Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point the Cabinet Member is asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or pecuniary interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were 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 the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th August 2013.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last Decision Session held on 20 August 2013 be approved and signed by the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services 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 Tuesday 8^th October 2013.

Any written representations should be with the Democracy Officer by 5pm on Monday 7^th October 2013.

It was reported that there were two registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme and that three Members had also registered to speak.

Councillor Jeffries spoke in respect of agenda item 4 (Grange Lane Play area).  She stated that she was disappointed that council funding was not available to carry out the work.  Referring to paragraph 6 of the report, she also stated that Chapelfields Residents Association had not been asked to include the installation of a fence to their list of potential schemes and, should they decide to do so, it would be a significant amount of their £9,500 allocation. 

Councillor Reid spoke in respect of agenda item 6 (Winter Maintenance).  She highlighted the key points in the written submission from the Liberal Democrat Group (attached to the on-line agenda papers for the meeting) and stated that a petition on this issue was to be presented to Full Council.

Ms Becky Cook spoke in respect of agenda item 6 (Winter Maintenance) on behalf of residents of Grantham Drive.  She drew attention to the number of accidents that had occurred in the area and stated that it was very important to retain the grit bin and to listen to the views of residents, as they had very good local knowledge about the problems.

Mrs Galloway spoke on behalf of Foxwood Residents Association in respect of agenda item 6 (Winter Maintenance).  She expressed concern at the consultation process and stated that the timing was such that residents associations had not had the opportunity to include the funding of grit bins in their budgeting should they wish to do so.  Mrs Galloway stated that consideration had not been given to effects on bus routes and that key issues such as the impact on cycle routes, the elderly and vulnerable, shops and schools had not been taken into account. 

Councillor Richardson spoke as a ward member and on behalf of Haxby Town Council in respect of agenda item 6 (Winter Maintenance).  He expressed concern at the consultation process and stated that the number of responses was poor.  He drew attention to the number of elderly or vulnerable residents in the area and stated that he was against the proposed reduction in the number of salt bins.

This report is in response to a recent petition received from 251 residents from across York.  The petition requests the installation of a dog deterring fence around the play area off Grange Lane and that more dog dirt bins and litter bins be provided close to the play equipment.

Resolved:  (i)      That the receipt of the petitions be noted.

(ii)      That officers from the Community and Equality team would support applications for the funding sources outlined in the report and actively pursue other funding streams if necessary.

Reason:     To support the requests from residents.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism considered a report in response to a recent petition received from 251 residents from across York.  The petition requested the installation of a dog deterring fence around the play area off Grange Lane and that more dog dirt bins and litter bins be provided close to the play equipment.

Consideration was given to the following options:

Option a     Officers from the Community and Equality team would support applications for the funding sources outlined in the report and actively pursue other funding streams if necessary

Option b     To wait for other funding sources to become available.

Members commented that the playbuilder scheme had not envisaged fencing being required.  Whilst it was regrettable that funding was not available to carry out the work, option A in the report offered an opportunity to seek a way forward.

Resolved:  (i)      That the receipt of the petitions be noted.

(ii)      That officers from the Community and Equality team would support applications for the funding sources outlined in the report and actively pursue other funding streams if necessary.

Reason:     To support the requests from residents.

This report is in response to a petition submitted to the

Council by Councillor Keith Aspden with 66 names and

addresses of residents of the named streets and surrounding

area. The petition also includes a further 34 website signatures.

The petition requests that the Council improves the road surfaces

In Fulford Par, Cherry Wood Crescent, Eastward Avenue and

St. Oswalds Road.

Resolved:  (i)      That the receipt of the petition be noted.

(ii)      That Option 1 be approved (Rank the carriageways in the Fulford ward along with other grade 3 roads for inclusion in a future scheme programme as in accordance with the approved process). 

Reason:     The road surfaces within the Fulford ward to be assessed in accordance with the Council’s evidence based prioritisation process and ranked accordingly.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services considered a report prepared in response to a petition submitted to Council by Councillor Aspden with 66 names and addresses of residents of the named streets and surrounding area.  The petition also included a further 34 website signatures.  The petition requested that the Council improved the road surfaces in Fulford in particular Fulford Park, Cherry Wood Crescent, Eastward Avenue and St Oswald’s Road.

The Cabinet Member considered the following options:

Option 1     Rank the carriageways in the Fulford ward along with other grade 3 roads for inclusion in a future scheme programme as in accordance with the approved process.

Option 2     Add a scheme to resurface the carriageway on Fulford Park to the 2013/14 programme.  It was estimated that the cost of the scheme would be £46,750.

Option 3     Add a scheme to resurface the carriageway on Cherry Wood Crescent to the 2013/14 programme.  It was estimated that the cost of the scheme would be £66,250.

Option 4     Add a scheme to resurface the carriageway on Eastward Avenue to the 2013/14 programme.  It was estimated that the cost of the scheme would be £42,750.

The Cabinet Member commented on the analysis of the

distribution of carriageway schemes over the last three years, as

detailed in paragraph 7 of the report, and on the established

system that was in place to assess the priorities.

Resolved:  (i)      That the receipt of the petition be noted.

(ii)      That Option 1 be approved (Rank the carriageways in the Fulford ward along with other grade 3 roads for inclusion in a future scheme programme as in accordance with the approved process). 

Reason:     The road surfaces within the Fulford ward to be assessed in accordance with the Council’s evidence based prioritisation process and ranked accordingly.

This report details the proposed amendments to the

winter maintenance services following a review and public consultation of the road gritting and grit bin provision.

The Council’s budget setting process has identified target savings of £60k in 2014/15 from the current winter maintenance allocation of £180k. The aim of the review is to provide a safe, efficient and effective winter maintenance service that is fit for purpose.

Resolved:  (i)      That the grit bin assessment process be

                             approved.

(ii)      That Option 3 (Implement the primary gritting route, secondary gritting route and grit bin provision published in the winter maintenance consultation proposal with the addition of bus routes of 30 minutes frequencies or less in one direction and school bus routes not included in the proposed PGR)  

Reason:     By undertaking a review and consultation on the gritting and salt bin provision the Council has taken residents’ feedback and recommends option 3 to provide a safe, efficient and effective service.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services considered a report which detailed proposed amendments to the winter maintenance services following a review and public consultation on the road gritting and grit bin provision.

The Council’s budget setting process had identified target savings of £60k in 2014/15 from the current winter maintenance allocation of £180k.  The aim of the review was to provide a safe, efficient and effective winter maintenance service that was fit for purpose.

The scoring criteria that had been put in place, as detailed in paragraph 8 of the report, was noted.

The Cabinet Member gave consideration to the following options:

Option 1     Maintain the road gritting regime and highway and ward grit bin provision the same as that of the 2012/13 season.

Option 2     Implement the Primary Gritting Route (PGR), Secondary Gritting Route (SGR) and grit bin provision (158) published in the winter maintenance consultation proposal.

Option 3     Implement option 2 with the addition of bus routes of 30 minutes frequencies or less in one direction and school bus routes not included in proposed primary gritting route.  This option will reduce the number of grit bin provision to 150 due to the extension of the primary grit route.

The Cabinet Member stated that he was satisfied that option 3

presented a balance between the need to make savings and the

safety of residents.  The consultation that had been carried out had

enabled residents to put forward their views and these had been

listened to.  The grit bin assessment form, annex 1 to the report,

ensured that the criteria used was fair and transparent.  A

Community Impact Assessment had also been carried out.

Officers were thanked for the work that they had undertaken.  

Resolved:  (i)      That the grit bin assessment process be

                             approved.

(ii)      That Option 3 (Implement the primary gritting route, secondary gritting route and grit bin provision published in the winter maintenance consultation proposal with the addition of bus routes of 30 minutes frequencies or less in one direction and school bus routes not included in the proposed PGR)  

Reason:     By undertaking a review and consultation on the gritting and salt bin provision the Council has taken residents’ feedback and recommends option 3 to provide a safe, efficient and effective service.