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 Mark 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 explained that a multi-agency meeting concerning unauthorised gypsy and traveller encampments has been held and an action plan had been developed. It was noted that discussions were taking place with Leeds City Council who had done some successful work in this area.

In response to a query concerning the membership of the Local Resilience Forum with regard to Brexit, the Chief Executive explained that the membership was made up of representatives from the Fire, Health and Police Services along with the local authority and the Forum dealt with issues such as ensuring there was sufficient food and fuel and looking at the pressures across the different sectors.

In response to a query concerning communicating to Councillors, it was agreed that information available concerning Brexit could be sent to all Councillors. It was suggested that the Council should look to repeat the seminar that North Yorkshire County Council had held for its Members on this subject.

A query was raised concerning the spending of the money allocated to the District Council for Brexit. The Leader of the Council stated that the funding received could only be spent on issues related to Brexit and nothing else. 

Councillor Richard Musgrave, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping

Councillor Musgrave, 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.

In respect of climate change, the Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that a cross party approach had been agreed on this and the motion listed on this item further down the agenda would be withdrawn.

A query was raised regarding the Local Facilities Survey and whether information had been fed back to Parish Councils concerning the facilities available in their area. The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping stated that the results would be communicated.

A query was raised concerning Olympia Park with regard to whether the Council was confident in finalising the securing of the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) grant as some costs had already been spent on consultants which the HIF grant was meant to be paying for. The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that the HIF grant would be for funding the access road in the site and over the last few weeks there had been discussions with Homes England over the terms and conditions of the grant and these were currently ongoing.

In response to a further query concerning the number of properties for council tax and business rates to be built on the site, the Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that the proposal was for 1,190 properties to be built on the site however a detailed plan would be submitted for the site in due course.

Concern was raised that ward councillors had not been notified of the planning application for the access road on the site. The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that any planning application would go through the proper process.

In response to a query concerning who OPD Limited were, the Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that OPD Limited stood for Olympia Park Development and was a partnership between Four Farmers and Oakgate who were the owners of the current site.

Councillor Cliff Lunn, Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources          

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

Councillor David Buckle, Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development

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

The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that the Council had been awarded £430,000 for Heritage Action Zones within Selby Town Centre and the Council had agreed to match this with the inclusion of £600,000 of their own funding.

A query was raised concerning the ongoing provision of sports facilities in Eggborough. The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that discussions had taken place regarding retaining the current sports provision along with the having this at the most appropriate location. Council was informed that discussions had also taken place with the sports clubs in the area and they had received a guarantee of provision for next season. 

In response to a query concerning the future of the golf course and other sports provision at Eggborough, the Leader of the Council explained that work was currently being done with the cricket, football, and bowls clubs regarding future provision.  In respect of the golf course, the Council was informed that it may be difficult to retain this facility due to it being poorly used.

A query was raised regarding how much the Council had contributed to the Strategic Employment Site in Church Fenton and how much was it expecting to get back. The Director of Economic Regeneration and Place explained that no direct funding had been awarded however work had been done to support the planning application for the site and there was funding the in the Programme for Growth budget to support that work.

Councillor Chris Pearson, Lead Executive 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 explained that a visit had been conducted to Allerton Park Recovery Park to look at how waste went to landfill. Council was informed that a questionnaire would be circulated to all Members regarding issues relating to environmental services and that this would then be passed to the Environmental Services Task and Finish Group.

In response to the purchase of a former Council House, it was queried whether this property should be passed to the Selby and District Housing Trust and whether someone would be able to buy the property again after six months. The Director of Corporate Services and Commissioning explained that only the Council had the first refusal in purchasing the property as per the Homes England grant used for the purchase. In addition, it was explained that under right to buy, there was protection for the Council over a 15 year period as the property could not be sold for less than the Council had paid for it. 

In response to a query concerning the number of people on the waiting list for housing, it was agreed this information would be provided to Members.

A query was raised regarding how much funding the Council had placed into The Explorer’s Road project. It was agreed to circulate this information to Members.

A query was raised regarding what was the cost of commissioning Keep Britain Tidy and whether Members had been asked for comments to help inform the work Keep Britain Tidy were doing. The Director of Corporate Services and Commissioning explained over the past few months, feedback had been received from Members on a number of issues and that a questionnaire would also be sent to Members to gather further views. In respect of the cost of commissioning Keep Britain Tidy, it was noted that this was £5k.

In respect of a query around addressing current issues, the Director of Corporate Services and Commissioning explained any issues reported were passed onto Amey to action within the specification of the contract the Council had with them. 

It was queried that when members of the Task and Finish Group would be going out with Amey to look at the issues, whether local members would be invited as well. The The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture explained that this would happen.

RESOLVED:

To receive and note the reports from the Executive.