Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, 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.

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member was asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or pecuniary interests he may 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 Tuesday 8^th December 2015. 

Members of the public may speak on an item on the agenda or an issue within the Cabinet Member’s remit.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Please note this meeting may 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 no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

It was reported that a written submission had been received  from Mr Allan Charlesworth who had been hoping to attend the meeting. The written submission was read out by the Executive Member and the main points were as follows:

·        The application is out of touch with village thinking and the current village plan is adequate.

·        The issue of joint designation had not been put to Huntington or Strensall Parish Councils.

·        It is inaccurate to state that there is no obvious relationship between Huntington, Strensall and Earswick

·        Residents of Earswick would be better served if the Parish Council initiated a joint venture with adjacent parishes of Strensall and Huntington to take a more holistic view of infrastructure and services.

·        Mr Charlesworth requested that the decision over designation be deferred and be referred back to Earswick Parish Council with the recommendation that tri-parish talks should take place to explore the benefits of a combined submission for one joint designated area.

There had been one registration to speak on agenda item 3 Earswick Neighbourhood Plan.

Ian Yeowart spoke on behalf of Earswick Parish Council. He advised that the Parish Council had created a Neighbourhood Plan Working Group and as part of the work undertaken, 200 questionnaires had been distributed around the village which had resulted in a 63% response rate. In response to the objections received during the consultation period and by Mr Charlesworth in writing at the meeting, he advised that the comments do not reflect the views of the whole village and that the process had been open and transparent. He stated that in a meeting this week, members of the community had unanimously voted against a tri-parish plan.  He confirmed that he did not wish to see the application deferred.

This report summarises the responses received during the recent consultation on the application by Earswick Parish Council for a Neighbourhood Plan area. The report recommends that the application by Earswick Parish Council to designate the Parish of Earswick as a Neighbourhood Planning area is approved.

Resolved:           That the Executive Member approved Option 1 to approve the application to designate the neighbourhood area for Earswick Neighbourhood Plan, including the proposed boundary (Annex A of the report) without modification.

Reason:              To allow Earswick Parish Council to progress the Neighbourhood Plan.

The Executive Member considered a report which summarised the responses received during the recent consultation on an application by Earswick Parish Council for a Neighbourhood Plan Area. The report also recommended that the application to designate the Parish of Earswick as Neighbourhood Planning Area be approved.

In response to the points raised in the written submission by Mr Charlesworth, the Council’s Legal Officer spoke to confirm that the matter of the boundary sits with the Neighbourhood Plan Applicant, in this case the Parish Council, and as they did not wish the matter to be deferred then there was no reason why the Executive Member could not determine application.

The Executive Member advised that having acknowledged the comments made in respect of the application and the advice of the legal officer, he was minded to approve Option 1.

Resolved:           That the Executive Member approved Option 1 to approve the application to designate the neighbourhood area for Earswick Neighbourhood Plan, including the proposed boundary (Annex A of the report) without modification.

Reason:              To allow Earswick Parish Council to progress the Neighbourhood Plan.

This report requests the Executive Member to grant approval for  free weekend bus travel within the City of York administrative area for children and young people up to the age of 18 years old for an initial period of January and February 2016.

Resolved:           That the Executive Member approved Option 2b and approved funding of the free weekend bus travel initiative for the months of January and February 2016. Officers will then bring a report to a further Executive Member Decision Session summarising the costs and benefits of the initiative before proposing a further extension of the scheme.

Reason:              In the short term, to encourage young people to make greater use of the local bus network. In the longer term, to persuade young people to apply for a ‘YOzone’ card which will encourage and embed sustainable travel habits in the months and years ahead.

The Executive Member considered a report which provided details of an offer which will provide free local bus travel on Saturday and Sunday for the months of January and February 2016 within the City of York administrative area for children and young people up to the age of 18 years old.

Officers outlined the report and advised that the offer was the result of commercial negotiations with bus companies following a one off sum of £100,000 which was allocated for the provision of incentives which would make bus travel more attractive for young people.

The Executive Member was aware of a representation from the Labour Group who had queried why Option 1 to use the funding until it ran out, had not been recommended. Officers advised that it would be preferable to pause to assess the effectiveness of the offer after a short period rather than continuing the expenditure until it is exhausted.

Resolved:           That the Executive Member approved Option 2b and approved funding of the free weekend bus travel initiative for the months of January and February 2016. Officers will then bring a report to a further Executive Member Decision Session summarising the costs and benefits of the initiative before proposing a further extension of the scheme.

Reason:              In the short term, to encourage young people to make greater use of the local bus network. In the longer term, to persuade young people to apply for a ‘YOzone’ card which will encourage and embed sustainable travel habits in the months and years ahead.