Agenda item

This report provides an update on the outcome of the public consultation concerning the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (SCA) and asks Members to advise whether any of the proposals that have arisen as a result of this consultation should not go forward to the next stage of the consultation process.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the information provided in paragraphs 4-11 of the report, concerning the outcome of the public consultation exercise undertaken, be noted.

REASON:      For information, and to be clear that the consultation has complied with the requirements of the Council motion, with discussion on the topic at all ward committees across the City.

                        (ii)        That the response to the consultation after Officer, CMT and Director screening, as detailed in Annex 1 to the report, be noted.

                        (iii)       That the next steps in the consultation process, as detailed in paragraphs 12-14, be noted and approved and that, in addition, the Council’s website be used to consult more widely on the shortlisted proposals.

REASON:      For information, and to enable a wider section of the public to comment on the proposals.

                        (iv)       That all of the proposals detailed in Annex 1, with the exception of no. 256, be taken forward to the next stage of consultation.

REASON:      In accordance with the screening process carried out by Officers and to commence dialogue on these proposals with the LSP and the Citizen’s Panel, the results of which will be reported back to Executive on 21 July.

(v) That the proposals set out in the additional annex (Annex 3), which will be published on-line with the agenda for this meeting, also be taken forward to the next stage of the consultation.

REASON:      The Executive considers that these issues are also worthy of public consultation under the Act.

                        (vi)       That proposal no. 256 be referred to Haxby Town Council and Wigginton Parish Council for their consideration.

REASON:      To enable this proposal to be dealt with at an appropriate level.

                        (vii)      That the suggestions for planting fruit and nut trees be referred to City Strategy department, so that consideration can be given to amending the appropriate planning guidance.

                        (viii)     That the suggestions for improved sustainable building methods be referred to City Strategy department, so that consideration can be given to amending the appropriate planning guidance.

                        (ix)       That the suggestions for a community orchard / market garden be referred to the department for Learning, Culture and Children’s Services, so that Officers can carry out a feasibility study.

REASON:      To enable these suggestions to be considered under the Council’s existing powers.

Members considered a report which provided an update on the outcome of the public consultation on the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) 2007 and details of the next steps in the consultation process.

In accordance with the motion approved by Full Council on 27 November 2008 and the process agreed by the Executive on 14 April 2009, the Neighbourhood Management Unit (NMU) had led a city-wide consultation using a variety of methods, including discussion at ward committees and a dedicated web page.  As a result, 327 proposals for local sustainability had been received in total from individuals, community groups and parish councils.  These had been reviewed by a cross-directorate Officer project group, the Corporate Management Team (CMT) and individual Directors, who had determined that 46 of the proposals fell within the scope of the SCA 2007. 

The 46 proposals were detailed in Annex 1 to the report and Members were invited to advise which, if any, of these should not go forward to the next stage of consultation.  The remainder would be discussed by the Without Walls Executive Delivery Board on 15 June and by the Citizens’ Panel on 18 June.  Comments made at these meetings would be reported back to the Executive on 21 July, together with information on financial and legal implications relating to the proposals.  The Executive would then have a final opportunity to select the proposals for submission to the Local Government Association (LGA) by the deadline of 31 July.  Draft details of the information required by the LGA in respect of this submission were attached at Annex 2.

With reference to the comments made under Public Participation, Officers confirmed that they believed the consultation requirements of the Act had been fully complied with.  There was a need to be selective with regard to the proposals put forward, not least because each proposal submitted to the LGA would require a 10 page form to be completed, and must be supported by additional information of up to 6,000 words.  Members noted that there would be no objections to making all 327 proposals publicly available on the Council’s website.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the information provided in paragraphs 4-11 of the report, concerning the outcome of the public consultation exercise undertaken, be noted.

REASON:      For information, and to be clear that the consultation has complied with the requirements of the Council motion, with discussion on the topic at all ward committees across the City.

                        (ii)        That the response to the consultation after Officer, CMT and Director screening, as detailed in Annex 1 to the report, be noted.

                        (iii)       That the next steps in the consultation process, as detailed in paragraphs 12-14, be noted and approved and that, in addition, the Council’s website be used to consult more widely on the shortlisted proposals.

REASON:      For information, and to enable a wider section of the public to comment on the proposals.

                        (iv)       That all of the proposals detailed in Annex 1, with the exception of no. 256, be taken forward to the next stage of consultation.¹

REASON:      In accordance with the screening process carried out by Officers and to commence dialogue on these proposals with the LSP and the Citizen’s Panel, the results of which will be reported back to Executive on 21 July.

(v) That the proposals set out in the additional annex (Annex 3), which will be published on-line with the agenda for this meeting,* also be taken forward to the next stage of the consultation. ²

REASON:      The Executive considers that these issues are also worthy of public consultation under the Act.

                        (vi)       That proposal no. 256 be referred to Haxby Town Council and Wigginton Parish Council for their consideration. ³

REASON:      To enable this proposal to be dealt with at an appropriate level.

                        (vii)      That the suggestions for planting fruit and nut trees be referred to City Strategy department, so that consideration can be given to amending the appropriate planning guidance. ⁴

                        (viii)     That the suggestions for improved sustainable building methods be referred to City Strategy department, so that consideration can be given to amending the appropriate planning guidance. ⁵

                        (ix)       That the suggestions for a community orchard / market garden be referred to the department for Learning, Culture and Children’s Services, so that Officers can carry out a feasibility study. ⁶

REASON:      To enable these suggestions to be considered under the Council’s existing powers.

*Note: this annex has now been published with both the agenda and the minutes for this meeting.