Agenda item

Questions to the Executive Leader and Executive Members received under Standing Order 11.3(a). As

Meeting of Council, Thursday, 8 April 2010 6.30 pm (Item 104.)

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 Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

“Will the Executive Member detail the start date and the works to be undertaken to the dangerous No. 4 Station bus stop and cycle lane?”

(ii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Gillies:

“Does the Executive Member have any indication whether the £22.9 million provisionally agreed by the Government to be put towards York’s Park & Ride schemes will be secured before the General Election?”

(iii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:

“Would the Executive Member indicate the cost, including staff time, of developing the area action plan for York Northwest to date, and the separate costs of preparing the preceding development briefs for the York Central site?”

(iv) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Healey:

“Can the Executive Member tell Council when it can expect the Water End Review report to be published?”

(v) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Firth:

“Can the Executive Member give an update on the progress made in achieving funding for the new Park & Ride sites in the City?”

(vi) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

“Can the Executive Member inform Council of how many families, adults with one or more children under 8 years old, are living in one bedroom accommodation in the City’s boundaries as of the 1^st March 2010?”

(vii) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

“Can the Executive Member inform Council of how many families, adults with one or more children under 4 years old, are living in first and second floor accommodation in the City’s boundaries as of the 1^st March 2010?”

(viii) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Scott:

“Has the Executive Member concluded any agreement with the PCT to replace the Respite Care that will be removed by your party’s budget for 2010/11?”

(ix) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Sue Galloway:

“Can the Executive Member give a summary of the outcomes of the recent Annual Housing Satisfaction Survey?”

(x) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Watt:

“Can the Executive Member tell Council what the average business rate rise will be for businesses in York for the period 1 April to 31 March 2011?”

(xi) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Do the auditors have a view on City of York Council’s medium-term financial strategy?”

(xii) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Has the Executive Member or any Officers received, either formally or informally, any guidance from HM Government regarding future grant settlements?”

(xiii) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Can the Executive Member give Council the benefit of his opinion as to how prudent it is to assume a 0% increase in City of York Council’s grant settlement from 2011?”

(xiv) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Could the Executive Member update Council on City of York Council’s current level of reserves, on whether this amount is more or less than the minimum recommended level as defined by the auditors and, should the reserve levels fall below this minimum recommended level, explain the reasons why?”

(xv) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Brian Watson:

“Will the Executive Member outline what alternatives to demolition were investigated and consideredbefore the decision to demolish the Peasholme Centre at Peasholme Green was made?”

(xvi) To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr Gillies:

“Can the Executive Member tell Council when the temporary tarmac repairs on Lendal Bridge will be replaced, and will they be replaced with Yorkshire flagstone?”

(xvii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Crisp:

“What are the Executive Member’s plans to improve and promote Social Inclusion in the City, particularly in relation to BME residents?”

(xviii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Crisp:

“Could the Executive Member outline how he hopes to maintain and improve access to the Guildhall in relation to DDA requirements, so that all meeting rooms, including the Council Chamber, are accessible without prior notice?”

(xix) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Crisp:

“Can the Executive Member inform Council what progress has been made concerning discussions with York Museums Trust over the possible location of the winter ice rink being in the Museum Gardens?”

(xx) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Aspden:

“Can the Executive Member give an update on the outcome of the recent Local Government Chronicle Awards, at which York’s Children’s Services were nominated for an award?”

(xxi) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Orrell:

“Can the Executive Member provide an update on the opening of the new school building for Joseph Rowntree School?”

(xxii) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Hyman:

“Can the Executive Member explain how the new Joseph Rowntree building will be made available for community use?”

Minutes:

Twenty-two questions had been submitted to Executive Members under Standing Order 11.3(a). The questions were put and answered as follows:

(i) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

“Will the Executive Member detail the start date and the works to be undertaken to the dangerous No. 4 Station bus stop and cycle lane?”

The Executive Member replied:

“Following the Executive decision on 30^th March 2010, officers will be contacting East Coast and Network Rail in the near future to set up a meeting to explore the short term options for improvement.

Until these issues have been fully considered it would be wrong to specify a date, but I expect that we should be making some improvements during the summer.”

(ii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Gillies:

The Executive Member replied:

“The Park & Ride sites, included in the Access York Phase 1 scheme, were awarded Programme Entry on Monday 22 March 2010.

The sum of £22.9 million is therefore available from the Government (Department for Transport) subject to satisfying the anticipated requirements, including the achievement of Final Approval once the construction tender prices are known.”

(iii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:

The Executive Member replied:

“Cllr Merrett will be aware that we do not have a staff time allocation system which allows us to identify precisely how administrative time has been divided between the many different – often concurrent – tasks that are involved in building a Local Development Framework. Any staff time related figures are, therefore, estimates.

Between 2002/3 and 2004/5 there were direct costs of £28,656 (consultants and consultation) and staff costs of about £62,300 for work on the York Central Planning Brief.

In 2005/6 there were direct costs of £50,653 (transport work and stadium study) and staff costs of about £21,900 on the York Central Planning Framework.

Between 2006/7 and 2009/10 there were direct costs off £222,674 (consultants work on transport, open space, ecology, landscape and also on consultation) and staff costs of about £235,700 on the Area Action Plan.

All of the work on the Area Action Plan will feed into the approach we are now taking for York Central through the Core Strategy and Supplementary Planning Documents for each site. The work is needed to underpin this new approach and if we hadn’t done this work we would need to do it now.

The costs associated with an Area Action Plan are greater than the Planning Brief – much of this is due to the changed nature of the planning system. We now have to have a robust evidence base and demonstrate deliverability./ So much more upfront work is required.”

At this point in the meeting, the guillotine fell and Members agreed to accept written answers to the remaining questions, as set out below.

(iv) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Healey:

“Can the Executive Member tell Council when it can expect the Water End review to be published?”

“There is a report (Water End- End of Year report) scheduled to go to Decision Session, Executive Member for City Strategy on 1st June 2010.”

(v) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Firth:

“Can the Executive Member give an update on the progress made in achieving funding for the new Park & Ride sites in the City?”

“The Park & Ride sites, included in the Access York Phase 1 scheme, were awarded Programme Entry on Monday 22 March 2010.

(vi) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

“Can the Executive Member inform Council of how many families, adults with one or more children under 8 years old, are living in first and second floor accommodation in the City’s boundaries as of the 1^st March 2010?”

“As a result of the policies of successive governments, first depleting our council house stock and then using the revenue from the remaining stock as a source for government stealth tax rather than reinvestment in replacing lost council houses, there is a shortage of family council housing in York. Attempts to free up suitable accommodation by encouraging down sizing was referred to my reply to a question from Councillor Alexander on the 4^th February. There are currently (as at 7^th April 2010) 147 households with a child or children under the age of 8 years living in CYC properties with 1 or less (bed-sits) bedrooms.

The Council does not keep this information in relation to the private sector or other housing providers.”

(vii) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:

“Councillor Simpson-Laing will be aware that demand for ground floor accommodation comes not only from families with young children but those with age-related or medical requirements. As at 7^th April 2010 there were 174 households with one or more children under 4 years old living in properties above ground floor

The Council does not have and is not required to keep such records for other sectors of the housing market.”

(viii) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Scott:

“Has the Executive Member concluded any agreement with the PCT to replace the Respite Care that will be removed by your party’s budget for 2010/11?”

“Officers have written to the PCT about this issue and are awaiting a response.”

(ix) To the Executive Member for Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Sue Galloway:

“Can the Executive Member give a summary of the outcomes of the recent Annual Housing Satisfaction Survey?”

“The annual Housing Satisfaction Survey by City of York Council shows significant improvement in tenant satisfaction across the city.

According to the survey, which was sent out to 2000 tenants around the city, considerable improvements have been in a wide range of areas with many of the report's key customer satisfaction indicators in the top quartile for performance.

Tenant satisfaction has increased in terms of overall service from 85% to 89%, exceeding the 08/09 set target of 88%. Satisfaction with repairs and maintenance provision has seen a rise from 83% to 87%.

Those areas also seeing a rise in satisfaction are value for money (81% to 85%), general condition of property (82% to 85%) and the views of the tenant being taken into account (68% to 72%).

Tenant satisfaction with opportunities to participate in management has increased. This can be linked to the percentage increase from 74% to 80% of tenants agreeing that the City of York is a good landlord.”

(x) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Watt:

“Can the Executive Member tell Council what the average business rate rise will be for businesses in York for the period 1 April to 31 March 2011?”

“There isn’t an easy way to determine this, as National Non-Domestic Rate liabilities change throughout the year. Successful appeals against rateable values have an impact on the amount due. Transitional relief and the Retail Price Index further complicate any calculations. In the five months prior to the current financial year there were 624 revaluations advised, ranging from a reduction of 93.74% to an increase of 1,496.64%.

However, as at 31^st March 2010, the net billing debit was £85,658,955.87 and as of 1st April this sum rose to £87,549,982.50 – a rise of 2.2%, though this gross indication can hide a multitude of grief. The overall increase in rateable values is 20.1%, up from £202,718,617 in 2005 to £243,539,409 now.”

(xi) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Do the auditors have a view on City of York Council’s medium-term financial strategy?”

“The auditors have signed off the strategy in the last Annual Accounts without any adverse comment, so I assume that they have no concerns.”

(xii) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Has the Executive Member or any Officers received, either formally or informally, any guidance from HM Government regarding future grant settlements?”

“To the best of my knowledge we have not received anything formally pending the outcome of the general election. Various statements have been made about how Gershon type reductions would be assumed in future funding decisions (the implication that we would have to find efficiency savings next year as the grant would be reduced on this assumption), groups such as the Local Government Association and those representing districts, counties and unitaries, etc., have expressed concern that grant levels could alter from small increases through a cash-frozen situation to reductions of up to 10% per annum. The Total Place report also may change funding allocations between different types of authorities. The first budget statement of the new Parliament will clarify the position and an updated financial forecast will be prepared based on this.”

(xiii) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Can the Executive Member give Council the benefit of his opinion as to how prudent it is to assume a 0% increase in City of York Council’s grant settlement from 2011?”

“The first budget statement of the new Parliament will clarify the position and an updated financial forecast will be prepared based on this.”

(xiv) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Healey:

“Until the final figures are available for the financial year just ended the figures for projected levels of reserves are as stated in the 2010/11 budget report. The auditors have no powers to determine what the minimum level of reserves should be, they can only comment on whether or not they think our reserves are adequate for current and potential future needs/risks. The Director of Customer and Business Support Services set out in the budget report to the Executive what a prudent level should include. The projections for 2009/10 are that the reserves will be more than the minimum level thus calculated. The out-turn for 2009/10 and the medium term financial strategy reports will keep Members appraised of the position on reserves.”

(xv) To the Executive Member for Corporate Services, from Cllr Brian Watson:

“Will the Executive Member outline what alternatives to demolition were investigated and considered before the decision to demolish the Peaseholme Centre at Peaseholme Green were made?”

“This issue is not within my remit, as I believe the matter was dealt with by Property Services and/or Housing. I will undertake to provide a written response to the question, as I will need to ascertain details of which I’m not currently aware.”

(xvi) To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr Gillies:

“Can the Executive Member tell Council when the temporary tarmac repairs on Lendal Bridge will be replaced, and will they be replaced with Yorkshire flagstone?”

“The tarmac will be replaced by York stone paving and is in the programme of works for 2010/11. The work will need a road closure and is currently scheduled to start on 5th May 2010 and should take 6 nights.”

(xvii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Crisp:

“What are the Executive Member’s plans to improve and promote Social Inclusion in the City, particularly in relation to BME residents?”

“As outlined in the Sustainable Community Strategy, social inclusion is central to everything the LSP Executive board and the LSP partnerships do. In the context of Inclusive York, council officers are currently working with LSP partners to develop a comprehensive plan that will outline in detail actions to maintain and develop further social inclusion in the city. The plan will include actions that relate to BME residents as well as to other Black and Minority Ethnic groups in the city such as migrant workers, students etc. Following a period of extensive consultation that will include City of York Council, the plan is scheduled to be launched at the LSP annual conference at the end of September 2010.”

(xviii) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Crisp:

“The last consultants’ report demonstrated that:

‘Circulation within the chamber and gallery is restricted. The only space likely to be large enough for wheelchair users are the areas between the main chamber and the public gallery and therefore we recommend a management policy be put in place to ensure that these spaces are available. The fixed nature of the majority of the furniture restricts access for people with disabilities, however with careful management, free standing seats could be used to accommodate councillors and members of the public who can't negotiate the closely located seats. Assistance to reach seating should also be provided. We recommend that a hearing enhancement system be provided complete with signage to identify its presence.’

I will be working with council officers to see how this can be achieved.”

(xix) To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Crisp:

“Can the Executive Member inform Council what progress has been made concerning discussions with York Museums Trust over the possible location of the winter ice rink being in the Museum Gardens?

“We need to remember that the need for a new location for the ice rink arises because, despite the entirely successful operation of the rink at the Eye of York, the Crown Court threatened legal action if the rink were to return next year. The ice rink is a commercial operation and the Council is working with the operator to enable them to consider all options that could be commercially viable for the rink. The Museum Gardens is one site that has been considered. It was clear from the outset, however, that there are a number of practical difficulties about the gardens and at this point those difficulties remain. Discussion will therefore continue with the operator about other sites.”

(xx) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Aspden:

“Can the Executive Member give an update on the outcome of the recent Local Government Chronicle Awards, at which York’s Children’s Services were nominated for an award?”

“I am delighted to tell the council that Children and Young People’s Services in York received a Highly Commended Award from the Local Government Chronicle for Integrated Working with Children with Disabilities. This was the highest award for any council outside London and confirms our commitment to working with those who are most disadvantaged as well as strong partnership working between all the professionals involved. I would like to put on record my thanks to Jess Haslam and her team who provide such an outstanding service to young people with disabilities and their families here in York.”

(xxi) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Orrell:

“Can the Executive Member provide an update on the opening of the new school building for Joseph Rowntree School?”

“The opening of the new Joseph Rowntree School was a very special event in the life of the city and for the young people of the area in particular. The new school has many outstanding features and provides a 21^st Century learning environment with facilities for all types of learning, including a hair and beauty training salon, which is run in conjunction with York College. Present students were delighted to be in their new school and both students and staff are making good use of all the new facilities. A formal opening event is being planned for May.”

(xxii) To the Executive Member for Children & Young People’s Services, from Cllr Hyman:

“Can the Executive Member explain how the new Joseph Rowntree building will be made available for community use?”

“I am pleased to report to council that the community use of the facilities at the new Joseph Rowntree School commenced as soon as the school was open. Indeed, on the second day of opening, I and my ward colleagues saw community groups using the sports hall and were able to discuss the opportunities provided by this new facility with members of the local area that were using them at the time.

The school has had two Saturday mornings when it has been open for people who may wish to use the facilities to view them, and quite a few potential customers have been taken round the school. A booklet has also been issued, detailing the facilities.

The sports facilities and the activity studio are almost fully booked, and there could be several adult education classes running, including drama, dance, music, fine art and DT. Details of these are yet to be finalised.

Facilities at the new school are excellent and it is good to know that there is so much interest from the community in using them fully.”