Agenda and minutes

At this point, 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.

Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable interests which they might have in respect of the business on the agenda.

During consideration of agenda item 6 (CYC Flood Defences Action Plan – Biannual Update), Councillors Cullwick, Funnell and Hunter declared personal, non prejudicial, interests as members of Planning Committee.

During consideration of agenda item 7 (Operation of CYCs Commercial Portfolio), Councillors Funnell and Gates declared personal non prejudicial interests as members of the Board of Directors of City of York Trading.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 2 August 2017.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee held on 2 August 2017 be approved and then signed by the chair as a correct record.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Tuesday, 3 October. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the Committee. To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast, or recorded,  and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting. 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 (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 http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_f

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60809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report provides details of the 2017/18 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance across services within the Economy and Place Directorate, incorporating data up to July 2017.

Members considered a report which provided details of the 2017-18 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance across services within the Economy and Place Directorate including data to July 2017 as reported to Executive on 31 August 2017.

The Finance Manager and Assistant Director, Transport, Highways and Environment,  presented the report and responded to questions from Members.  Within transport, there was a shortfall of ANPR bus enforcement, primarily due to the long lead in times where warnings were issued at Coppergate which lead to a period where costs were incurred but there was no revenue. The signing and warning scheme had proved successful but had also impacted on the income target within the budget.

Officers reported a forecasted overspend in public realm of £174,000 which represented 7% of the budget which was a combination of  using additional temporary staff to cover shifts and overspends across supplies and services. They advised that the final outturn in planning income would be dependent on the number of major planning applications coming forward.

They explained that the overspends were being offset by holding vacancies within economic development and an overachievement of income within the management of the commercial portfolio.

With regard to performance within the directorate, officers confirmed that the facility at Allerton Park was now commissioning waste and when fully operational, would also improve recycling levels. 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Reason:     To update the scrutiny committee on the latest finance and performance position.

To receive a presentation from the Programme Manager, Economy and Place, detailing development progress for Allerton Park Waste Recovery Treatment Centre. 

Members received a presentation from the Programme Manager, Economy and Place, who provided an update on progress in relation to the Allerton Waste Recovery Park (AWRP). The powerpoint presentation(which had been added to the published agenda on the council’s website) covered the following areas:

·        Background to provision of long term waste management service

·        Technology used at AWRP (Tipping Hall, Mechanical Treatment, anaerobic digestion, energy from waste (EfW))

·        Transferring York’s Waste – development of strategy around transfer stations

·        Construction and Commissioning

·        Service Commencement

The programme manager responded to, and provided additional information in relation to, queries raised during discussion of the update.

Resolved:  That the progress update on the AWRP be noted and members comments be taken into account.

Reason:     In order that Members are keep up to date in relation to developments at AWRP.

This report presents an update on the ongoing work of the Environment Agency to renew existing flood defences across the city and provide new ones, and invites Members to note and give feedback on the progress made.

Members considered a report which provided a biannual update on the ongoing work of the Environment Agency to renew existing and provide new flood defences across the city. Representatives of the Environment Agency attended the meeting to give a presentation (which had been added to the published agenda on the council’s website) which covered the following areas:

·        Progress in relation to the Foss Barrier

·        Survey Work - including topographic surveys, threshold surveys and ecological surveys and ground investigation.

·        Engagement -  New Facebook page keeping residents informed of progress: Advisory Group of key stakeholders to inform development of projects

·        Shortlisting Options (Survey work informs options appraisal, shortlist of potential options created followed by community consultation)

·        Engagement Programme – Sept 2017 to Jan 2018

·        Long Term Plan

The Council’s Flood Risk and Asset Manager and representatives of the Environment Agency responded to queries raised by members during discussion of the report and presentation.

Resolved:  That the report and presentation be received and Members comments be taken into consideration.

Reason:     In order that Members are updated on progress made to renew existing flood defences across the city and provide new ones

To receive a presentation from the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Asset Management setting out the current scope of the Council’s commercial portfolio, with a breakdown of the range of properties and the income that they generate.

Members received a presentation from the Assistant Director, Regneration and Asset Management and the Property Manager (Commercial) which set out the current scope of the Council’s commercial property portfolio with a breakdown of the range of properties and the income that they generate. The presentation (which had been added to the published agenda on the council’s website) covered the following areas:

·        Portfolio composition

·        Portfolio Performance excluding West Offices

·        Key Performance Indicators

·        Eco Entre, Amy Johnson Way

·        The Shambles

·        Swinegate

·        Guildhall

·        Castle Gateway

Officers responded to Members questions raised in relation to the presentation.

Resolved:  That the presentation be received and Members’ comments be taken into account.

Reason:     In order that Members are kept updated on the Council’s commercial property portfolio

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year.

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for the current municipal year. The Scrutiny Officer advised Members of the following changes to the work plan:

·        The next biannual update on CYC Flood Defences Action Plan would be presented at the 7 March 2018 instead of the January meeting.

·        The report on the overview of current shared resources in York and across the region and future opportunities, which was due to be received at this meeting would now be considered at the 28 November 2017 meeting.

·        Additional work was required in relation to the Arts and Culture Scrutiny Review before the draft final report could be signed off and therefore it was not likely that an implementation update would be ready for the  January meeting. This would therefore need to be delayed to a future meeting.

The Chair advised that the update on the Park and Ride contract (due at November meeting) may be delayed due to contractual arrangements. 

Resolved:  That the work plan, subject to the above amendments, be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that the Committee has an agreed programme of work in place.