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:

1. Executive Leader’s Report

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

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

·        Cllr Crawshaw  - Would the Central Crown Post Office be protected.

Supplementary

Cllr Crawshaw - Consideration of co-location with other services, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

·        Cllr Kramm – Impact of Brexit on York

·        Cllr Fenton – The need to communicate York’s concerns over Brexit to Westminster

Supplementary

Cllr Fenton – The benefits of a joint letter to the Brexit Secretary

Cllr Kramm – The support being offered to EU citizens trying to gain British citizenship

·        Cllr Warters – Transfer of clubs to the Community Stadium and sale of Bootham Crescent

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

B. Executive Recommendations

The Proposed Purchase of Robinson Court and the Union Terrace Centre (formerly the Arc Light Centre)

Cllr Gillies moved and Cllr Waller seconded, the following recommendation contained in minute 35 of the Executive meeting held on 30 August 2018.

Recommended: That a capital budget of £1.924m be established, financed by prudential borrowing, to fund the two property transactions, including acquisition costs and repairs needed to the property, with the prudential borrowing funded from rental receipts on both properties.

Reasons: To facilitate these transactions, which will:

·        provide the opportunity to maintain the level of hostel provision within the city;

·        enable consistent decision making processes across the hostel  provision, with City of York Council acting as landlord / owner of each property; and

·        ensure strategic priority is maintained through allocation decisions, with No Second Night Out, Severe Weather procedure and use of shared rooms where appropriate.

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

Resolved:  That the above recommendation in respect of the proposed purchase of Robinson Court and the Union Terrace Centre be approved.¹

Capital Programme – Monitor 1 2018-19

Cllr Gillies moved, and Cllr Waller seconded, the following recommendation contained in minute 36 of the Executive meeting held on 30 August 2018.

Recommended:           That Council approve the adjustments resulting in a decrease in the 2018/19 budget of £33.329m, as detailed in the report and contained in Annex A.

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

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

Resolved:  That the above recommendation in respect of the Capital Programme – Monitor 1 2018-19 be approved.²

Establishing an Investment Budget for a Strategic Commercial Property Acquisition

Cllr Gillies moved, and Cllr Waller seconded, the following recommendation contained in minute 51 of the Executive meeting held on 27 September 2018.

Recommended:           That a capital budget of £2.52 million be established to fund the acquisition of the freehold interest in the commercial property assets in the Swinegate area identified in exempt Annex A to the report.

Reason:              To ensure the ongoing economic vibrancy of the city centre while increasing the income from the council’s commercial property portfolio in line with budget targets.

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

Resolved:  That the above recommendation in respect of establishing an investment budget for a strategic commercial property acquisition be approved.³

Duncombe Barracks, Burton Stone Lane

Cllr Gillies moved, and Cllr Waller seconded, the following recommendation contained in minute 61 of the Executive meeting held on 18 October 2018.

Recommended:           That Council approve a capital budget of £2.55m to fund the purchase of Duncombe Barracks and the detailed survey and design work necessary to bring forward the site to a full planning application.

Reason:              In order to develop a mixed tenure housing development, including 40% affordable housing, and a future income for the council from rents and sale receipts.

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

Resolved:  That the above recommendation in respect of the purchase of Duncombe Barracks be approved.⁴