Agenda item

The Deputy Leader (Economic Development and Community Engagement), Executive Member for Environment and the Executive Member for Transport and Planning to provide an overview of priorities and challenges for the Economy & Place Development Committee in 2017/18.

The Executive Member for Environment gave an overview of his priorities and challenges for 2017/18.

Members welcomed the update and in response to questions, the Executive Member clarified the following:

·        With regard to whether there would be the opportunity to recycle tetra packs at bring banks, it was confirmed that the types of materials to be recycled would be reviewed as part of the analysis of the public consultation, which closed on 30 September 2017. There had been 300 consultation responses to date.

·        The communication regarding the changes to recycling would be via the calendar distributed to residents, which would include information on what could be recycled.

·        There was provision in place to enable the recycling of bikes that could not be salvaged.

·        It was confirmed that there was a programme in place to increase the number of charging points for electric cars in the city. The Scrutiny Officer advised Members that this was to be examined by the Economy and Place Policy Development Committee.

·        Diesel generators were on standby at the Foss barrier in the event of flooding.

The objective of the clean air zone survey was to make a difference to the areas of poorest air quality.

The Deputy Leader (Economic Development and Community Engagement) gave an overview of his Economic Development priorities and challenges for 2017/18.

Members welcomed the update and in response to questions the Executive Member confirmed:

·        Venturefest was a Yorkshire wide event organised by Make it York, that took place in York. York Business Week took place at the same time as Venturefest the previous year and would take place in York in 2017.

·        In regard to the Business improvement District (BID) an 89% collection rate for business rates in York was good compared to collection rates around the country and it continued to improve. The work of the BID had been well received by businesses and residents. The process for the collection of business rates was the same as the collection of council tax.

·        The reporting mechanisms for businesses and residents to contact the rapid response 24 hour cleaning teams was explained.

·        The case for the relocation of Channel 4 headquarters to York had been agreed by Full Council and a response to the consultation had been submitted by the Council.

·        Work was ongoing to review  Make it York’s three year service level agreement,  which was now in it’s final year.

The Executive Member for Transport and Planning gave an overview of his priorities and challenges for 2017/18, and provided an overview of the funding available from Leeds City Region for natural flood management work.  He also confirmed the following:

·        The pedestrianisation of Fossgate and Micklegate was being monitored and the flow of traffic in Fossgate was to be reversed and monitored. There would need to be consultation on proposed changes to access to the city centre.

·        The planned parking review had not taken place as there had not been enough capacity to undertake the review.

·        In order to address the flow of southbound traffic at the A19/Crockey Hill junction, there was a proposal to widen the road to create an extra lane outbound through the junction. The flow of traffic on Naburn Lane was also being looked as part of the Germany Beck development.

·        The timescale for the completion of the Haxby Road/Wigginton Road roundabout was 2021/22. Referring to the upgrading of key roundabouts on the outer ring road, the Corporate Director of Economy and Place highlighted the complexities in regard to the purchase of land.

·        There had been a 100% conversion of the city sightseeing buses to electric drive.

Resolved:  That the priorities and challenges for Environment, Economic Development and Transport and Planning for 2017/18 be noted.

Reason:     To identify possible topics for overview and scrutiny.