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(a):
(i) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Alexander:
“The new Council HQ was originally predicted to save £29m. The current estimate is £17m - please could the Executive Leader explain the drop?”
(ii) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Firth:
“Can the Executive Leader explain what work is being done to ensure that the construction of the new Council HQ utilises local labour as much as possible?”
(iii) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Orrell:
“Will the Executive Leader agree to provide more Council owned space for Edible York to use?”
(iv) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr R Watson:
“Would the Leader of the Council indicate the total number of crimes committee in the City in each year since 2003?”
(v) To the Executive Leader, from Clllr Jamieson-Ball:
“Would the Leader of the Council indicate how York unemployment levels have compared with the regional and national average at the end of each of the last 8 years?”
(vi) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Will the Executive Member for City Strategy please inform Council of the total number of staff hours that have been spent on the “rising bollard” on Low Poppleton Lane since its installation and the resulting financial cost?”
(vii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“Would the Executive Member please state what salt stocks are left for the rest of winter and what action is being taken to address public concern about clearance of snow and ice from footpaths and cycle lanes / tracks?”
(viii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Hogg:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy indicate how many KSI traffic accidents have been recorded in each of the last 8 years in the City?”
(ix) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Sunderland:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy indicate:
a) how many bus passenger journeys and
b) how many park and ride journeys
were made in each of the last 8 years?”
(x) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Merrett:
“Would the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion please indicate how much of last year’s Ward Committee carry forwards, itemised by Ward, have now been delivered? Where they have failed to be delivered please could an explanation be given?”
(xi) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr B Watson:
“Will the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion please inform Council what is proposed to happen to the former Manor School when Global's lease runs out in 2011?”
(xii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Hogg:
“Would the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion indicate how many visits were made to each of our libraries each year since 2003?”
(xii) To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“What provision is being made for residents in flats and terraced houses to have smaller recycling boxes or communal facilities for recycling?”
(xiii) To the Executive Member for Health & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Hyman:
“Is the Executive Member for Health & Adult Social Services able to give details of the CQC Assessment of Performance in Adult Social Care for 2009/10?”
(xiv) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Kirk:
“Can the Executive Member tell Council about the outcome of the recent inspection of the Youth Offending Team?”
(xv) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Waudby:
“Can the Executive Member explain the discrepancy between the figure for A-Level results calculated locally and the figure released by the Department for Education in October, which was reported in the local media?”
(xvi) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Aspden:
“Would the Executive Member for Children’s Services tell us how many children have received 5 A-C exam grades in each year since 2003?”
(xvii) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Firth:
“Can the Executive Member give the Council details of the contents of this year’s annual audit letter?”
(xviii) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Kirk:
“Could the Executive Member for Corporate Services advise on the success or otherwise of the 24-hour benefit processing pledge?”
Minutes:
Nineteen questions had been submitted to the Executive Leader and Executive Members under Standing Order 11.3(a). The guillotine having fallen at this point, Members agreed to receive written answers to their questions, as set out below:
(i) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Alexander:
“The new Council HQ was originally predicted to save £29m. The current estimate is £17m - please could the Executive Leader explain the drop?”
Reply:
I would hope that Cllr Alexander will consult the Executive Papers of 22nd November 2005 which detailed in paragraph 82 ‘There is a net saving to the council of £17.4 million in cash terms against existing budgets over the period [30 years]
The figure of £29 million relates to savings including the additional liabilities for which there are no budgets.(Items such as lease renewal costs, dilapidations, repairs backlogs, and increases in the lease rentals)
We are continuing to report (as per Executive 2nd Nov 2010) a cash saving of £17 million on existing budgets but over 25 years rather than 30 years which is an improvement on the previous cash saving reported in 2005.
(ii) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Firth:
“Can the Executive Leader explain what work is being done to ensure that the construction of the new Council HQ utilises local labour as much as possible?”
Reply:
“I have met with the developers for the Headquarters to examine how local businesses and local employment can benefit from this development at a critical time for the construction industry. They are keen to run a ‘Doing business with the HQ’ session in the Guildhall to make connections with local companies, and work is ongoing with the Higher York (Jessica Grant) and the progression of the Construction Academy to link local labour and training to the work needed during construction. I will be happy to keep the council informed of progress with this objective.”
(iii) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Orrell:
“Will the Executive Leader agree to provide more Council owned space for Edible York to use?”
Reply:
At the launch of Edible York at a packed meeting at the Friends Meeting House on 19th November I was very pleased to be able to give a commitment that the council would examine what plots of publicly accessible land could be designated for this work. There has been a very successful trial at a piece of land close to the Barbican, and there is opportunity to develop this across the city which will help to promote home grown food, the connection with healthy eating, and reduce the city’s environmental footprint. I have already asked the Chief Executive and Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods to come forward with sites that would be suitable for this use, and to ensure that any legal and insurance issues are dealt with.
(iv) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr R Watson:
“Would the Leader of the Council indicate the total number of crimes committed in the City in each year since 2003?”
Reply:
|
|
2003/4 |
2004/5 est |
2005/6 |
2006/7 |
2007/8 |
2008/9 |
2009/10 |
|
BSC Comparator Crime |
17,948 |
17,200 |
14,270 |
11,876 |
10,010 |
9,906 |
7,547 |
|
% change on previous year |
|
-4% |
-20% |
-17% |
-16% |
-1% |
-24% |
|
Total Crime |
23,065 |
23,148 |
22,787 |
20,951 |
18,924 |
17,949 |
14,481 |
|
% change on previous year |
|
0% |
-1% |
-8% |
-10% |
-5% |
-19% |
(v) To the Executive Leader, from Clllr Jamieson-Ball:
“Would the Leader of the Council indicate how York unemployment levels have compared with the regional and national average at the end of each of the last 8 years?”
Reply:
 |
(vi) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Will the Executive Member for City Strategy please inform Council of the total number of staff hours that have been spent on the “rising bollard” on Low Poppleton Lane since its installation and the resulting financial cost?”
Reply:
Less than 1 hour (it was very uncomfortable)
If the question is aimed at finding out how many man-hours have been spent addressing faults on the rising bollard the questioner will know that the Council does not operate an administrative staff time recording system. However officers estimate that about 175 hours may have been spent which would equate to a cost of £6320. This is for site visits and work on the system and also in liaising with local people who report the faults.
Looking forward, the detection system has now been revised and there have been no site visits for faults since this happened about two weeks ago. The installers are currently looking at other potential weaknesses in the system and are not charging for their time.
(vii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“Would the Executive Member please state what salt stocks are left for the rest of winter and what action is being taken to address public concern about clearance of snow and ice from footpaths and cycle lanes / tracks?”
Reply:
This question should be directed to the Executive member for Neighbourhoods. However daily briefings have been issued by officers to all members during the recent period of bad weather.
(viii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Hogg:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy indicate how many KSI traffic accidents have been recorded in each of the last 8 years in the City?”
Reply:
Killed and Serious Injured, in York from 2001. Total of 9 years of data.
|
KSI |
94/98 baseline |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
Pedestrians |
|
19 |
33 |
10 |
20 |
11 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
10 |
|
Pedal Cyclists |
|
21 |
9 |
9 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
8 |
17 |
11 |
|
Motorcyclists |
|
24 |
32 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
30 |
28 |
22 |
11 |
|
Car Occupants |
|
44 |
43 |
53 |
50 |
51 |
91 |
33 |
36 |
25 |
|
Other |
|
11 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
6 |
9 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
137 |
119 |
120 |
100 |
114 |
101 |
160 |
93 |
95 |
60 |
(ix) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Sunderland:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy indicate:
a) how many bus passenger journeys and
b) how many park and ride journeys
were made in each of the last 8 years?”
Reply:
All Bus & Park & Ride - Passengers
|
Year |
Park & Ride actuals |
Total bus patronage actuals |
|
2002/03 |
1,847,228 |
11,241,605 |
|
2003/04 |
1,926,196 |
11,942,000 |
|
2004/05 |
2,376,242 |
14,474,577 |
|
2005/06 |
2,684,156 |
14,493,549 |
|
2006/07 |
3,137,467 |
15,144,371 |
|
2007/08 |
2,857,301 |
14,853,143 |
|
2008/09 |
2,982,622 |
15,334,448 |
|
2009/10 |
2,801,007 |
14,774,792 |
(x) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Merrett:
“Would the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion please indicate how much of last year’s Ward Committee carry forwards, itemised by Ward, have now been delivered? Where they have failed to be delivered please could an explanation be given?”
Reply:
31 of the 55 schemes carried forward schemes have now been delivered, as shown in the table below. The remaining 24 schemes are ongoing commissioned schemes not yet complete. No schemes have so far failed to be delivered.
|
Ward Committee |
Scheme desc |
Reason for carry forward |
Update as of 02.12.10 |
|
Acomb |
Carr Vikings additional grant |
Available funds identified due to underspend in other schemes, grant agreement paperwork not received in time to process in 09/10. |
Scheme complete and paid |
|
Bishopthorpe & Wheldrake |
Ferry Lane street light |
Invoice not received in 2009/10 but work ordered in Jan 2010. Column installed in 09/10 awaiting connection invoice. |
Scheme complete and paid |
|
Bishopthorpe & Wheldrake |
Vicarage Lane salt bin |
Late Request for salt bin as a direct result of severe weather conditions as a result fo public consultation by Neighbourhood Services at February ward committees. Therefore carry forward request to install in 2010/11 |
Scheme complete awaiting recharge |
|
Bishopthorpe & Wheldrake |
St Matthews Close salt bin |
Late Request for salt bin as a direct result of severe weather conditions as a result fo public consultation by Neighbourhood Services at February ward committees. Therefore carry forward request to install in 2010/11 |
Scheme complete awaiting recharge |
|
Clifton |
Grosvenor Road street lighting connection fee |
Invoice not received in 2009/10 Columns installed in 09/10 awaiting connection invoice. |
Scheme complete and paid |
|
Clifton |
Purchase and distribute carbon monoxide alarms |
Goods ordered but not received by end of financial year 09/10. |
Scheme complete - invoiced in two parts, first and largest part paid. |
|
Clifton |
Greenwaste collection March |
Goods ordered but not received by end of financial year 09/10. Amount too small for reserve creditors. |
Scheme complete and paid |
|
Derwent, Heworth Without & Osbaldwick |
church road street lighting connection fee |
Invoice not received in 2009/10 Columns installed in 09/10 awaiting connection invoice. |
Scheme complete and paid |
|
Dringhouses & Woodthorpe |
CCTV Wains Grove shops |
Match funding for with Target hardening Scheme total cost of scheme £7,287 |
Scheme complete and paid. |
|
Fishergate |
Prizes for Fishergate in Bloom |
Invoices/receipts not received in time for payment in 09/10 and amount too small for reserve creditor. |
Scheme Completed arranging transfer of funds. |
|
Fishergate |
Millennium Bridge football pitch |
Commissioned in 09/10 delay in installation due to adverse weather conditions. Work commenced April 10. |
Scheme Completed Funds transfered |
|
Fishergate |
Greenwaste collection March |
0 |
Scheme complete and paid. |
|
Heslington & Fulford |
grant to Fulford Preschool |
Grant agreed from community chest for schemes arising throughout the financial year 09/10 fund in 09/10 grant agreement form received towards year end and grant cheque raised on 23.03.10 |
Scheme completed funds transferred. |
|
Heslington & Fulford |
grant to Fulford Parish Council |
Grant agreed from community chest for schemes arising throughout the financial year 09/10 fund in 09/10. Outstanding paperwork from grant recipient |
Scheme completed. Full amount not required, jointly funded with parish council. Balance of £285.56 reallocated to Fordlands Crescent Street Lighting scheme. Design and costings done now at public consultation stage. |
|
Haxby & Wigginton |
Orchard Paddock |
Revenue carry forward request for connection fee. |
Scheme complete and paid. |
|
Haxby & Wigginton |
VA sign connection |
Installation of signs in 09/10 but connection by external company not programmed until early 10/11 |
Scheme complete. |
|
Haxby & Wigginton |
York Playspace mobile play sessions |
Adminstrative error led to no sessions being delivered by the commissioned organisation in the ward during the financial year 09/10. Carry forward at request of councillors. |
Added into the current years provision play sessions delivered. Complete first installment paid, second installment invoice currently being processed. |
|
Holgate |
Back Park Playbuilder contr |
Contribution to enhance playbuilder project with sympathetic planting via grant to Friends Group. |
Scheme completed funds transferred. |
|
Hull Road |
Bollards installation (melrosegate, Tuke Ave) |
3 locations identified. Orignal budget allocation allowed for 1 location to be actioned, additional budget identified later in year so other locations commissioned but could not be installed in 09/10. |
Scheme complete, funds not required as scheme paid for in March 09. |
|
Hull Road |
Street lighting design |
Street lighting design commissioned invoice not received in time for year end and too small amount for reserve creditor. |
Scheme Complete - arranging Funds Transfer |
|
Hull Road |
Ambleside Ave street lighting column |
Scheme commissioned and design received 09/10 insufficient budget to commission installation, Additional budget identified later in 09/10 due to underspends with other schemes but unable to install within financial year. |
Scheme Complete - arranging Funds Transfer |
|
Hull Road |
Hull Road Park fitness trail |
Delays with installation from external company due to be installed in time for Summer 2010. |
Scheme complete at cost of £1,655. Balance of funds reallocated to improvement scheme programme at Hull Road Park |
|
Hull Road |
Hull Road Park picnic table install |
Relocated exisiting picnic table from Leeside Park. Ready to go on site in conjunction with fitness trail scheme. |
Scheme completed. Funds transferred. |
|
Heworth |
Contribution to Playbuilder |
Scheme to enhance Playbuilder Scheme proposed on Monk Stray, Ongoing public consultation. |
Contribution not needed, Funds reallocated to Bike Project at 68 Centre. |
|
Huntington & New Earswick |
Broome Close s/l connection |
Invoice not received in 2009/10 Columns installed in 09/10 awaiting connection invoice. |
Scheme complete and paid |
|
Huntington & New Earswick |
Chiltern s/l connection |
Invoice not received in 2009/10 Columns installed in 09/10 awaiting connection invoice. |
Scheme complete and paid |
|
Rural West |
Street lighting - Northfield Lane |
Carry forward request to consult on and install scheme as joint project between ward committee and SES |
Project complete no ward committee funding required |
|
Strensall |
Alleyway Pasture Close - Streetlighting |
Request received late in 09/10 carry forward to cover design cost |
Awaiting update on payment. |
|
Westfield |
The Knoll parking prioject. |
Scheme installed at end of financial year, carry forward request to cover final costs of scheme. |
Scheme Completed and paid |
|
Westfield |
The Green street lighting |
Scheme identified and Agreed in the later part of 09/10 design ordered and received.Invoice not received by end of financial year. |
Scheme Completed |
|
Westfield |
Chesney Fields equipment repaint |
Scheme to repaint existing equipment as part of larger playbuilder scheme on site. Carry forward request as work done in financial year 10/11 to coincide with playbuilder. |
Scheme Completed and paid |
(xi) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr B Watson:
“Will the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion please inform Council what is proposed to happen to the former Manor School when Global's lease runs out in 2011?”
Reply:
Property Services is not part of the Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion portfolio. This question should be directed to the Executive Member for City Strategy
(xii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Hogg:
“Would the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion indicate how many visits were made to each of our libraries each year since 2003?”
Reply:
Visits to York Libraries have shown a steady increase since 2003 from 751,133 to 934,635 in 2009/10. In that time there has been both investment in the service and significant improvement in the services offered. There has been one new library at Fulford as part of the PFI scheme with St Oswalds Primary School. Three new Explore Centres have opened. The Explore Centre concept is a partnership with Adult Education and has levered in approximately 1.5 million pounds of external funding to create nationally acclaimed facilities at Acomb, New Earswick and recently York which is a public/private partnership with Aviva (recognised by the Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries as best practice). At York we have been able to increase opening hours to Sundays within budget through the installation of self issue machines.
Explore Acomb has become the hub of its community with visits increased nearly threefold. Explore New Earswick is working in partnership with the Children's Centre and the Primary School to promote reading and literacy with families - every child in the school borrows books on a weekly basis.
Since 2003 staff have actively engaged with their communities to ensure they reflect local need. The Big City Read is now a regular part of York life and engages thousands of people in reading and sharing their experiences every summer. Libraries are running weekly storytimes and rhymetimes, financial capability workshops, reading groups, author events and adult learning classes - they are helping people to get online and providing free access to the internet as well as free access to the world's knowledge and ideas through bookstock and online resources. They are safe, neutral spaces where communities come together. We expect to see the increase in visitors continue with our target for York of 1 Million visits a year - putting York in the top 5 high performing library services.
The table below shows visits to each library since 2003. Note the total for 2009/10 is lower due to the York Explore being closed for refurbishment from November 2009 to May 2010.
Since the reopening of York Explore visitor numbers have been up by around 20%.
|
|
03/04 |
04/05 |
05/06 |
06/07 |
07/08 |
08/09 |
09/10 |
|
Acomb |
57,977 |
58,252 |
57,962 |
54,908 |
29,159 |
118,681 |
126,421 |
|
Bishopthorpe |
13,936 |
15,315 |
16,131 |
28,679 |
23,448 |
23,675 |
24,610 |
|
Clifton |
21,424 |
33,326 |
35,116 |
32,300 |
33,770 |
32,079 |
38,816 |
|
Copmanthorpe |
14,352 |
21,961 |
21,246 |
21,564 |
20,642 |
22,446 |
22,985 |
|
Dringhouses |
25,220 |
31,055 |
30,409 |
29,305 |
35,007 |
29,953 |
29,894 |
|
Dunnington |
9,724 |
16,129 |
16,322 |
16,255 |
15,420 |
16,363 |
16,569 |
|
Fulford |
7,670 |
8,387 |
11,287 |
26,328 |
26,008 |
24,549 |
23,922 |
|
Haxby |
34,762 |
48,897 |
49,461 |
49,052 |
49,243 |
50,020 |
48,608 |
|
Huntington |
19,474 |
20,989 |
23,098 |
22,246 |
23,230 |
25,380 |
28,316 |
|
Mobile Library |
9,672 |
11,408 |
16,209 |
16,166 |
10,416 |
16,356 |
16,533 |
|
New Earswick |
12,896 |
14,240 |
20,682 |
17,725 |
15,248 |
24,337 |
27,706 |
|
Poppleton |
15,756 |
25,947 |
28,283 |
29,208 |
31,409 |
29,919 |
30,721 |
|
Strensall |
17,290 |
14,112 |
16,155 |
16,756 |
17,066 |
16,963 |
19,366 |
|
Tang Hall |
31,486 |
56,697 |
56,950 |
56,940 |
52,389 |
58,963 |
66,933 |
|
York |
459,494 |
470,712 |
481,719 |
458,033 |
425,869 |
444,961 |
269,537 |
|
Total |
751,133 |
847,427 |
881,030 |
875,465 |
808,324 |
934,645 |
790,937 |
(xiii) To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“What provision is being made for residents in flats and terraced houses to have smaller recycling boxes or communal facilities for recycling?”
Reply:
Cllr D’Agorne will no doubt recall that the reason we started the roll out in The Groves area was because there was a good range of properties, including flats and terraced houses, which gave us the chance to gauge residents reactions to the collection schemes. Storage of boxes in terraced houses was not identified as a particular problem. The vast majority of properties where we have recently introduced the service have found space to store their boxes, either inside or outside and we have tailored the solution to fit individual blocks of flats.
We already provide communal facilities to flats where there is sufficient space to allow the safe storage and collection of recycling and refuse bins and where the landlord or housing association has given its permission (not always the case). Where communal bins are in place, residents use plastic bags (provided by us) to store and transport their recyclables to the bins.
We do have boxes with dividers but these are better suited to those with mobility problems.
Just because a house is small does not mean that people are producing less recycling and the capacity of one divided box or smaller boxes may not be enough to cope with the materials produced by the household. We do need to balance the capacity of the boxes with the amount of materials being produced and providing smaller boxes mightmean some homes need more boxes which will still cause storage issues.
Officers have been dealing with individual issues as they arise so if residents raise specific problems with you then I would advise you to contact the Waste Team.
(xiv) To the Executive Member for Health & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Hyman:
“Is the Executive Member for Health & Adult Social Services able to give details of the CQC Assessment of Performance in Adult Social Care for 2009/10?”
Reply:
The recent CQC inspection report has rated the Council's Adult Social Services as 'Performing Well' . The report itself identified work to involve customers and their carers in shaping services and getting involved in community life as being 'Excellent'. I recently attended the launch of the independent living network which was one of the developments praised by the report.
Every area covered by the inspection either maintained or improved its performance from last year and the report highlighted improvements in 'Improving Health and Wellbeing for citizens', 'Improving Choice and Control for Service Users'; and service users/carers 'Making a Positive Contribution'.
Staff have worked hard to find further improvements to the service and they deserve a great deal of credit. Given the background of increased demand that the service is operating under it is impressive that we have been able to maintain high quality levels of service.
I would like to recognise the effort of everyone who has contributed to this excellent result including all the Adult Social Care staff who have worked so hard and our partners too numerous to mention who have made this result possible. I am sure we will together continue to look for ways in which we can improve our performance even further.
(xv) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Kirk:
“Can the Executive Member tell Council about the outcome of the recent inspection of the Youth Offending Team?”
Reply:
Inspectors recognised that York’s Youth Offending Team work very hard with young people in the city to help them avoid further offending behaviour and to make them contributing members of society.
The inspectors praised the partnership working of the team and confirmed that their performance is one of the best in the country.
The report graded the service on three key areas, which were focused around the work done to protect the young person, work to prevent re-offending and work to protect the public. York outscored the national average in each of the three areas, achieving a rating of 85% in safeguarding (national average 67%), 81% in work to protect the public (national average 62%) and 80% in work to reduce re-offending (national average 60%).
All three areas are crucial, but it is particularly difficult to achieve such a high safeguarding rating. The whole team under the leadership of their Manager, Simon Page, are to be congratulated on this significant achievement.
(xvi) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Waudby:
“Can the Executive Member explain the discrepancy between the figure for A-Level results calculated locally and the figure released by the Department for Education in October, which was reported in the local media?”
Reply:
The Department or Education (DfE) has confirmed that the A level data release in October did show an incorrect figure for York as a result of an error with the results for Askham Bryan College. The York result for the indicator - % of candidates achieving 2 or more passes of A Level equivalent - should be 96.2%, not 90.6%. The 96.2% result means that York is in the top 16% of LAs and is above the national result of 93.2% and the Yorkshire and Humber result of 92.2%.
The DfE will re-release the A level results for all LAs in January and the revised figure for York will be incorporated in this release.
(xvii) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Aspden:
“Would the Executive Member for Children’s Services tell us how many children have received 5 A-C exam grades in each year since 2003?”
Reply:
The table below shows the steadily increasing numbers of York’s young people who achieve 5 A* to C grades in their GCSE exams. This is the result of strong leadership, both from the Department and by Head Teachers in the schools, as well as the teachers, the young people and their parents. It plays a significant part in making York the Outstanding LA Children’s Services Department that it is.
|
Year |
Total NOR |
Nos achieving 5+ A*-C |
% achieving 5+ A*-C |
|
2003 |
1760 |
1037 |
58.90% |
|
2004 |
1809 |
1024 |
56.60% |
|
2005 |
1837 |
1113 |
60.60% |
|
2006 |
1904 |
1182 |
62.10% |
|
2007 |
1949 |
1316 |
67.50% |
|
2008 |
1893 |
1297 |
68.50% |
|
2009 |
1713 |
1253 |
73.10% |
|
2010 |
1761 |
1418 |
80.50% |
(xviii) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Firth:
“Can the Executive Member give the Council details of the contents of this year’s annual audit letter?”
Reply:
The Audit Commission has recently issued the Annual Audit Letter (AAL) to the Council which provides an independent opinion on the Council's Annual Statement of Accounts and an assessment of the arrangements to achieve value for money in the use of resources. The letter relates to arrangements in place for the financial year 2009/10.
In terms of the Statement of Accounts, the AAL notes the continued improvements in the quality of both the financial statements and the supporting working papers. Issues relating specifically to the Fixed Asset Register have become a primary focus for improvement in the current financial year, together with the implementation of the significant changes required as a result of the move towards International Financial Reporting Standards.
The AAL confirmed that the Council has satisfactory arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources (Value For Money). Specifically the Audit Commission has identified sustained strength in risk management, a strong anti-fraud culture, and the delivery of services that represent good value for money
Improvements were also noted in the Medium Term Financial Planning; the strategic efficiency programme delivering all key year 1 targets in 2009/10; progress in implementing data quality policies; arrangements for performance management, specifically around benchmarking and target setting resulting from comparison with others; and effective procedures in place for procurement and asset management, and the Veritau shared service arrangement receiving national recognition
In assessing the current and future challenges facing the Council, the AAL notes the financial pressures facing the public sector generally, and highlights the potential level of savings of £50m which could be required over the medium term. The report reflects that the Council’s Transformation Programme (More for York) has already been developed as strategic approach to delivering the financial strategy.
(xix) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Kirk:
“Could the Executive Member for Corporate Services advise on the success or otherwise of the 24-hour benefit processing pledge?”
Reply:
I am pleased to advise Council that, since the launch of this service one year ago, 1227 benefit and change of circumstances claims have been processed in accordance with the 24-hour promise. This is an average of 23.59 claims per week.
There are also future plans to increase take up of the 'promise'. From 1.12.10, when a customer phones to ask for a form or calls in to ask for a form they will be asked if they would like to make an appointment to bring in the form with all the proofs to support the claim. These claims could then become 24 hour promise claims.
The Housing teams are moving into the offices next door to Benefits, and it is proposed that arrangements will be made for the ability to refer fully supported claims for homeless customers via one of the Benefits Team Leaders to the 24 hour scheme.
Further supporting Housing's income strategy - whereby new tenants have to pay rent in advance or they must provide an advance fully supported HB form – it is proposed to put these claims through the 24 hour ‘promise’ (dependant on rent accounts being opened).
At year end, in March 2011, it is proposed to increase publicity of the 24 hours scheme, raising the profile of the ‘promise’ when many residents will be receiving their Council Tax bills.