Agenda item

To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order 22:

 

Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 22.1

 

(i)      From Cllr Gunnell

Academy Status

“This Council understands the difficult choice being faced by schools following considerable pressure from the Government to change from local authority maintained to academy status. However, we fully believe that the choice is one that should be made by the whole community and not just the leadership of a school.

 

This Council resolves to make it official City of York Council policy that all schools in York considering a change to academy status will be encouraged as strongly as the law allows to hold a community ballot of every household in the affected catchment areas to take full account of the views of local residents on the proposed change."

 

(ii)      From Cllr K Myers

Early Night-Time Economy

 

“Council notes a recent trend of negative media reports concerning problems with drunkeness in York and believes that whilst there is always more that can and should be done to ensure York’s continued broad appeal the council does not feel these reports give a fair impression of York.

 

Regarding tourism council notes:

77% of all visitors return to York;

York’s approval score for the “would your reccomend friends and family visit York” is an outstanding 97%;

VisitYork4Meetings; Make it York’s arm promoting York as a conference venue has seen inquiries up 1/3^rd in the past year.

 

On the problems of drunkeness council notes:

The clear willingness of the new administration to deal with the issue;

The creation of the cross service committee on Saturday afternoon behaviour; and

The ongoing excellent work of the Police and organisations such as Street Angels.

 

Council recognises however that York’s visitor economy can be improved and therefore commits to the following:

 

Ensuring that, to the extent legally possible, planning and licensing are used as a positive influence on the city centre by limiting the excessive increase in the number of pubs;

 

Endeavouring to implement the findings of the 2014 early night-time economy scrutiny review as soon as possible;

 

Encouraging Make it York to focus its efforts on the early night-time economy, including considering an evening market for some days in the week;

 

Looking proactively at European cities and what they have done in broadening the evening appeal, including, for example, Holland, where it is common for shops to stay open one night a week in cities;

 

Supporting to the extent the budget allows the projects highlighted in the York Civic Trust’s ‘Sustaining the City Beautiful’ report;

 

Instructing officers to report back to the Executive on how to maximise the unique asset of the City Walls in order to broaden their appeal.

 

The Council gives its full backing to working jointly with all organisations in York to renew and refresh York’s unique role as a visitor destination.”

 

(ii)      From Cllr Cuthbertson:

 

Rail Investment for York

 

“Council Notes:

•        Plans for a fully electrified route between Manchester, Leeds and York were originally announced in December 2011 with work due to be completed by 2019.

•        Before the General Election the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said the "electrification programme is central to our ambitious plans to transform the rail network across the country".

•        On 25th June, Patrick McLoughlin told the House of Commons that the planned electrification of Trans-Pennine routes will be “paused”.

 

Council Believes:

•        Electrification brings significant economic and environmental benefits along with improvement in capacity and faster journey times.  

•        If the rhetoric of the Government’s “Northern Powerhouse” ambition is to be realised then there is a need for significant infrastructure investment across the north of England and improved transport connectivity.

 

Council Resolves:

•        To write to the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin MP calling on him to commit to the electrification of the Manchester-York route and outline an amended timetable.”

 

 (iv)   From Cllr D’Agorne:

 

Tackling Congestion in York

 

“Council notes:

The need for a revised traffic strategy to limit traffic growth following the demise of the Lendal Bridge trial.

The health impact of poor air quality and the legal and moral requirements to limit NO2 and PM10 pollution especially in York city centre which is largely from traffic.

The importance of work on developing our low emission strategy alongside tackling congestion

The success of itravelyork initiative working with businesses and individual residents to promote alternatives to the private car.

The importance of maintaining and improving bus networks across the city with the minimum level of public subsidy

The desire of all political groups to tackle traffic congestion and pollution in ways which have broad public support.

Council therefore calls on the Executive to adopt a transport strategy to replace the ‘Congestion Commission’ following a citywide consultation”

A       Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 22.1

 

(i)           Academy Status

(proposed by Cllr Gunnell and seconded by Cllr Looker)

 “This Council understands the difficult choice being faced by schools following considerable pressure from the Government to change from local authority maintained to academy status. However, we fully believe that the choice is one that should be made by the whole community and not just the leadership of a school.

 

This Council resolves to make it official City of York Council policy that all schools in York considering a change to academy status will be encouraged as strongly as the law allows to hold a community ballot of every household in the affected catchment areas to take full account of the views of local residents on the proposed change."

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved. ^1.

 

 

(ii)      Early Night-Time Economy

(proposed by Cllr K Myers and seconded by Cllr Doughty)

“Council notes a recent trend of negative media reports concerning problems with drunkeness in York and believes that whilst there is always more that can and should be done to ensure York’s continued broad appeal the council does not feel these reports give a fair impression of York.

 

Regarding tourism council notes:

77% of all visitors return to York;

York’s approval score for the “would your reccomend friends and family visit York” is an outstanding 97%;

VisitYork4Meetings; Make it York’s arm promoting York as a conference venue has seen inquiries up 1/3^rd in the past year.

 

On the problems of drunkeness council notes:

The clear willingness of the new administration to deal with the issue;

The creation of the cross service committee on Saturday afternoon behaviour; and

The ongoing excellent work of the Police and organisations such as Street Angels.

 

Council recognises however that York’s visitor economy can be improved and therefore commits to the following:

 

Ensuring that, to the extent legally possible, planning and licensing are used as a positive influence on the city centre by limiting the excessive increase in the number of pubs;

 

Endeavouring to implement the findings of the 2014 early night-time economy scrutiny review as soon as possible;

 

Encouraging Make it York to focus its efforts on the early night-time economy, including considering an evening market for some days in the week;

 

Looking proactively at European cities and what they have done in broadening the evening appeal, including, for example, Holland, where it is common for shops to stay open one night a week in cities;

 

Supporting to the extent the budget allows the projects highlighted in the York Civic Trust’s ‘Sustaining the City Beautiful’ report;

 

Instructing officers to report back to the Executive on how to maximise the unique asset of the City Walls in order to broaden their appeal.

 

The Council gives its full backing to working jointly with all organisations in York to renew and refresh York’s unique role as a visitor destination.”

 

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Kramm as follows:

 

“In the penultimate paragraph, following the words ‘broaden their appeal,’ the Addition of ‘andconsidering ways of offsetting some costs to businesses which profit from the Night-Time Economy, rather than relying on other council taxpayers in York to bear the full costs’.”

 

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared LOST.

 

On being put to the vote, the original motion, was CARRIED and it was

 

Resolved:  That the original motion be approved. ^2.

 

 

 

(iii)     Rail Investment for York

(proposed by Cllr Cuthbertson and seconded by Cllr Waller)

 

“Council Notes:

•        Plans for a fully electrified route between Manchester, Leeds and York were originally announced in December 2011 with work due to be completed by 2019.

•        Before the General Election the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said the "electrification programme is central to our ambitious plans to transform the rail network across the country".

•        On 25th June, Patrick McLoughlin told the House of Commons that the planned electrification of Trans-Pennine routes will be “paused”.

 

Council Believes:

•        Electrification brings significant economic and environmental benefits along with improvement in capacity and faster journey times.  

•        If the rhetoric of the Government’s “Northern Powerhouse” ambition is to be realised then there is a need for significant infrastructure investment across the north of England and improved transport connectivity.

 

Council Resolves:

•        To write to the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin MP calling on him to commit to the electrification of the Manchester-York route and outline an amended timetable.”

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved. ^3.

 

(iv)       Tackling Congestion in York

         (proposed by Cllr D’Agorne and seconded by Cllr Craghill)

 

“Council notes:

The need for a revised traffic strategy to limit traffic growth following the demise of the Lendal Bridge trial.

The health impact of poor air quality and the legal and moral requirements to limit NO2 and PM10 pollution especially in York city centre which is largely from traffic.

The importance of work on developing our low emission strategy alongside tackling congestion

The success of itravelyork initiative working with businesses and individual residents to promote alternatives to the private car.

The importance of maintaining and improving bus networks across the city with the minimum level of public subsidy

The desire of all political groups to tackle traffic congestion and pollution in ways which have broad public support.

Council therefore calls on the Executive to adopt a transport strategy to replace the ‘Congestion Commission’ following a citywide consultation”

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved. ^4.