Agenda item
Questions to the Executive Leader and Executive Members received under Standing Order 10(c)
To deal with the following questions to the Executive Leader and / or other Executive Members, in accordance with Standing Order 10(a):
(i) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Pierce:
“At its meeting of 29 November, the Council approved nem con a notice of motion calling for the setting up of a task force to make proposals for practical steps to tackle the impact on longer term residents of students living in rented housing outside their campuses. The notice of motion also called for Council to join other university cities via the LGA to lobby central government to introduce new controls to enable councils to exercise control over changes of use from family housing to student lets through changes to planning or other legislation.
In three months’ time, dandelion seeds will be blowing in the wind over Badger Hill from the overgrown gardens of vacated student houses in the summertime ghost streets. What progress has the Council make with these initiatives in the full three months since its November meeting?”
(ii) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Moore:
“Would the Leader confirm when the new factory at Nestle will be officially opened?”
(iii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Can the Executive Member explain what lessons have been learned from choosing the Salvation Army Citadel as the venue for the first week of issuing tokens and bus passes and will she ensure that the venue is not used for such an event in future?”
(iv) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy explain what action Officers are taking to ensure that correct timetable information is provided at all bus stops and at those locations identified by the Council as information points following the closure of the Bus Information Office?”
(v) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy indicate the numbers of children being trained to cycle each year over the last five years, and the forward projections?”
(vi) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Horton:
“What is the Anticipated Final Cost (AFC) for the Moor Lane roundabout works split into CYC contribution and others?”
(vii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Can the Executive Member for City Strategy explain why there has been slow progress in bringing forward York's Local List ?”
(viii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“Will the Executive Member please outline the timescales for City of York Council to respond to the outcome of the Highways PFI bid and work up an alternative strategy to address the backlog of outstanding maintenance work?”
(ix) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“In the light of approval for Regional Funding for all three Park & Ride proposals, can the Executive Member outline the process for determining which other schemes will be cut from LTP2 over the next 3 years to provide the required 30% matched funding for these schemes?”
(x) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“Can the Executive Member provide a report on progress towards achieving the air quality objectives within York’s Air Quality Management Area and what work will now be undertaken to review demand management options to address growing traffic associated with new developments such as Hungate and the Foss Basin retail developments?”
(xi) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Hyman
“Can the Executive Member inform Council of the outcome of the Access York bid to the Regional Transport Board?”
(xii) To the Executive Member for Children’s Services, from Cllr Bowgett:
“I would like to ask the Executive Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Carol Runciman, if she has seen the film ‘Live Now, Drive Later’ and, if so, if she will recommend that this film be shown to all children over the age of 14 in York schools?”
(xiii) To the Executive Member for Children’s Services, from Cllr Hogg:
“Will the Executive Member give an update on the opening of the new Children’s Centres around the City and let Council know what services for families it is planned to offer in them?”
(xiv) To the Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, from Cllr B Watson:
“In view of his article in ‘The Councillor’ publication, would the Executive Member like to inform the Council when he envisages his term of office to expire?”
(xv) To the Executive Member for Housing Services, from Cllr Potter:
“Will the Executive Member explain to Council why Residents Associations have not yet received a clear set of arrangements for on-going provision of skips or the proposed replacement for 2008/09 and why this situation has been going on for at least a year?”
(xvi) To the Executive Member for Adult Social Services, from Cllr Hogg:
“What progress, if any, has been made with the North Yorkshire & York PCT on the Long Term Commissioning Strategy for Older People’s Services?”
(xvii) To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr Orrell:
“Couldthe Executive Member give an update on the Cold Calling Control Zones in the City, and share any information that has been obtained on the review of the success of the programme?”
(xviii) To the Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion, from Cllr Ayre:
“Would the Executive Member report on the progress towards the Young People’s Services for York?”
Minutes:
Eighteen questions had been submitted to the Executive Leader and Executive Members Under Standing Order 10(c)(i).
The guillotine having fallen at this point, Members agreed to receive written answers to these questions. The questions and the written responses are set out below.
(i) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Pearce:
“At its meeting of 29 November, the Council approved nem con a notice of motion calling for the setting up of a task force to make proposals for practical steps to tackle the impact on longer term residents of students living in rented housing outside their campuses. The notice of motion also called for Council to join other university cities via the LGA to lobby central government to introduce new controls to enable councils to exercise control over changes of use from family housing to student lets through changes to planning or other legislation.
In three months’ time, dandelion seeds will be blowing in the wind over Badger Hill from the overgrown gardens of vacated student houses in the summertime ghost streets. What progress has the Council made with these initiatives in the full three months since its November meeting?”
Reply:
“Since the motion was agreed, officers have focused on a number of ways to address the relevant issues, particularly in relation to studentification, which is a particular concern to residents of Badger Hill and other areas of the City where there is a high proportion of students residing in family dwellings in the community.
Firstly, a meeting took place between the University and CYC Councillors in January and it was agreed that setting up a “task force” to look into the issues relating to the condition of student accommodation may not be the best way forward, as a Voluntary Code already exists (involving the University, landlords and the Council).
However, it was agreed that a small group would be set up to discuss the specific issues raised in the Council motion.
This meeting is scheduled to take place after April when the initial results of the Private Sector Stock Condition Survey should have been received, so evidence from the survey could be linked to the perceived poor standards. This Voluntary Code meeting is expected to take place around 19th May.
Officers are addressing the issues of studentification through the Local Development Framework. An evidence base on studentification is being produced, which would support the LDF process in York. This involves the following methodology:
· Officers have been researching the methods employed by other local planning authorities in addressing the issues of student accommodation and exploring opportunities to ensure that communities do not become unbalanced as a result.
· The Strategic Housing Market Assessment, carried out by Fordhams Research, was published in June 2007 and Officers are currently considering how this Assessment can provide an input into the evidence base.
It is anticipated that the issues of studentification and the evidence base will be reported to members in due course.
A letter regarding the issues raised in the motion has been sent to the responsible government Minister. A reply is awaited.”
(ii) To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Moore:
“Would the Leader confirm when the new factory at Nestle will be officially opened?”
Reply:
“I understand that the new factory will be officially opened on 28th April.”
(iii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Can the Executive Member explain what lessons have been learned from choosing the Salvation Army Citadel as the venue for the first week of issuing tokens and bus passes and will she ensure that the venue is not used for such an event in future?”
Reply:
“This question is incorrect as the use of the Citadel actually gave the Council an extra 2 weeks capacity which was used to validate entitlement to bus passes. No token issuing was carried out there. The normal 4 weeks distribution sessions are currently taking place at the Guildhall and in the Parishes.
It was felt prudent to have the extra 2 weeks as for the first time all bus passes had to be validated and renewed. The Citadel was booked before Christmas, only after establishing that no better location could be found either on Council premises or elsewhere.
The passes currently being issued are set to expire over a three year period, purposely to avoid repeating the stresses of the current upheaval, occasioned by a Central Government decision.
I would anticipate that in future years the normal distribution sessions at the Guildhall would be more than sufficient.”
(iv) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy explain what action Officers are taking to ensure that correct timetable information is provided at all bus stops and at those locations identified by the Council as information points following the closure of the Bus Information Office?”
Reply:
“The Council has already set up arrangements for a number of public facing contact points around the City to carry stocks of leaflets provided by bus companies. The responsibility for providing and maintaining stocks lies with the bus companies, although Council officers periodically monitor the situation and pro-actively encourage bus companies to replenish/replace leaflets as necessary. The Council also provides display cases at bus stops to provide bus operators with the opportunity to display information about their services. Information at City Centre stops and selected other key locations is provided and maintained by the Council. In addition the Council ensures timetable data is available on the "yorkshiretravel.net" and "transport direct" internet sites and is developing a network of electronic timetable displays around the City, including predictions of actual rather than scheduled arrival times. Additionally, the "Yournextbus" mobile phone text service is being launched, to provide access to this information in another convenient form. This is being introduced progressively, on a route by route basis. A review of arrangements for providing information about bus services in the City is a topic due to be considered by a joint Council and Operator Working Group, under the auspices of the Quality Bus Partnership.”
(v) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Merrett:
“Would the Executive Member for City Strategy indicate the numbers of children being trained to cycle each year over the last five years, and the forward projection?”
Reply:
“Cycle training figures for the last 5 years are:
02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07
Level 1 1,691 1,132 1,164 (64% of school roll year 5)
Level 2 1,688 1,348 1,356 1,325 1,143 (62% of school roll year 6)
Level 3 466 594 529 470 205 (12% of school roll year 7)
There are no targets set for cycle training as it is dependent on schools requesting cycle training, however it is the intention to increase the numbers being trained year on year during the lifetime of LTP2. To that end we are currently working with almost all the schools in York (over 95%) to deliver cycle training.
The pool of available staff to deliver cycle training decreased but the situation has improved with an additional 10 cycle trainers recently recruited which means we will be able to increase the amount of cycle training this year. In addition new initiatives are being introduced i.e. interactive and quiz based, that will enable the council to engage with and deliver cycle training to more year 7 students.”
(vi) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Horton:
“What is the anticipated Final Cost (AFC) for the Moor Lane roundabout works split into CYC contribution and others?”
Reply:
“The final cost of the Moor Lane Roundabout scheme is anticipated to be £3.8m over the three years of the design, construction and defect liability periods all funded from the Local Transport Plan settlement. There are no other contributions which have been used to fund the scheme.”
(vii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Simpson-Laing:
“Can the Executive Member for City Strategy explain why there has been slow progress in bringing forward York’s Local List?”
Reply:
“Members previously agreed to wait for the publication of the, then, imminent Heritage Protection Bill as the initial consultation stated that it would contain guidance on Local Lists. The Government then significantly delayed publication of the guidance and Officers therefore recently decided that we needed to move forward in the absence of this guidance. However the Draft Bill was subsequently issued on 2nd April 2008 and will, if approved, give us the opportunity to produce Local Lists which are fully in compliance with the Government’s requirements.
The Draft Bill says that if you want to have a Local List, and it is not mandatory, then you have to have a framework based on Government criteria. The 5 criteria are:- Local, Historic, Archaeological, Architectural and Artistic. Detailed guidance on the criteria has not yet been produced by the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) or English Heritage. If we decide to proceed we will need to determine our policy and then go through the normal consultation process. I have asked Officers to bring a report forward on the implications of the Heritage Protection Bill in order to meet the DCMS for consultation responses on the Draft Bill by June 2008.
(viii) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“Will the Executive Member please outline the timescales for City of York Council to respond to the outcome of the Highways PFI bid and work up an alternative strategy to address the backlog of outstanding maintenance work?”
Reply:
“Council officers will be getting feedback from DfT on the Expression of Interest bid in May. This feedback will help in forming a view about any further involvement with Highway Maintenance PFI projects in the future.
Discussions with procurement and financial specialists, as well as a leading contracting organisation, on procurement options and opportunities for York are already scheduled for next month. Also the latest draft documentation on output specification contracts has just been obtained.
This will all enable a more considered and informed report to be brought to the Executive and it is expected that this will be before the end of July 2008
In the meantime existing external contracts and in-house service arrangements can continue, allowing sufficient time for a revised strategy to be approved and implemented.
I must emphasise that the PFI bid was our only opportunity to address the backlog. Without major extra funding the current budgets will only maintain the asset at its current levels and not allow any extra investment.”
(ix) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“In the light of approval for Regional Funding for all three Park & Ride proposals, can the Executive Member outline the process for determining which other schemes will be cut from LTP2 over the next 3 years to provide the required 30% matched funding for these schemes?”
Reply:
“Members will be aware that our Major Scheme Bid for the provision of the Park & Ride Sites was successful. The DfT will provide funds for approximately 85% of the total cost of the schemes leaving us with 15% to find, not the 30% that the Councillor quotes.
This is approximately £3m and will be funded by capital receipts from the sale of the Askham Bar site, any appropriate developer contributions and the £1.325m allocation already included in the 5 year LTP2 programme to enlarge the Askham Bar site.”
(x) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr D’Agorne:
“Can the Executive Member provide a report on progress towards achieving the air quality objectives within York’s Air Quality Management Area and what work will now be undertaken to review demand management options to address growing traffic associated with new developments such as Hungate and the Foss Basin retail developments?”
Reply:
“I am surprised to get this question because Cllr Waller deals with Air Quality matters but nevertheless I will endeavor to answer it.
Any planning application has to be examined in relation to the AirQuality Action Plan and meet the requirements of that Plan. In addition planning applications in the above area have to be considered in the context of the Foss Basin traffic masterplan. The masterplan allows us to use developer contribution to fund a wide variety of measures, already identified, as and when development come forward.
I understand that the Air Quality Progress Report is due for submission to DEFRA shortly. An update on this work is on the provisional agenda for September's Neighbourhoods EMAP. There will also be information on the affiliation of two of our air quality sites into the national monitoring network. The report will also seek approval to spend our anticipated Air Quality Grant allocation (to be determined by DEFRA sometime in the next few months).”
(xi) To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Hyman:
“Can the Executive Member inform Council of the outcome of the Access York bid to the Regional Transport Board?”
Reply:
“I am delighted that our bid for 3 new Park and Ride sites was supported by the Regional Transport Board and the bid approved. It is proposed to submit a report to the 22 April Executive providing details of the results of all of the bids to the Regional Transport Board which the City has an interest which, as well as the Park & Ride, were Hopgrove Roundabout, Yorcard and Regional Information Systems bids. The report will also indicate the next steps in the process and request authority to use contingency funds already allocated in the 2008/09 budget to progress the Access York bid to final approval.”
(xii) To the Executive Member for Children’s Services, from Cllr Bowgett:
“I would like to ask the Executive Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Carol Runciman, if she has seen the film ‘Live Now, Drive Later’ and, if so, if she will recommend that this film be shown to all children over the age of 14 in York schools?”
Reply:
“I was unable to attend the recent showing of the film, 'Live now, die later' but am aware of the contents. I will be happy to promote it in schools and I commend the hard work of all the young people who were involved in making it alongside the Press, who have actively promoted it.”
(xiii) To the Executive Member for Children’s Services, from Cllr Hogg:
“Will the Executive Member give an update on the opening of the new Children’s Centres around the City and let Council know what services for families it is planned to offer in them?”
Reply:
“The City of York has been developing its Children’s Centres for some years. The city was included in Phase 2 of the national programme with a requirement to providing 8 such centres by April 2008. In October 2005, proposals were agreed to site the eight Children’s Centre at the following primary schools - Hob Moor, Westfield, Carr, Clifton Green, Haxby Road, New Earswick, Tang Hall and St. Lawrence’s Schools. There has been a lot of consultation and strong planning with partners, which has resulted in all 8 achieving national "designation" status by the April 08 deadline. Children’s Centres are a means of delivering a range of integrated and locally based services to children aged 0-5 years and their parents/carers and the next two to open will be at Tang Hall and New Earswick.
Children’s Centres offer information, advice and support to parents/carers, as well as early years provision, access to health care services, family support, outreach visiting, adult learning opportunities and access to employment advice. The mix of services on offer will differ between Centres, reflecting the particular needs of individual communities.
Phase 3 of the programme will see a further 4 centres being designated in York by April 2010 and planning is underway to identify sites which "fit" with current arrangements and which will ensure that the offer of services for all 0-5 year olds and their families is provided across the city. The City of York has been developing its Children’s Centres for some years. The city was included in Phase 2 of the national programme with a requirement to providing 8 such centres by April 2008. In October 2005, proposals were agreed to site the eight Children’s Centre at the following primary schools - Hob Moor, Westfield, Carr, Clifton Green, Haxby Road, New Earswick, Tang Hall and St. Lawrence’s Schools. There has been a lot of consultation and strong planning with partners, which has resulted in all 8 achieving national "designation" status by the April 08 deadline. Children’s Centres are a means of delivering a range of integrated and locally based services to children aged 0-5 years and their parents/carers and the next two to open will be at Tang Hall and New Earswick.
Children’s Centres offer information, advice and support to parents/carers, as well as early years provision, access to health care services, family support, outreach visiting, adult learning opportunities and access to employment advice. The mix of services on offer will differ between Centres, reflecting the particular needs of individual communities.
Phase 3 of the programme will see a further 4 centres being designated in York by April 2010 and planning is underway to identify sites which "fit" with current arrangements and which will ensure that the offer of services for all 0-5 year olds and their families is provided across the city.”
(xiv) To the Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, from Cllr B Watson:
“In view of his article in ‘The Councillor’ publication, would the Executive Member like to inform Council when he envisages his term of office to expire?”
Reply:
“2011”
(xv) To the Executive Member for Housing Services, from Cllr Potter:
“Will the Executive Member explain to Council why Residents’ Associations have not yet received a clear set of arrangements for on-going provision of skips or the proposed replacement for 2008/09 any why this situation has been on-going for at least a year?”
Reply:
“There was a delay in setting out the arrangements for the coming year due to increased health and safety issues that needed to be discussed with the provider, for example, asbestos dumped in skips, overflow and over filling of skips to unsafe limits etc. All of these issues impact on the potential options and costs.
Unfortunately the long term position regarding the provision of skips via Resident Associations Estate Improvement Grant has changed as a result of the contractor saying that they are unable to provide the previously agreed solution of manned box wagons as a result of health and safety concerns for their operatives.
Officers are working with the contractor to find a long term solution, however until a solution is reached the status quo will continue with skips being provided at the same frequency as previously agreed with the RA's.
As outlined in my written response, an update will be given to the Federation of RA's at their next meeting on the 17th April.”
(xvi) To the Executive Member for Adult Social Services, from Cllr Hogg:
“What progress, if any, has been made with the North Yorkshire & York PCT on the Long Term Commissioning Strategy for Older People’s Services?”
Reply:
“I am pleased to be able to report that we have had three meetings of the Joint Strategic Integrated Commissioning Group. Terms of Reference for the Group have been agreed. A workplan has also been agreed around intermediate care, mental health services for older people, prevention and management of long term conditions. It is expected that a report on the work of the group will be presented to an EMAP in the summer.”
(xvii) To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr Orrell:
“Could the Executive Member give an update on the Cold Calling Zones in the City, and share any information that has been obtained on the review of the success of the programme?”
Reply:
“I am grateful for the question from Cllr Orrell, and I hope that he can convey my thanks for the support given by the Chief Constable to the delivery of the Cold Calling Control Zones,
The council has surveyed the 442 properties in the initial 30th October 2007 launch of the zones. Of the 192 who returned the form by 13th March 2008, 125 (67%) felt less concerned about doorstep crime because of the zone, and only 4 (2%) felt more concerned. Some 29 had been cold called since the introduction of the zone but had felt able to deal with the situation due to the information supplied in the packs sent to residents. This degree of personal empowerment of some of our most vulnerable citizens is a tribute to the hard work of Trading Standards, and the Neighbourhood Police Teams, and I am sure that the councillor will join with e in thanking those staff for making the scheme work.”
(xviii) To the Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion, from Cllr Ayre:
“Would the Executive Member report on the progress towards the Young People’s Services for York?”
Reply:
“The City of York Council assumed responsibility for the Connexions Service previously delivered by the local sub regional partnership on 1st April 2008. When the Connexions Grant funding was transferred to the local authority on 1st April the new Young Peoples Services was established comprising of Connexions and the Youth Service, within Learning, Culture and Children's Services. The Council has a clear vision for localising services for children and young people age 0-19.
Young People’s Services will deliver key services to young people aged 13-19, including the Youth Offer, Information Advice and Guidance (IAG), Targeted Youth Support and Positive Activities. It is the intention to co-locate Connexions staff and Youth workers in locality teams covering the North, West and South East of the city at Kingswater, Moor Lane, Fulford and the city centre young people’s centre at Castlegate.
The new arrangements provide an opportunity for the new service to work in partnership to build upon existing good practice and explore new integrated approaches to providing positive activities, IAG and targeted support for children and young people.”