Agenda item
Questions to the Executive Leader and Executive Members received under Standing Order 10(c)
To deal with the following questions to the Executive Leader and / or other Executive Members, in accordance with Standing Order 11.3:
(i) To the Executive Member for Children’s Services, from Cllr Alexander:
“Can the Executive Member for Children’s Services detail what extra resources are being given to ensure a successful outcome in the second round 2 bidding for the ‘Myplace’ scheme?”
(ii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Potter:
“Would the Executive Member agree with me that the Council needs to set a target to achieve at least a 5% reduction in its energy consumption over the next 12 months?”
(iii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Potter:
“Would the Executive Member inform Council what action is being taken to re-invigorate the stalled Carbon Management Programme and what steps are being taken to properly resource the need for data analysis to inform the implementation of the programme?”
(iv) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“As part of the Access York Phase 2 (ring road improvements) bid, the objectives of 'reducing congestion in the city centre'...'reallocation of roadspace to buses cyclists and pedestrians' and 'manage the demand using parking charges and possibly access restraint over the city centre bridges' have been stated. If the funding bid is successful, what is the timescale for taking these objectives forward and how will you ensure they are achieved as part of any increased capacity on the outer ring road?”
(v) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Firth:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy comment on how York's LTP2 performance compares with that of similar local authorities elsewhere?”
(vi) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Potter:
“What progress has been made with the implementation of the Sustainable Procurement Policy?”
(vii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, from Cllr Horton:
“Given the numerous occasions in the past when Absolute Leisure have promised to commence works at the Barbican, what assurances can the Executive Member give that this current offer is not another ‘empty promise’; and if a start is not made in January 2009 as promised, what action would the Executive Member propose to take?”
(ix) To the Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, from Cllr Horton:
“Given that grant aided refurbishment works to the property at 17, Almsford Road should have been substantially completed by the end of March 2008, when does the Executive Member anticipate occupation to be taken up, noting that little action appears to have taken place at the property in the last two months?”
(ix) To the Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, from Cllr Sunderland:
“Would the Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services comment on the Council's performance at the Great North Care Awards?”
Minutes:
Nine questions had been submitted to the Executive Leader and Executive Members under Standing Order 10(c). The guillotine having fallen at this point, Members agreed to receive written answers to these questions. The questions and the written responses are set out below:
(i) To the Executive Member for Children’s Services, from Cllr Alexander:
“Can the Executive Member for Children’s Services detail what extra resources are being given to ensure a successful outcome in the second round bidding for the ‘Myplace’ scheme?”
Reply:
“I have identified sufficient resources to enable officers to buy in additional bid management and technical skills to assist with the appraisal of the options identified so far and the submission of a high quality bid next year. An individual has been appointed and has already started work on the project.”
(ii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Potter:
“Would the Executive Member agree with me that the Council needs to set a target to achieve at least a 5% reduction in its energy consumption over the next 12 months?”
Reply:
“Clearly all Council Departments are looking carefully at the budget implications of the recent increases in fuel prices. It would be premature to speculate on what measures the Council will be able to promote to reduce energy consumption when it considers its 09/10 budget and consequently it would also be wrong at this stage to allocate a particular percentage target.
The York Council has already, of course, made substantial progress in reducing energy consumption as result of the erection of new buildings such as the Eco Depot, the modernisation of facilities such as the Yearsley pool and looks forward to further progress as energy efficient buildings, such as the new High School, are opened over the next few months.”
(iii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Potter:
“Would the Executive Member inform Council what action is being taken to re-invigorate the stalled Carbon Management Programme and what steps are being taken to properly resource the need for data analysis to inform the implementation of the programme?”
Reply:
“The Carbon Management programme has not stalled. A report on progress will be made to the Executive in the new year.
One of the sustainability officer posts is currently vacant. It is anticipated that, now that the Pay and Grading review has been completed, it will be possible to fill this vacancy.”
(iv) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“As part of the Access York Phase 2 (ring road improvements) bid, the objectives of 'reducing congestion in the city centre'...'reallocation of roadspace to buses cyclists and pedestrians' and 'manage the demand using parking charges and possibly access restraint over the city centre bridges' have been stated. If the funding bid is successful, what is the timescale for taking these objectives forward and how will you ensure they are achieved as part of any increased capacity on the outer ring road?”
Reply:
“The Access 2 bid is still in its early stages. It has yet to be considered by the Regional Transport Board. As and when approval has been obtained it will be possible to move ahead, not only with the substantial design works required for a civil engineering project of this scale, but also to begin to put together an implementation strategy and timetable.
It has to be recognised that the RTB budget is likely to be oversubscribed by a factor of 10 times and that obtaining approval of the £42 million bid will remain the top priority of the Councils transport resources for some time into the future.”
(v) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Firth:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy comment on how York's LTP2 performance compares with that of similar local authorities elsewhere?”
Reply:
“Unfortunately it is not possible at this stage to provide detailed information as other authorities are at the same stage as York in providing their LPT2 update to central government. More information may be available in the spring.
From a quick comparison with 5 other authorities that do have some data that they were able to share with us, it does seem that York compares well in terms of performance particularly in respect of trends in walking, bus usage, park and ride, cycling, accidents and air quality. In these areas York is doing at least as well as its contemporary authorities.
The only area where our progress is less substantial seems to be in persuading people not to drive their children to school.”
(vi) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Potter:
“What progress has been made with the implementation of the Sustainable Procurement Policy?”
Reply:
“I am delighted to report that the Sustainable Procurement Policy was approved in June 2008 along with the use of the Procura+ manual as a pilot guide for officers involved in procurement activity.
Since June the Procura+ guidance has been piloted in some contracts and a report will be taken to Executive in the New Year to report on progress and recommend the adoption of the Procura+ manual across the organisation as a whole.
In addition to this over one hundred officers received Sustainable Procurement training as part of the October 2008 training events. The evaluation models have also been reviewed to better include Whole Life Costing and this supplementary guidance was issued in June 2008.
A more formal relationship with the Procura+ organisation has been recently established and they are wishing to discuss other pilots including the use of LED lighting, etc. The sustainable aspects of procurement in terms of supplier relationships and the FMS project are also being investigated.”
(vii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, from Cllr Horton:
“Given the numerous occasions in the past when Absolute Leisure have promised to commence works at the Barbican, what assurances can the Executive Member give that this current offer is not another ‘empty promise’; and if a start is not made in January 2009 as promised, what action would the Executive Member propose to take?”
Reply:
“I spoke to Absolute Leisure on the 26th November, a building contractor is being appointed and the contract is being signed in the near future. I am therefore cautiously optimistic that everything is on course for construction to start in January.”
(viii) To the Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, from Cllr Horton:
“Given that grant aided refurbishment works to the property at 17, Almsford Road should have been substantially completed by the end of March 2008, when does the Executive Member anticipate occupation to be taken up, noting that little action appears to have taken place at the property in the last two months?”
Reply:
“I am told that there is still outstanding work to be done at this property, mainly around the garden but that the property should be available for letting within the next couple of weeks.”
(ix) To the Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, from Cllr Sunderland:
“Would the Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services comment on the Council's performance at the Great North Care Awards?”
Reply:
“I am pleased to say that the 22 members of the Council’s Home Support Team won the Domiciliary Care Team Award. In addition a further 4 staff members were runners up in other categories. All had been nominated by their peers for outstanding service including one staff member who had prevented the death of an elderly lady by family members.
It was also pleasing and reassuring to see that so many of our partners who help us deliver services were also honoured.
The number of people working in the care industry is now second to the number of those working in the tourist industry and is set to grow.”