Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any person or prejudicial interest 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.

The Executive Member declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 5 (Renewal of the YorkCard and Library Card) as a local resident who had a YorkCard. Councillor Crisp also declared the same interest.

No other interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on9 November 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the Decision Session-Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion held on 9 November 2010 be signed and approved as a correct record.

It had been reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Councillor Crisp spoke on Agenda Items 4 and 5 (Fairness and Inclusion Update and Renewal of YorkCard). In relation to the Fairness and Inclusion Update she expressed concerns relating to measuring progress on equalities and accessibility issues within the Council.

In relation to the Renewal of the YorkCard, Councillor Crisp suggested that if the Executive Member agreed to the Officer recommendations, that three amendments could be added. These amendments included;

·        the distribution of free cards for the elderly and disabled.

·        a concessionary rate for those who have requested a YorkCard within the past six months

·        that the default position of those who do not wish to pay for the card being offered the library card only, as outlined at Paragraph 10 in the report, be clarified.

The purpose of this report is to update the Executive Member about progress with fairness and inclusion matters in the council.

RESOLVED:     (i) That the report and progress made with fairness and inclusion matters in the Council be noted.

                            (ii) That the Executive Member meet with Directorate Heads in order to formalise how to track progress with equalities issues in the Council.¹

REASON:                  To keep the Executive Member informed of progress on these matters.

The Executive Member considered a report that updated him on progress made with fairness and inclusion matters in the Council.

Officers updated the Executive Member and noted the concerns raised by Councillor Crisp relating to equalities and accessibility issues. They added that a further assessment relating to monitoring corporate customer and staff equality profiling was currently being prepared.

The Executive Member expressed how he was pleased to note the current progress that had been made in meeting equality operational standards, in particular for the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG), and that there had been external recognition accorded to the Council for this.

In addition he commented that the Fairness and Inclusion Strategy needed to be reviewed in future in order to reach the standard for the Single Equality Act. He felt that there was a need to explore how monitoring on equalities in Council Directorates was presented to Members. He also commented on how the report was due to be considered by both the Effective Organisation Scrutiny Committee and the Audit and Governance Committee, and that it could be beneficial to have responses to the report from these meetings in a future update.

RESOLVED:     (i) That the report and progress made with fairness and inclusion matters in the Council be noted.

                            (ii) That the Executive Member meet with Directorate Heads in order to formalise how to track progress with equalities issues in the Council.¹

REASON:                  To keep the Executive Member informed of progress on these matters.

This report seeks approval for a relaunch of the YorkCard in February 2011.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That the relaunch of the YorkCard be agreed.

(iii)             That the promotion of existing and new offers as set out in the Officer’s report be agreed.

(iv)              That the administrative charge of £2 be agreed.

(v)                That the Executive Member receive an update report at a future Decision Session monitoring the progress of library registration and proportion of YorkCard take up.

(vi)              That Officers explore concessionary prices for the card.

(vii)            That an agreed form of words, in consultation with the Executive Member, Shadow Spokesperson and Directors, be provided for library staff to explain the options available to customers when registering for the YorkCard and Library Card.

REASON:                              To raise awareness of the scheme and ensure that York residents are using all the facilities available to them.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval for a relaunch of the YorkCard in February 2011.

The Executive Member was informed by Officers that one of the reasons for the relaunch was due to data inaccuracy and a need to collect equalities information to enable greater understanding of library users in York. Additionally there was a need to promote the benefits of the card to a wider audience, given a common misconception that the YorkCard was only a library card.

In response to comments from Councillor Crisp, Officers stated that they were happy to charge those who had registered within the last six months for a card at a discounted price of £1. They also stated that they would develop a script for staff in libraries on how to tell customers about the new scheme and how to ask for equalities information.

The Executive Member asked Officers for an amendment to be made to their on page 26, paragraph 12, to read;

“It is proposed that cards issued from August 2012 onwards would be free of charge given their short life span.”

He also suggested that Officers further explored the issues around concessions with the card.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That the relaunch of the YorkCard be agreed.

(iii)             That the promotion of existing and new offers as set out in the Officer’s report be agreed.

(iv)              That the administrative charge of £2 be agreed.

(v)                That the Executive Member receive an update report at a future Decision Session monitoring the progress of library registration and proportion of YorkCard take up.

(vi)              That Officers explore concessionary prices for the card.

(vii)            That an agreed form of words, in consultation with the Executive Member, Shadow Spokesperson and Directors, be provided for library staff to explain the options available to customers when registering for the YorkCard and Library Card.

REASON:                              To raise awareness of the scheme and ensure that York residents are using all the facilities available to them.

This report details the progress and achievements made in the first quarter of the year-long Area Based Working pilot project.  (The Executive Member will consider this item at the next listed Decision Session on Tuesday 2 February 2011.)

RESOLVED:             That the consideration of the Area Based Working Pilot Report be deferred to the next Decision Session.

REASON:                  To allow for further consultation to take place.

This agenda item was not considered at the meeting and was deferred due to the need for further consultation to take place before the report was finalised.