Agenda item

To ask questions of the Leader of the Council and/or Executive Members in respect of any matter within their portfolio responsibility, in accordance with Standing Order B8.

The Lord Mayor invited members to ask questions of the Leader of the Council and Executive in relation to matters within their portfolio responsibility.

Details of questions and subsequent responses were provided as follows:

Councillor Whitcroft asked about the expansion of the free school meals and breakfast programme to an additional ten schools under the York Hungry Minds initiative, including St Lawrence’s Primary School, and asked why feeding children was beneficial.

The Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People confirmed the programme had expanded to multiple wards and now included 13 schools. He outlined three key benefits: a positive soft start to the school day, improved attendance, and improved attainment. Evidence from pilot schemes and early academic evaluations from the University of York and University of Leeds had shown positive impacts. He expressed ambition to further expand the programme, subject to funding, and thanked donors for their support.

Supplementary Question

Councillor Healey asked whether pupils at Scarborough Primary School would receive free school meals by the end of the current administration.

The Executive Member stated that while further expansion was hoped for, no guarantee could be given at this stage.

Councillor Fisher raised concerns about traffic congestion and safety at Towthorpe Waste Disposal Site following reduced opening hours and the introduction of a booking system at Hazel Court. He asked whether the booking system and opening hours would be reviewed.

The Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Emergency stated that the booking system was a trial and had been running for approximately three and a half weeks. She acknowledged the concerns raised and confirmed these would be followed up with officers, particularly around traffic management. She advised that reopening Hazel Court on Wednesdays was not currently planned and noted that waste disposal arrangements across the region were being reviewed for safety, efficiency and financial reasons.

Supplementary Questions

Councillor Warters asked whether alternative sites for waste disposal were being considered, given Hazel Court’s location.

The Executive Member acknowledged Hazel Court was not an ideal location but advised that identifying and developing alternative sites would be complex, costly and time?consuming. She confirmed work was ongoing.

Councillor Nicholls asked how the success of the Hazel Court trial would be measured, including impacts on recycling rates, congestion, fly?tipping and booking no?shows.

The Executive Member confirmed that all these factors would be monitored. She provided early data on booking no?shows and advised that full four?week trial data would be published. She confirmed there were no plans to introduce charges for using household waste disposal sites.

Councillor Nicholls asked whether charges were planned for using waste disposal sites.

The Executive Member confirmed that there were no plans to charge to use the tip.

Councillor Waters questioned the sufficiency of the £12m highways budget, the accepted rate of deterioration of highway assets, and whether previous financial management of major highway schemes could affect future funding.

The Executive Member for Transport confirmed the £12m allocation was insufficient to clear the maintenance backlog but explained that funding was being prioritised towards preventative treatments, sustainable transport routes, and key highways. She advised that lobbying was underway to revise funding formulas to better reflect vehicle miles travelled in York, noting that highways underinvestment was a national issue.

Supplementary Questions

Councillor Waters asked whether the funding merely allowed the Council to “stand still” in addressing highway deterioration.

The Executive Member stated she would need to review the figures cited and respond further but emphasised that maintenance outcomes were affected by multiple factors including weather and traffic levels.

Councillor Fenton asked for an update on progress relating to a July 2023 council motion to review the Highway Safety Inspection Manual.

The Executive Member confirmed officers had begun work on aspects of the review, including pothole intervention thresholds, but noted increased costs and the importance of preventative maintenance. A timetable for completion was not yet available.

Councillor Taylor asked about plans for affordable housing at York Central and how any increase beyond the agreed 20% would be funded without reducing contributions to local services.

The Leader confirmed the aspiration to increase affordable housing provision to 40%, subject to grant funding from Homes England. She advised that discussions were ongoing with partners to secure funding while ensuring infrastructure and services were provided.

Supplementary question from Councillor Taylor, he asked about wider partnership working and its role in shaping the Council’s future vision.

The Leader highlighted strong partnership working across health, education, emergency services and universities, referencing neighbourhood?based service delivery and integrated health initiatives. She expressed optimism about the benefits of collaboration despite financial challenges.

Councillor Widdowson asked why the online consultation on recycling collection changes did not include a free?text option.

The Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change advised that the consultation was designed to gather logistical data and had already received a high number of responses. She stated that free?text responses were not included due to scale, but residents’ views were being recorded through other channels.

Supplementary questionfrom Councillor Widdowson, she asked whether flats and apartments with wheelie bins would move to four?weekly collections.

The Executive Member confirmed there would be no change for communal flats, apartments, or properties that had recently switched from bags to bins.

Councillor Fenton sought clarification on whether free breakfasts at Woodthorpe Primary School would be provided to all pupils or only targeted groups.

The Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People explained that some schools were introducing provision in a phased or targeted way due to capacity and staffing considerations, with flexibility to expand. She advised she would confirm the specific arrangements for Woodthorpe Primary School separately.

Supplementary question from Councillor Fenton, asked how the local scheme linked with the Government’s national breakfast programme and whether funding could be redirected to lunches.

The Executive Member explained that three?year funding agreements were in place with schools and donors, and that decisions about future focus would depend on the rollout of national provision.

[7.46-7.50pm, Cllr Coles left the meeting]