Agenda item
Questions to the Cabinet Leader and Cabinet Members received under Standing Order 11
To deal with the following questions to the Cabinet Leader and / or other Cabinet Members, in accordance with Standing Order 11.3(a):
(i) To the Cabinet Leader from Cllr Firth
“Can the Cabinet Leader say whether the Council’s debt position for 2011/12 has increased or decreased since he became Leader?”
(ii) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Wiseman:
“What is the cost to the Council tax payers of York for the staffing and funding of Union Officers?”
(iii) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Galvin:
“Given that the Council has to make cuts and reduce staffing levels, can the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services justify spending Council Tax Payers money on the transfer of two experienced Planning Enforcement Officers to act as Union Representatives whilst still being employed by the Council?”
(iv) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Cuthbertson
“How many Freedom of Information requests were received regarding the sale of Union Terrace Car and Coach park? On what dates were they received and how many have not yet been responded to?”
(v) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Firth
“Can the Cabinet Member say how many businesses she met with at the recent meet the buyer event?”
(vi) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Aspden
“Given the recent results of the Fulfordgate residents parking ballot and parking issues associated with the University, will the Cabinet Member commission a report into the interrelated parking issues for the Heslington Lane area of Fulford before the end of the year?”
(vii) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Hyman
“Can the Cabinet Member say what steps he intends to take to increase the number of companies that allow the use of Taxi Cards?”
(viii) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Cuthbertson
“Given the reports of conflict between vehicles and cycles caused by the layout of the new style speed cushions outside Joseph Rowntree School, can the Cabinet Member say if he intends to allow the cushions to continue to be used in groups of three elsewhere in the City?”
(ix) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Aspden
“Can the Cabinet Member say when he expects the petition from residents regarding road safety on Selby Road, Fulford to be considered at a Decision Session?”
(x) To the Cabinet Member for Health, Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Taylor
"With the proposals under consultation to reduce the provision in our Residential Elderly Persons' Care Homes from 276 to 200 beds, will the Cabinet Member guarantee that, under the new proposals, there will be sufficient beds to meet the needs of York's ageing population?"
(xi) To the Cabinet Member for Health, Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Cuthbertson
“Can the Cabinet Member say how many responses to the consultation on Elderly Person’s Homes have been received and how many people attended each of the public meeting events?”
(xii) To the Cabinet Member for Communities & Neighbourhoods from Cllr Ayre
“Given that Quarter 1 figures suggest that existing policies have already increased the recycling rate to the level projected in Labour budget amendment, can the Cabinet Member say what rates she expects to reach once the new smaller recycling boxes have been introduced?”
(xiii) To the Cabinet Member for Communities & Neighbourhoods from Cllr Aspden
“Will the Cabinet Member agree to take steps to make the planting of trees easier on the Fulford Road corridor in order to help reduce air quality problems?”
(xiv) To the Cabinet Member for Education, Children & Young People’s Services from Cllr Aspden
“Does the Cabinet Member agree that personal finance education is vital in helping young people succeed in life and will she agree to look at ways in which the Council can encourage all schools in the City to teach these skills?”
(xv) To the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion from Cllr Ayre
“Can the Cabinet Member explain why local residents were not consulted prior to the decision being taken to reclassify Rawcliffe Country Park in the Council’s Events Protocol?”
(xvi) To the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion from Cllr Ayre
“Will the Cabinet Member confirm whether she intends to pursue a premises licence for Monk Stray?”
(xvii) To the Cabinet Member for Crime & Community Safety from Cllr Orrell
“Can the Cabinet Member detail some of the key decisions he has taken since May as part of his portfolio responsibilities and can he say how these decisions have impacted on crime and the perception of crime in the City?”
Minutes:
Seventeen 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 Cabinet Leader, from Cllr Firth
“Can the Leader say whether the Council’s debt position for 2011/12 has increased or decreased since he became Leader?”
Reply
The Council’s debt position for 2011/12 was reduced by the Labour administration by £1.7m in the budget amendment passed by Full Council on 30th June 2011. Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors disagreed with this move and voted against.
On 30th August 2011 there was agreement by the Group Leaders of the three main parties to purchase land on York Central which is strategically critical for the development of the site for up to £1.5m.
It is disappointing the land which was owned by Yorkshire Forward was not gifted to the Council as it was already in public hands. I contacted Vince Cable MP before Christmas asking for this to be considered and he never responded. If the land was sold to another organisation or held in trust this would have caused difficulties for York being its own master in terms of the local economy.
I was expecting the funds for this purchase to come from the £1.5m capital receipt from the sale of the Kent Street site to the Fire Service. I was alarmed to learn that the budget voted for by Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors on 24th February 2011 was already predicated on this sale at this price. Therefore without the sale progressing by the Labour administration, the council would have found itself with a £1.5m black hole in the capital programme.
In total, the debt position of the Council is currently at least £200k less than it was when I became Leader of the Council.
However, it is important to note that the capital programme agreed for the coming years before Labour took control of the Council will lead to increases in the debt position of the Council.
(ii) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Wiseman:
“What is the cost to the Council tax payers of York for the staffing and funding of Union Officers?”
Reply
The cost for the last full year 2010/11 was £120k (£1.79 per property or £0.61 per resident).
This calculation per household is based on the Council Tax base.
(iii) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Galvin:
“Given that the Council has to make cuts and reduce staffing levels, can the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services justify spending Council Tax Payers money on the transfer of two experienced Planning Enforcement Officers to act as Union Representatives whilst still being employed by the Council?”
Reply
(from the Council Leader)
As my Leader portfolio includes staff relations, it is appropriate for me to answer this question. The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULR(C)A) which was passed by a Conservative Government gives trade union officials a statutory right to reasonable paid time off from employment to carry out industrial relations duties.
The policy of the Council on how payment is made for these duties with a contribution from departmental budgets was set in 2006. Union convenors are elected democratically by their members irrespective of the department they work in. Where time off is agreed for a convener, this is taken off their normal contracted hours. Department management will make the decision on how they cover this loss of work time. The 1.4fte hours in planning enforcement is backfilled for the duration of the secondment to ensure the section is fully staffed.
Since 2010 two union convenors have been deployed from the planning enforcement team on a part-time basis only. There has been no change to this situation or policy since Labour took control of the Council at the end of May 2011.
In the 2010/11 budget a full time planning enforcement officer was made redundant following a budget approved by both Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors.
Job losses are inevitable in local government when the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government is cutting funding at unprecedented levels to councils. In such situations it is more important than ever for employees to have a democratic voice in negotiations over job losses or terms and conditions that are protected in law through legislation passed by a Conservative Government.
(iv) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Cuthbertson
“How many Freedom of Information requests were received regarding the sale of Union Terrace Car and Coach park? On what dates were they received and how many have not yet been responded to?”
Reply
The Council has received 11 FOI requests on Union Terrace Car and Coach Park. These were received on the following dates:
10th July
11th July (2)
12th July
13th July
14th July
15th July
22nd July
1st August
9th August
9th September
Each request has received a response.
(v) To the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Cllr Firth
“Can the Cabinet Member say how many businesses she met with at the recent meet the buyer event?”
Reply
The Meet the Buyer event at York Racecourse on 28th September had 170 suppliers in attendance.
I spoke with a lot of suppliers during the event, a number which it would be difficult to put a figure on it. It was a successful event and extremely worthwhile both for suppliers and for the Council.
(vi) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Aspden
“Given the recent results of the Fulfordgate residents parking ballot and parking issues associated with the University, will the Cabinet Member commission a report into the interrelated parking issues for the Heslington Lane area of Fulford before the end of the year?”
Reply
Earlier this year I agreed to an experimental parking strategy in the Badger Hill area which has experienced the worst impacts of increased parking issues associated with the development of the University. The results of this experiment will be reported back to me in the new year with a view to developing the strategy further so that it can be considered in other areas that experience similar increased parking problems. The future development of the University is planned over several years and expansion of any parking strategy will inevitably evolve in line with this development. This is likely to be an ongoing issue for some years and the Heslington Lane area will be included as part of these deliberations.
(vii) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Hyman
“Can the Cabinet Member say what steps he intends to take to increase the number of companies that allow the use of Taxi Cards?”
Reply
The Taxi Card, available to all York residents with qualifying disabilities, can be used on 104 taxis across the York area. Taxi companies were selected through a free and fair tender process which placed an emphasis on service quality, provision of a high proportion of disabled-accessible vehicles, and drivers trained in disability awareness issues.
The Council conducted a tendering process to select the taxi card promoters. The winning bidders were Station Taxis (a large hackney carriage operator), and York Travel (a private-hire operator specialising in transport for the disabled). The Taxi Card can also be used on York Wheels’ car scheme and the Council’s Dial & Ride service.
Each driver is taking fewer than ten taxi card bookings per month at present so this would suggest that the supply more than adequately meets current demand.
(viii) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Cuthbertson
“Given the reports of conflict between vehicles and cycles caused by the layout of the new style speed cushions outside Joseph Rowntree School, can the Cabinet Member say if he intends to allow the cushions to continue to be used in groups of three elsewhere in the City?”
Reply
A typical urban traffic calming layout using cushions is most likely to suit two cushions, however the arrangement is dictated by the width of the carriageway. As soon as the carriageway gets beyond a certain width the gap between the cushion and the kerb and between the two cushions in the centre becomes wide enough to tempt motorists to drive through the gaps to avoid the cushions. This has the potential to cause conflict with cyclists or opposing traffic. On very wide roads the carriageway can be narrowed locally using buildouts to allow two cushions to be placed with the correct spacing. However, cycle bypasses are required in these instances, otherwise cyclists would be forced out into the carriageway. An example of this solution can be found just north of Haxby Road Primary School
Where road widths fall somewhere between being too wide for two cushions and too narrow for buildouts, three speed cushions are generally the preferred solution. There are less than ten locations in the Council area with this arrangement, most of which I am advised operate successfully with no concern raised by road users, however some are more problematic such as outside Joseph Rowntree Secondary School, due to the presence of on-road cycle lanes. The layout at this location has been in place for several years without reported incident but the replacement of the bitmac cushions with precast rubber cushions appears to have changed the way motorists travel through the area. Solutions to remove the conflict including general road narrowing or moving the cycle route off road have been considered by officers but are expensive and have the potential to introduce new conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians. Pending the availability of funding against other higher priority locations, officers will continue to monitor this site.
(ix) To the Cabinet Member for City Strategy from Cllr Aspden
“Can the Cabinet Member say when he expects the petition from residents regarding road safety on Selby Road, Fulford to be considered at a Decision Session?”
Reply
A report is in the process of being written in response to the petition request for double white lines. Though it should be noted that the provision of such lines is very strictly regulated by the Department for Transport on visibility grounds.
(x) To the Cabinet Member for Health, Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Taylor
"With the proposals under consultation to reduce the provision in our Residential Elderly Persons' Care Homes from 276 to 200 beds, will the Cabinet Member guarantee that, under the new proposals, there will be sufficient beds to meet the needs of York's ageing population?"
Reply
The review seeks to address the growing decline in the number of older people who wish to enter traditional residential care, preferring instead to be supported to retain their independence for as long as possible in their own home or have access to alternative types of housing with support options if they can no longer cope at home. The desire for many is to stay in their own community as long as possible.
Current and future needs show a need for more specialist bed provision which the City of York Council lacks and currently is having to seek outside its own provision
The proposed 200 specialist beds are supplemented by the variety of supported living options to be provided within the Lowfields Village concept. A mixture of types of tenure, affordable housing and bungalows to buy on this site can provide for between 50 and 75 older people depending on the final plans for the site. All tenure types would be supported as necessary by the residential facilities and social hub on site.
The investment in expanding the capacity of community support services to help support more older people to retain or regain their independence and prevent admission to residential care or hospital is a joint agenda with health colleagues. This is being funded by Central Government monies (£1.997m) over the next two years to address demographic pressures.
(xi) To the Cabinet Member for Health, Housing & Adult Social Services, from Cllr Cuthbertson
“Can the Cabinet Member say how many responses to the consultation on Elderly Person’s Homes have been received and how many people attended each of the public meeting events?”
Reply
As of the consultation close on Monday 26th September there had been 1163 responses to the questionnaire and 104 people attended the four public consultation meetings.
Further to this, consultation displays were also set up in the foyers of three supermarkets (Monks Cross, Foss Islands and Askham Bar) and at the 50+ Festival Information Fair at the Guildhall. Council staff discussed the review with members of the public and handed out some 300 copies of the consultation questionnaire.
(xii) To the Cabinet Member for Communities & Neighbourhoods from Cllr Ayre
“Given that Quarter 1 figures suggest that existing policies have already increased the recycling rate to the level projected in Labour budget amendment, can the Cabinet Member say what rates she expects to reach once the new smaller recycling boxes have been introduced?”
Reply
A significant number of residents in small flats and smaller terraced properties find the current system of three large boxes difficult to manage when storage is limited and/or they do not generate large amounts of recyclable waste.
So we are offering residents who would prefer a more manageable size of container the opportunity to take up the offer. We are currently doing some research on the ground and some focus groups to assess people’s views on recycling and when that is completed, we will be able to assess demand and what some people may see as barriers to recycling more.
Our focus is very much on making recycling more convenient to residents, which will clearly increase recycling rates. Exactly how much will become clear once our preliminary research has been completed, when Coun. Ayre will be one of the first to be informed.
(xiii) To the Cabinet Member for Communities & Neighbourhoods from Cllr Aspden
“Will the Cabinet Member agree to take steps to make the planting of trees easier on the Fulford Road corridor in order to help reduce air quality problems?”
Reply
(from the Cabinet Member for City Strategy)
The available scientific research, looking at the impact of planting trees on local air quality, will be reviewed as part of the AQAP development for Fulford. However, it should be noted that tree planting alone is unlikely to offer the levels of air quality improvement required to achieve the Air Quality objectives in all areas of the corridor. Nevertheless, tree planting along the corridor as part of the wider climate change agenda would clearly be beneficial.
Whilst I'm fully supportive of new trees, planting and locating, particularly highway trees, is not always a straightforward issue, and would need careful examination and, where appropriate, consultation with adjacent residents. Proposed highway trees will need to be considered individually against the current policy guidelines.
A general summary is:
1. The proposed location of the tree in relation to junctions and sight lines.
2. The width and soil depth of the verge.
3. The location and depth of underground services.
4. General safety, such as the relationship of the proposed tree, its growing height and it location to street lights.
5. The aesthetics of the tree, will it be staked, guarded etc.
I am willing to consider any intelligent suggestions Councillor Aspden has to achieve the suggested objective.
(xiv) To the Cabinet Member for Education, Children & Young People’s Services from Cllr Aspden
“Does the Cabinet Member agree that personal finance education is vital in helping young people succeed in life and will she agree to look at ways in which the Council can encourage all schools in the City to teach these skills?”
Reply
Yes, I have already signed up to the campaign to ensure that young people receive personal finance education as part of the curriculum. There are now more than 83,500 names on the petition.
(xv) To the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion from Cllr Ayre
“Can the Cabinet Member explain why local residents were not consulted prior to the decision being taken to reclassify Rawcliffe Country Park in the Council’s Events Protocol?”
Reply
The decision to allow the possibility of Rawcliffe Country Park hosting appropriate events was taken in light of suggestions that have been made over a long period of time. There is a real demand for this park to be better used for community benefit. Ward Members are aware of this interest and support the change to allow suitable events to happen.
I’m puzzled by the implication that consultation should have taken place on this minor change when the previous administration never undertook any consultation on it, either when they first put it in place or when Cllr Ayre himself made more major revisions.
(xvi) To the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion from Cllr Ayre
“Will the Cabinet Member confirm whether she intends to pursue a premises licence for Monk Stray?”
Reply
There are no plans to pursue a premises licence for Monk Stray. If there ever should be an intention in the future it would be subject to public consultation in the normal way as I have clearly stated to Cllr Ayre on two previous occasions.
(xvii)To the Cabinet Member for Crime & Community Safety from Cllr Orrell
“Can the Cabinet Member detail some of the key decisions he has taken since May as part of his portfolio responsibilities and can he say how these decisions have impacted on crime and the perception of crime in the City?”
Reply
Firstly, I would draw attention to the Cabinet having highlighted ‘Build Strong Communities’ as a priority in the Council Plan, which appears elsewhere on the agenda. Safer, Inclusive Communities has been identified as a building block of this priority.
Also, the following matters are amongst the decisions taken since May of this year (with the impact on crime and the perceptions of crime of each decision outlined below each bullet point):
· To determine the scope of a review of community based enforcement functions
By maximising the flexibility of the utilisation of the current resources allocated to the various enforcement functions this should enable a more effective and efficient use of these resources and will improve the Council’s performance in this area and enable these resources to be directed to the particular priorities identified at any given time.
· To delegate to Birmingham City Council the power to investigate cases of illegal money lending in the City of York area and to determine a protocol for such investigations
This will enable the Council to make use of a specialist team with the skills and resources required to address cases of illegal money lending, a crime which often affects the most needy and vulnerable within our communities.
· To support proposed changes to the delivery of consumer protection services and to approve a response to the Government’s consultation in this respect, in particular supporting the continuance of a specialist region-wide “Scambuster” Team based in City of York Council
By responding positively to the Government’s proposed changes to the delivery of the various consumer protection services we seek to ensure the continuity of these services for the residents of York and to maintain the Council’s well-regarded and high performing “Scambusters” pan-regional service, which provides protection, again often for very vulnerable groups, who may be victims of criminal and fraudulent schemes, and to ensure that the perpetrators of such schemes are brought to account.
· To approve the allocation of this year’s Target Hardening fund to specific schemes and to determine the future arrangements for the submission of such scheme proposals and the process for their consideration
Already a number of the approved schemes, which were proposed through the current process by the Safer York Partnership (SYP), North Yorkshire Police (NYP) and Ward Committees, are being implemented which will combat crime and Anti-social Behaviour and reduce the fear of crime in our communities.
The changes to the arrangements for dealing with this for the future will enhance the process by making it more open and transparent, allowing greater opportunity for community involvement in identifying potential Target Hardening Schemes, and will align the process more clearly to that of the Ward Committees’ participatory budgeting process. By increasing awareness of the Target Hardening Fund this will also increase the focus for the potential to undertake measures which will address the incidence of crime and ASB and make the public more aware of the work of the Council and our partners, thus reducing the fear of crime.
· To approve the process for the development of an annual “Crime Summit”, the first to take place next Spring, thus fulfilling another of this Labour Administration’s manifesto commitments
Having fulfilled Labour’s commitment to create a senior elected position within the Council to tackle crime and community safety, the annual Crime Summit will provide a further focus for the residents of York, businesses within the City and community and voluntary organisations to meet with the Council, the police, Safer York Partnership and other stakeholders, to identify and address areas of priority in tackling crime, ASB and the fear of crime. It will also meet the obligation for the police and other partners to ensure, and increase, community engagement in their work in this field. It will also provide an opportunity to share information on the performance of all concerned, and the initiatives being undertaken by all concerned.
Finally, the creation of my post is far cheaper than that of an elected police commissioner that the Government is introducing. Other councils like Conservative-run Hammersmith and Fulham have found the creation of such a post very beneficial to fighting crime.