Agenda item

This report presents the Corporate & Scrutiny Management Policy & Scrutiny Committee with all the information gathered in support of the scrutiny review of One Planet York, together with the Task Group’s draft recommendations.

Members considered a report which presented them with all of the information gathered in support of the scrutiny review of One Planet York, together with the Task Group’s draft recommendations.

The Chair of the One Planet York Scrutiny Review Task Group gave a brief background to the report and the work undertaken by the Task Group.

The Head of Integrated Strategy and Strategic Manager – Sustainability and Transformation were in attendance to answer member questions. They clarified that the ‘One Planet Council’ was already pushing the ‘One Planet’ agenda forward and trying to embed the principles in service planning.  In response to Member questions they stated:

·        The Better Decision making Tool (BDMT) was a pilot and when it was reviewed in six months Members could assess how far this had become embedded into the reporting process. Whilst this was a full tool initially, it could be that in time only a summary would be provided with reports, however it was important to remember that in some cases this would replace a Community Impact Assessment and for this reason it was important to be comprehensive.

·        There were good links between the One Planet York and health and wellbeing bodies.

During discussion Members raised the importance of balancing social, economic and environmental factors when decision making and looking at ways of incorporating these values into discussions around the use of Ward Funding and adding value to projects.

Resolved:  That the Committee recognises the opportunities that exist within the One Planet York framework and urges the Executive to show its ambition to become a One Planet Council by playing a leading role in further building the OPY network and maintaining a strong focus on the OPY vision. The Committee agree to endorse the following recommendations:

i.             Review what leading sustainable cities and those similar to York are doing in seeking to balance economic, social and environmental needs.

a) The Council fully utilises the opportunities presented by the One Planet York framework to drive organisational efficiency and effectiveness through the principles of a One Planet Council and further mobilise the wider city towards a more sustainable and resilient One Planet York future.

ii. Explore potential of the One Planet York framework to:

o Enable benchmarking with other cities through a new One Planet York ‘city scorecard’ (basket of measures)

o Increase understanding and wider awareness about what makes cities sustainable and resilient.

b) Communication of the One Planet York framework, vision and 10 principles are sustained across all media platforms and that widespread use of the One Planet York or One Planet Council logos is encouraged to demonstrate a united commitment in the One Planet York principles by City of York Council and our city partners.

c) That progress towards the One Planet York vision is measured via a new city scorecard and that the One Planet Council objectives are measured via a new council scorecard.

d) As the city scorecard will be based on the Grant Thornton Vibrant Economy Index, which includes a basket of measures across a range of economic, social and environmental themes, this scorecard is formally reported to CSMC on an annual basis to coincide with the Grant Thornton refresh in November each year.

e) That the One Planet York Task Group is reconvened in 12 months’ time to review the impact of the Council’s emerging service plans within the One Planet Council framework; how Key Performance Indicators align to the One Planet principles and to gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of internal communications.

iii.           Review statutory and local decision making tools, engagement and collaboration methods to help cities best balance economic, social and environmental needs.

f) City of York Council supports the full integration of the Better Decision Making Tool in the key decision making process.

g) Alongside the full integration of the BDMT, a plan is developed to support officers in the understanding and use of the tool to ensure its effectiveness.

h) CSMC review progress on embedding and implementing the BDMT in 12 months’ time.

i) A specific heading relating to resilience and sustainability is added to the risks and implications section of CYC report templates.

j) The Council makes the BDMT available to partner organisations aligned to the One Planet York framework and explores whether a simplified version of the BDMT can be developed to assist ward committees when they consider the allocation of devolved budgets.

k) One Planet York notice boards, literature and static presentations are made available for ward committees interested in utilising the framework to further mobilise neighbourhoods / communities to get behind the OPY vision and to stimulate new neighbourhood conversations.

l) An elected member toolkit / resource pack is developed to assist ward committees, and is made available to community and voluntary groups to assist in making informed decisions within the One Planet York framework.

m) The Council arranges training for ward teams / committees to deliver One Planet York presentations to spread the One Planet message at local level.

iv.          Explore how the city’s Urban Living Pilot Project – ‘York City Environment Observatory’ – could bring new knowledge and insightregarding economic, social and environmental interdependencies.

n) That CSMC request a report on the Urban Living Pilot Project once this work has been completed.

Reason:     To conclude the work on this review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols thereby enabling this report to be presented to a future meeting of the Executive.