Agenda item

The Leader of the Council, and other members of the Executive, will report on their work since the last meeting of the Council and will respond to questions from Councillors on that work.

Councillor M Crane, Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council presented his update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

The Leader of the Council added that with regard to the highway works taking place across the area, there should be better co-ordination between the relevant authorities and agencies and that when work had ceased for the day, roads should be open for traffic until work restarted again the next day.

In relation to the devolution proposals, the Leader of the Council informed Council that he and other local leads would be meeting James Brokenshire about the devolution proposals.

In response to a query concerning the review for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), the Leader of the Council announced that sup group was now up and running however that there was issues in relation to who would be the responsible body for the sub group with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) wanting to take on the role. The Leader of the Council stated that the District Council was not a member of WYCA. With regard to the proposed memberships of LEPs going forward, the Leader of the Council informed Council that he raised concern at the limited number of places that would be allocated to District Councils on LEPs.

A query was raised regarding who would be involved in the work to bid for the Selby High Street Fund. The Leader of the Council stated that this was likely to be local members and the Selby Town Enterprise Partnership (STEP).

Concern was raised at the lack of provision for football pitches in Eggborough and Hensall as part of the Local Football Facilities Plan. The Leader of the Council explained that he was aware football provision was needed in a specific area and discussion had taken place with the company who would be looking after Eggborough Power Station about whether the current sports facilities could be maintained.

Councillor J Mackman, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Lead Member for Place Shaping

Councillor Mackman, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping, provided an update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that he had attended a meeting with the people who would be carrying out the demolition through controlled explosion of some of the chimneys at Ferrybridge Station. The Council was informed that the demolition process would take two years and access to the M62 would be controlled throughout the demolition process.

In response to a query concerning the responsibility for the Ferrybridge Station proposal mentioned in the report, the Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that Wakefield was the main authority dealing with the application and Selby would be a statutory consultee. Additionally, it was noted that liaison meetings had been arranged for local people to attend.

Councillor C Lunn, Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources  

Councillor Lunn, Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources presented his update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

A query was raised regarding the considerable underspends in the General Fund (GF) and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that HRA underspends related to work not being undertaken in completing repairs due to being understaffed in the trades team. With regard to the surplus in the GF, the Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that this was due to in year salary savings and higher investment interest.

Councillor C Metcalfe, Executive Lead Member for Communities and Economic Development

Councillor Metcalfe, Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development provided an update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

A query was raised around whether local members and parish councils would be involved in producing the Sherburn Growth and Infrastructure Plan. The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that the main priority of the plan was to look at the infrastructure deficit in Sherburn and engagement would take place with local members and parish councils.

In response to a query concerning the specific meaning of ‘vertical farming, the Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that this was the modern way of agriculture and once the site was up and running, it would be a good idea to have a site visit for members to see for themselves. In response to an additional query concerning how high the ‘vertical farming’ was, the Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development confirmed he would look into this and respond after the meeting.

A query was raised regarding the meaning of inward investors for Sherburn and details of the strategic sites outlined in the update on Church Fenton. The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that the aim regarding the strategic sites was to enhance the connectivity in the area. With regard to inward investors, there were a number of businesses who were interested in setting up in the area however at the moment the information was commercially sensitive to release.

Councillor C Pearson, Executive Lead Member for Housing, Health and Culture

Councillor Pearson, Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture, provide an update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture informed Council that he had attended the handover of 13 homes for local people at Crawford Close in Byram which was named after former District Councillor Jack Crawford. Disappointment was expressed that members of the Labour Group had not been invited to the event as Jack Crawford was a former Labour Councillor.

Council was informed that the ward Councillors for Selby East had received an email regarding a refuse collection vehicle which was smaller than normal collection vehicles had broken down. Concern was raised that this vehicle was used to undertake collections in Volta Street, Dennison Road and Darcy Street and due to it no longer being operative, residents had been asked to bring their refuse bins to the front of the properties. The Members concerned expressed concern that no consultation had taken place with either Councillors or residents and no alternatives had been proposed. It was agreed this would be looked into.

Councillor Musgrave left the meeting at this point and did not return.

While it was acknowledged work had been undertaken to bring a number of empty properties back into use, concern was raised that there were still a number of properties in the district that had been empty for a considerable period of time which needed to be brought back into use.

In response to a query concerning the progress of the former Natwest Bank buildings which the District Council had purchased, the Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that the Director of Economic Regeneration and Place was taking this work forward.

In response to a query concerning how many empty properties over two years old were council owned properties, the Director of Corporate Services and Commissioning confirmed no empty properties over two years were council owned.

A query was raised regarding the underspend in relation to Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) and why there was an underspend when there was a waiting list for adaptations. The Director of Corporate Services and Commissioning explained that work for DFGs was no longer implemented by the Improvement Agency and was instead undertaken by the District Council.  Further to this, Council was informed that spending on DFGs had more than doubled since the Council had taken over and it was catching up with the backlog. The Director of Corporate Services and Commissioning agreed to provide a report to Councillors updating them on the progress.

RESOLVED:

To receive and note the reports from the Executive.