Agenda item
Public Participation
It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5:00pm on Wednesday 25 July 2018. To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.
Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings
Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.
Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.
The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present. It can be viewed at:
Minutes:
It was reported that there had been six registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
Councillor Rawlings spoke in relation to the meeting held on 20 June, where he made a request to remain in the room after the exclusion of press and public. He stated that he had a legal right to remain in the room if he could demonstrate a ‘need to know’ in relation to his role, which he felt he could as the Shadow Member for Economic Development & Community Engagement, which included responsibility for governance. He asked that the minutes be amended to reflect that when the Chief Executive refused this request, she also stated that his presence would alter the political balance of the meeting and that the Chair had stated he would have permitted him to remain in the room. He also queried the right of the Chief Executive to refuse this request. Finally, he stated that allowing the private session to take place with Members of only two political groups present did not demonstrate good governance.
Michael Hammill, a resident, spoke on legal action he had previously been advised was being taken against him in relation to defamation. He stated that he had recently received a letter from the Head of HR stating that no further action was being taken, but that he had not yet received an apology. Finally he commented on the public lack of trust in CYC due to a perceived lack of openness and transparency, which he said had also been highlighted in the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Letter.
John Young, a resident, spoke on his concerns surrounding the Citizen’s Audit. He stated that he had looked at CYC Open Data sets and in doing so had focused on accuracy, structure and data privacy, including appropriate redactions. He highlighted errors in cost centre codes and rationalisation and a high level of reversals. He also expressed his concerns over data breaches.
Matthew Laverack, a resident, told Members that he had not received a reply from CYC in response to a complaint regarding comments made to him at the Audit & Governance Meeting on 30 April 2018. He stated that it was his belief that minutes had been drafted in order to dilute public speakers’ criticism of senior staff. He also felt that there was no longer any public confidence in openness and transparency as reports into senior staff conduct had not been made public. Finally he expressed his determination to continue participating in public meetings, despite new rules which may be put in place to make this more difficult.
Gwen Swinburn, a resident, firstly spoke on her concerns that as the Chief Executive was a key participant in the A&G Meeting of 20 April, and the subject of complaints within that report, it was a conflict of interest for her to act as chief advisor to the Committee. She then stated that, in ejecting Councillor Rawlings from the meeting of 20 June, the Chief Executive had exceeded her powers. Finally she expressed her view that it was not acceptable that responsibility for a rewrite of the constitution had been removed from the Audit & Governance committee and given to the Customer & Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee and that this decision should not be allowed to stand.
Brian Watson, Honorary Alderman and resident, spoke on the minutes of the Audit & Governance Committee meeting held on 20 June 2018. He pointed out the importance of the LGA procured report being made public. He also discussed the recommendations made by the committee at that meeting. He stated that briefings for Chairs should be mandatory, training for Chairs and Vice Chairs should be compulsory and expressed his disappointment that none of the recommendations made were positive.