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, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda. Cllr Williams declared an interest during Item 5: Presentation on Economic Strategy Implementation in regard to discussions regarding Siemens as he was an employee of Associated British Ports. No further interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 May 2018.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meetings of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee held on 21 May 2018 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5pm on Monday 25 June 2018.  Members of the public may speak on an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit. To register, please contact the Democracy Officer responsible for the meeting (the contact details are available at the foot of the agenda).

Filming or Recording Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including 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 http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general matters within the remit of the Economy & Place Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair recorded Members’ thanks to the Scrutiny Officer during her time at City of York Council (CYC).

The Executive Member for Economic Development & Community Engagement will provide an overview of his priorities and challenges for 2018/9.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement gave an overview of his priorities and challenges for 2018/19.

Members welcomed the update and in response to questions he commented that:

·        CYC was working with York Business Improvement District (BID) and York Forum to address the number of empty shops in the city centre. The solution to addressing the number of empty shops was complicated.

·        A map showing CYC and privately owned shops in the city centre could be provided to the Committee. Across York only three Council-owned commercial properties were currently vacant.

·        The way in which footfall was measured was changing and an explanation of the technology used to record footfall was given. It was noted that footfall was not indicative of spend because whilst footfall was increasing, trade was down. However, York is doing well compared to the national trend.

·        Addressing the challenges of the low wage sectors, graduate retention, creating attractive employment opportunities, affordable housing and the cost of living was complicated.

·        With regard to the apprenticeship data for York showing 1420 starts (across all ages) versus 1720 in 2015-2016, this was part of a national trend by which York performed comparatively against. The number of CYC apprenticeships had increased and had been maintained. The Executive Member agreed to provide data on CYC apprenticeship numbers over the past few years. 

·        The York Apprenticeship Hub was led by the Leeds City Region (LCR) and included a number of public and private sector organisations.

·        CYC would be working with partners such as Make it York (MiY) and BID to understand the nature of the changing high street and retail offer. CYC was using local data to look at trends in this and needed to look at continuing to make York an attractive offer to retailers.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement was thanked for his update and it was:

Resolved:           That Members note the priorities and challenges for Economic Development and Community Engagement and Environment 2018/19.

Reason:              To understand the priorities and challenges for Economic Development and Community Engagement and Environment 2017/18.

Members will receive a presentation from the Head of Economic Growth on the implementation of the current economic strategy.

The Head of Economic Growth gave a presentation on the implementation of the current Economic Strategy.

The Head of Economic Growth was thanked for his presentation and he responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

·        A Member referenced the Siemens UK rail factory being built in Goole and highlighted that there was a lack if focus on manufacturing in York. The Head of Economic Growth noted that the Local Plan determined what land was available for different uses and he explained that the York Central site work spaces were based on the return from development costs and land values. It was noted that York Central included different work spaces and there was also a range of those spaces in other areas of York such as around the outer ring road.

·        In terms of wage growth, the headline target was to grow wages above the national average. However, the reality of averages mean that there was a need to develop the retail and hospitality sectors as well as growing high wage jobs.

·        Discussion took place regarding the skills shortages in the city and need to develop those skills in the workforce. The Head of Economic Development explained that most skills funding was delivered by the national Education and Skills Funding Agency.

Following a full discussion it was:

Resolved:           That;

                             i.        Members note the information on the implementation of the Economic Strategy.

                            ii.        An Economic Strategy scoping report be presented at the September meeting.

Reason:              To understand the implementation of the Economic Strategy.

The Assistant Director for Transport, Highways  & Environment  presented a report that set out the costs of providing a Green Waste Collections service both from a collection and a disposal perspective, and provided performance information of green waste collections across the region. In response to a Member question regarding information on recycling, the Assistant Director for Transport, Highways & Environment gave clarification on the background to the update.

In response to questions and comments from the Committee, the Assistant Director for Transport, Highways & Environment  clarified that:

·        Green waste was not of a sufficient quality to be sold.

·        Comparing York to similar, rather than other North Yorkshire Local Authorities was dependant on the collection methodologies. The Assistant Director for Transport, Highways and Environment said he was happy to provide date comparing York with Local Authorities within its family group.

·        The surplus of end product from green waste not collected by residents was used to cap the landfill site.

·        In regard to the collection operation of green waste, there was a shortage of drivers which delayed the collection of green bins in some areas of the city. It was explained that there was a challenge both locally and nationally in the recruitment of HGV drivers. In order to address this, more HGV drivers had been recruited to CYC contracts to provide them with job security. It was highlighted that there was a higher turnover of short term HGV drivers than long term HGV drivers. Moves to train loaders to become HGV drivers were also being progressed.

·        Sickness absence was one of a number of issues affecting waste collection staff.

·        An explanation was given as to why green waste had not been  collected in some areas of York during that week.

Resolved: That;

                                   i.       The information in the report be noted. 

                                  ii.       A scoping report giving an overview of recycling and co-mingling be presented at the September meeting.

Reason:     To update Members on the effective of the Council’s Waste Strategy.

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

The Committee considered the draft work plan for the 2018/9 municipal year.

Resolved: That the draft work plan for 2018/19, including the above amendments, be approved.

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