Agenda item

To question the Leader and/or Deputy Leader on their written reports, and to question the Leader and/or Executive Members in respect of any matter within their portfolio responsibility, in accordance with Standing Order 20.

Note to Members:  In order to facilitate the smooth running of the remote meeting, the Lord Mayor has decided to set a deadline of 35 minutes in total for the above questions and responses, to include 10 minutes for questions on the report of the Leader and 10 minutes for questions on the report of the Deputy Leader.

[Note: for ease of reference, questions are grouped by Executive Member rather than listed in the order in which they were asked.]

Questions to Cllr Aspden, Executive Leader

From Cllr Kilbane: Your report refers to the York Central development including 2,500 new homes instead of ‘up to 2,500’ - has there been a shift in position?

(Supplementary from Cllr Webb: You are advocating eating into commercial land to provide non-affordable apartments – how can you justify increasing the financial risk to the council?).

Response: The plan is to endeavour to include 2,500 homes on the site, and now that planning approval has been granted I look forward to working with the Labour group to meet our aspirations in respect of housing.  I don’t agree with Cllr Webb’s assertions; the council has made a decision to borrow, set against the achievement of future income from the Enterprise Zone.  I hope Labour will welcome the fact that government has contributed £77m to the site and am happy to work through the details with their group as the project progresses.

From Cllr Warters: Will you be lobbying government and Higher Education organisations for students to remain at home after Christmas and continue their courses remotely, rather than repeating the mistake of welcoming 40,000 students to York?

(Supplementary from Cllr Warters: If it’s considered safe for students to return in January, when will the council ask its staff to come back?)

Response: I am not going to demonise or segregate groups.  I praise the work carried out by public health, the NHS, universities and schools in difficult circumstances.  My commitment is to ensure we are communicating health guidance as quickly as possible and taking a York approach, including test and trace work with universities.  We continue to follow national guidance on working from home.

Questions to Cllr D’Agorne, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transport

From Cllr Hook: Why is it so crucial that we secure Devolution funding?

Response: We have put forward a bid with North Yorkshire for a joint Devolution deal, full details of which are on the council’s website.  The proposals include a £67m York Place fund to support the York Station Front, York Riverside Walkway, Castle Gateway and other projects in the coming year; £175m funding for Bio-Yorkshire; funding for housing, including affordable homes; and £10m for a low carbon skills programme.

(Supplementary from Cllr Rowley: The Railway Institute Band Room is to be demolished as part of the York Station Front scheme – will you work to provide a replacement?)

Response: I’m happy to support anyone affected and am aware that efforts are being made to find suitable replacement premises.

From Cllr Musson: Can you detail the steps taken to progress policy in respect of last year’s Council motion on zero carbon?

(Supplementary from Cllr Crawshaw: Can you reassure us that a strategic approach is being taken, with everyone is signed up to a holistic plan that will be in place when we come to Devolution

Response: Despite officers having other priorities with Covid-19 and flooding, they have taken advantage of government funding to put in place policies for development through the Local Transport Plan refresh, which had been due to start in April but was delayed due to the pandemic.  We are continuing the Clean Air Zones, which also makes public transport more effective and helps tackle pollution.  Several programmes are under way and others are being developed.  I would welcome cross-party support on this, and on the one-year recovery plan which forms part of our response to the pandemic.

From Cllr Douglas: How did the Green Party become involved in the payoff to the Chief Executive and its principles so compromised?

Following a request by Cllr Ayre the Lord Mayor referred this question to the Monitoring Officer who stated that this was a matter being debated via the Audit and Governance Committee and also with external auditors, and as a result it would be inappropriate to comment further.  In response to a challenge from Cllr K Taylor, the Lord Mayor sought clarification from the Monitoring Officer as to whether it might be more appropriate to discuss this matter more fully when the auditor’s report had been completed, either at Audit & Governance Committee or at Full Council.  TheMonitoring Officer confirmed that this was the case.

Questions to Cllr Smalley, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure & Communities

From Cllr Cullwick: Can you provide an update on play areas?

Response: We need to stop the slide in the quality of play areas.  I am glad to say that this administration has accepted £100k funding to work in partnership with community groups to make improvements.  The fund is open from today for applications from groups and details can be found on the council’s website at www.york.gov.uk/PlayAreaImprovements

From Cllr Doughty: As a member of the Make It York (MIY) Board, can you outline the specific actions you suggest MIY should take to address its increasing problems?

Response: I only joined the Board recently.  The MIY Service Level Agreement has been discussed at Executive.  I’d be happy to meet you to talk about this.

Questions to Cllr Waller, Executive Member for Economy & Strategic Planning

From Cllr Crawshaw: Inward investment in Make It York has attracted just 18 jobs – is it meeting the Council’s expectations?

Response:  There was a report on this to my most recent Decision Session and there will be a focus on inward investment in the uncertain run up to Brexit.  I am happy to work with scrutiny on that.  As discussed at Executive this week, a new contract with MIY will be in place by 31 March.

(Supplementary from Cllr Douglas: Do you believe that an improved commitment to inward investment requires bringing it back in-house?)

Response: I would refer you to my comments at the Scrutiny committee meeting on 27 March 2015, when I expressed concerns around the hurried set up of MIY.

Questions to Cllr Widdowson, Executive Member for Environment & Climate Change

From Cllr Lomas: Given the Lib Dems’ abandonment of their pledge to make York carbon neutral by 2030, was the pledge a mistake or an intention to deceive?

(Supplementary from Cllr Kilbane: Can you explain how the multi-storey car park voted through Planning Committee recently fits with the zero carbon target?)

Response: We have not abandoned any targets; we have said that the council will hit the 2030 target and will work with partners on how best to get the whole city involved.  The multi-storey car park has not yet gone through Planning; I will be able to comment when a decision has been made.

Questions to Cllr Ayre, Executive Member for Finance & Performance

From Cllr Barker: What can we expect this year in terms of an increase in government funding?

Response: There has been talk of a 4.5% increase in spending power, but the LGC predict that 85% of this will come from council tax increases.  So in reality there will be no  increase as the government is shifting the burden to local residents.

Questions to Cllr Orrell, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Education

From Cllr K Taylor: The Liberal Democrats have presided over failures in Children’s Services for years – what steps have been taken to ensure the service does not receive a negative assessment from OFSTED?

Response: We were not in charge in 2016.  Steps have been taken to improve services in several ways within the directorate structures.

(Supplement from Cllr Webb: Do you commit to ensuring that services are brought up to date in terms of dealing with children in need of protection?)

Response: Yes.