Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which he might have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point during the meeting the Executive Member was asked to declare if he had any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests in the business on the agenda. He declared that he had none.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 23 October 2015.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 23 October be signed and approved by the Executive Member as a correct record.

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 Thursday 26 November 2015 at 5.00 pm.

Members of the public may register to speak on :-

·        an item on the agenda

·        an issue within the Executive Member’s remit;

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 one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Sue Galloway spoke regarding the agenda item on volunteering. She asked that the Council take a common sense approach in relation to volunteer insurance and gave a number of examples in the community. She stated that in the one case of the Foxwood Community Centre café, a resident run scheme, that health and

safety inspections had inspected them as a commercial operation.

This had felt disproportionate in comparison to commercial ventures and had put off volunteers that had already received training and gained a qualification. Litter pickers had also been asked to undertake training and again she felt this was disproportionate in relation to the complexity of the task.She also felt that there was some confusion as to what the Council’s insurance covered in relation to volunteering and the Resident Association cover that is set to cover up to 5 events per year.

She asked that Council’s insurance policies to be reviewed in order to have one overarching policy to cover volunteers in one organisation in whatever activity that they choose to carry out. 

This report outlines steps that the Council will take to promote volunteering and its benefits to staff and residents.  

Resolved: (i) That the new Volunteering Policy, as set out in Annex 2 of the Officer’s report, for the City of York Council be adopted.

                (ii) That the Volunteer Managers’ Network workplan be approved.

                (iii) That the Executive Member receive an update report on progress in 12 month’s time.

Reason:       To ensure compliance with the York Charter for Volunteering and to enable the Council to offer and promote a strong volunteering culture for its employees and residents.

The Executive Member asked Officers whether other external voluntary sector organisations that had an interest in volunteering, were involved within the Volunteer Managers’ Network, as he felt some of the smaller voluntary organisations could pick up knowledge by being part of the network. It was stated that the network was currently an internal forum but membership could look to include external organisations.  

He added that volunteering was an untapped resource and that he wished to double the number of Local Authority staff volunteers and to simplify the process of volunteering.

In response to comments raised by the public speaker in relation to insurance for volunteering, Officers informed the Executive Member that that there may be confusion in relation to the council’s cover for those that volunteer for the council, and the Residents Association Federation had an insurance policy that covered Residents Associations and they would seek to clarify this.

Resolved: (i) That the new Volunteering Policy, as set out in Annex 2 of the Officer’s report, for the City of York Council be adopted.

                (ii) That the Volunteer Managers’ Network workplan be approved.

                (iii) That the Executive Member receive an update report on progress in 12 month’s time.

Reason:       To ensure compliance with the York Charter for Volunteering and to enable the Council to offer and promote a strong volunteering culture for its employees and residents.