as what materials can be recycled and which boxes can be used for specific materials.

In response to the above comments, officers advised that trials have identified that 3 recycling boxes are the optimum system for collecting recyclable items and that the correct way to recycle is promoted alongside the Easter and Christmas collection calendars. In addition a degree of sorting is undertaken by crews at the kerbside. In relation to certain areas not being suitable for wheeled bins, it has proved to work in such areas if there is a collection point for the bins. Officers pointed out that the health and safety of the refuse collection crews needs to be taken into account as a reason for the move towards wheeled bins.

The Executive Member stated that further consultation is the way forward and that a single solution should not be imposed on all streets if it does not work in all areas, but this needs to be managed within existing budgets. The Executive Member queried whether a further update on the matter could be brought to Novembers decision session. Officers confirmed that this would give them enough time to complete further consultation.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member approves Option 1 as follows: