Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the Service Plans for council services that are wholly or partially funded from the Leisure and Culture budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

• Recommend the Service Plans

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  In order to ensure that service and group managers are in a position to implement the strategic priorities of the directorate.

Members considered a report that sought approval for the Service Plans for Council Services that are wholly or partially funded from the Leisure and Culture budget.

The Chair asked Members if they were happy with the new format of the Service Plans and Members agreed that they were. There was a comment regarding the small print on several of the pages and the Officer said that he would look into changing this for future plans.

Members asked what the implications were regarding the reallocation of resources for the DfES (Department for Education & Skills) Music Manifesto.  The Officer said that the reallocation of resources needed to be discussed with the Schools Forum. There is Government funding available and the DfES suggest that this is devolved to individual schools. The possibility is, therefore, that there will be a need for an increase in teaching resources. This will not be completely resourced by the DfES.

Members raised a query regarding the programme of ownership for the vision of the Cultural Quarter. Officers clarified that The Minster, The University, York Museums Trust, The National Railway Museum, the Theatre and York@Large were working together to develop the vision. Members asked whether the public would be able to comment on the programme and Officers said that it was still at a very early stage at the moment but that once it was at an appropriate stage it would be shared widely for comment and further development. Members said that as Culture was a very important part of the City’s life it was important to involve residents before taking plans forward.

Members asked what steps were being taken to house the ‘library’ when Acomb library closed for building work in June of this year. Officers said that they were still looking into this but one solution was to have the mobile library situated in a local car park and this would offer the library service on some evenings and for some hours over the weekend.

Members raised a query concerning Civic Trust Green Flags and Officers said that they had spent a lot of time working on and maintaining Green Flag status for the various parks and open spaces in York. Officers also said that as part of the redevelopment of the Museum Gardens better facilities would be provided for the boating community along the Ouse.

Members asked when Yearsley pool would be closed for refurbishment and Officers said that it would be closed through the summer holidays and probably also a week on either side of this. Members asked if members of the public would be able to use any of the school pools whilst the work on Yearsley baths was being carried out and Officers said that they would look into this.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

• Recommend the Service Plans

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  In order to ensure that service and group managers are in a position to implement the strategic priorities of the directorate.