Agenda item

To receive and consider a written report from the Leader, to answer questions on the work of the Executive, and to consider the Executive recommendations for approval, as set out below:

A – Executive Leader’s Report

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

Members were then invited to question the Leader on his report.  Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed, and replied to as indicated:

Local Government Reorganisation

From Cllr Pavlovic: Should the government decide that York will have less independence to run its own affairs, would this be the result of a lack of confidence in this administration?  If so, how would you judge the part that your leadership and behaviour has played in this?

Response: No, I don’t agree that it would.  However, I agree with your comment about the importance of retaining decisions about York in York, and this reflects the work done by the council and others in putting that case as strongly as possible.  I have heard today that there may be a slight change in the government’s aspirations on devolution but very much hope that York will remain as it is; should it not, officers and councillors would want to come together and work on this very quickly.

From Cllr Fenton: Can you set out what you expect the next steps to be once a decision has been received on this?

Response: The MHCLG has confirmed today that we will receive an answer before Parliament goes into recess.  Work will then begin with civil servants around what is on offer.  There’s an indication that county deals are also being discussed, and if an East-West amalgamation is decided the matter will be brought back to Council to consider, although we hope that will not happen.

Local Plan

From Cllr Warters: Will you apologise to Dunnington residents for a recent leaflet showing the wrong boundaries for their village? And will the council have the capacity to deal with the Local Plan process, when the interim director is set to leave at the end of October?

Response: Our aim is to get the consultation results to the Planning Inspector by August so that hearings can be held in October as agreed with the Inspectorate.  I understand there was a printing error on a small number of leaflets, and residents have received a letter of apology.

York Central and Great British Railways

From Cllr Pearson: Have you had a response from the Minister of State for Rail about locating the Great British Railways HQ in York?

Response: Yes, a quick reply was received from Chris Heaton and I have responded with a letter and a slide pack compiled by the LEP and a subsequent conversation with Mr Heaton and the Chair of Network Rail.

SEND Inclusion Review

From Cllr Webb: Can you expand on what you mean by ‘deliver provision differently’? [Supplementary] Is it a euphemism for cuts to services?

Response: Officers are looking at the results of the consultation and will bring a detailed report to Executive, to which we can respond and make improvements.  I am happy to talk with you in advance about that.  I agree that there is a chronic underfunding of children’s services by government, and this review is looking at efficiency, ensuring delivery of baseline services and if they can improve.

B – Executive Recommendations

Capital Programme Outturn 2020/21 and Revisions to the 2021/22-2025/26 Programme

Cllr Aspden moved, and Cllr D’Agorne seconded, the following recommendation contained in Minute 13 of the Executive meeting held on 24 June 2021:

Recommended:  That the re-stated 2021/22 to 2025/26 programme of £600.778m, as summarised in Table 3 at paragraph 104 of the report and detailed in Annex A, be approved.

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 be approved.