Agenda item

To receive and consider a written report from the Leader and, to answer questions on the work of the Executive, and the Executive recommendations for approval, as set out below:

A.  Executive Leader’s Report

A written report was received from the Executive Leader, Cllr Carr on the work of the Executive.

Members were then invited to question Cllr Carr on his report and questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed:

·        Cllr Levene – contact with the Department of Communities and Local Government regarding the Local Plan delay and receipt of new homes bonus

·        Cllr Levene –confirmation regarding the Local Plan delay had been received in writing from the Department of Communities and Local Government

·        Cllr Williams – opposition to the closure of the MoD barracks

·        Cllr Williams – city’s link with barracks and need for opposition to the closure

·        Cllr Levene – lobbying of government on barracks closure

·        Cllr Crisp – opposition to closure of MoD bases

·        Cllr Kramm – West Yorkshire Transport Fund (WYTF) projects and receipt of support and Council approval

·        Cllr Kramm – decision process for allocation of funds to WYTF projects

·        Cllr Looker – level of discussion with North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) regarding Local Plan changes

·        Cllr Levene – discussions with NYCC regarding their change of position regarding the Local Plan

Cllr Carr responded directly to all the questions, including supplementary ones, put to him.

B       Executive Recommendations

Funding Major Transport Projects – West Yorkshire Transport Fund

Cllr Carr moved, and Cllr Aspden seconded the following recommendations contained in Minute 78 of the Executive meeting held on 24 November 2016:

Recommended:           That Council agree to:

(i)           Formally join the West Yorkshire Transport Fund.

(ii)          Accept the financial liability that arises from joining the fund and to note that future increases in the levy would represent as unavoidable additional cost in future budgets. Although the precise figures could not be determined at this stage it would be within the parameters identified in the report which estimated an increase from the budgeted contribution of £500k per annum to £1m to £1.5m per annum in 2025.

(iii)        Delegate to the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Customer and Corporate Services the finalisation of the legal agreement in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Finance Portfolio holder. ^1.

Reason:     (i)      To ensure the delivery of the York Outer Ring Road improvements and York Central Access Road and Station Gateway schemes.

(ii)      To ensure proper financial planning within the authority.

(iii)      To ensure that York’s position is fully protected in line with the principles set out in the report.

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

Resolved:   That the above recommendations in respect of the West Yorkshire Transport Fund be approved.

Capital Programme – Monitor 2 2016/17

Cllr Carr moved, and Cllr Aspden seconded the following recommendations contained in Minute 79 of the Executive meeting held on 24 November 2016:

Recommended:That Council:

(i)        Agree to make adjustments resulting in a decrease in the 2016/17 programme of £29.080m as detailed in the report and contained in Annex A.

(ii)      Approve the loan of £1.110m the Council will provide to Yorwaste, as set out in paragraphs 23 – 29 of the report, to be funded from the Waste reserve and note that this will have no impact on the Council’s overall borrowing levels. ^2.

Reason:      To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.

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

Resolved:  That the above recommendations in respect of the adjustments to the capital programme and approval of a loan to Yorwaste, be approved.

Burnholme Health and Wellbeing Campus: Key Decisions to further progress this development

Cllr Carr moved, and Cllr Aspden seconded the following recommendations contained in Minute 93 of the Executive meeting held on 7 December 2016, circulated at the meeting:

Recommended: That Council agree to:

(i)              Add the estimated £4.727m of costs for the community and library facilities to the Capital Programme with the costs to be funded from the capital receipt received from the future disposal of surplus development land on the Site subject to obtaining DfE consent necessary for such disposal. No capital costs will be incurred until official confirmation of the DfE consent has been received.

(ii)     The estimated £200,000 of costs for urgent repairs and works to the sports facilities are added to the Capital Programme with the costs initially being funded from capital held for the use of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme and subsequently being paid back from the capital receipt received from the disposal of development land on the Site. ^3.

Reason:          To progress to delivering the Burnholme Health & Wellbeing Campus including the delivery of a Care Home as part of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme.

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

Resolved:  That the above recommendations in respect of the funding of the Burnholme Health and Wellbeing Campus, be approved.

Lowfield Green Development: Moving forward to deliver a care home, health facility and housing

Cllr Carr moved, and Cllr Aspden seconded the following recommendation contained in Minute 94 of the Executive meeting held on 7 December 2016, circulated at the meeting:

Recommended:           That Council agree the estimated £993,000 of costs for the enabling works and the access road needed to facilitate the development are added to the Capital Programme with costs initially being funded from capital held for the use of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme and subsequently being paid back from the capital receipt received from the disposal of development land on the Site. ^4.

Reason:            To progress with the Lowfield Green development and deliver additional care, health and housing facilities for the residents of York.

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

Resolved:  That the above recommendation in respect of the costs of the enabling works and access road for the Lowfield Green development, be approved.