Agenda and draft minutes

To move that the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 5 May 2021, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

It was moved and seconded that the Minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 5 May 2021, having been printed and circulated, are confirmed as a correct record.

The vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams and the motion was declared carried with 64 for, none against and 3 abstentions.

Resolved -

That the Minutes of the meeting of the County Council on 5 May 2021, having been printed and circulated, are confirmed as a correct record and that the Chief Executive Officer authorise them using his emergency delegated decision-making powers after taking into account the views of the Members and all relevant information.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Philip Barrett, Caroline Goodrick, Zoe Metcalfe and Tony Randerson.

There were no declarations of interest.

Any correspondence, communication or other business brought forward by the direction of the Chairman of the Council.

The Chairman welcomed the Honorary Aldermen and members of the public who were watching the live broadcast meeting on the Council’s YouTube channel.

The Chairman informed Members of the usual arrangements for the meeting.

The Chairman made a number of announcements relating to work that he was doing in his role as Chairman.

County Councillor Carl Les made a statement and answered questions, under Council Procedure Rule 2.3, as Leader of the County Council, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appear in the Minute Book (pages 13020 to 13021).

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and provided the text to Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) – email: barry.khan@northyorks.gov.uk or in writing to Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AD by midday on Friday, 16 July 2021.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

There was a Public Question from Rachel Henley as follows: ‘Will the NYCC take positive steps and action, starting with a press statement, condemning in the strongest terms racism and racist abuse. As a resident of Yorkshire from Malton, I would like it to be made clear that there is no place for this in our county. The position should be promoted on all social media and in the press.’

The Chairman decided to take the question at item 7 on the agenda, at which point the Council’s updated Equality and Diversity Statement was considered.

·                     Formal Meetings of the Authority’s Committees.

·                     Amendments to the Constitution.

·                     Equality and Diversity Statement

·                     Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies.

Formal Meetings of the Authority’s Committees

The Chairman noted that a full report was included on the agenda at item 8.

Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies

The Chairman noted that this item was only for information.

Amendments to the Constitution

County Councillor David Chance introduced the report.  He noted that County Councillor Geoff Webber, in the months before his sad and untimely death, had championed changes to the way in which motions are dealt with at County Council to help ensure that all councillors could have an opportunity to be heard.  These changes are detailed in the report.

The recommendation at paragraph 4.2 of the report (page 13025 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams.  The motion was declared carried with 67 for, 1 against and no abstentions.

Resolved -

That the proposed amendments to the Constitution be recommended to the Chief Executive Officer for approval under his emergency delegated decision making powers.

Equality and Diversity Statement

The Chairman asked that the Public Question from Rachel Henley be considered at this point in the agenda.  Barry Khan read out the question and County Councillor David Chance responded, as summarised below.

In North Yorkshire we should be proud of the diversity that is within our communities and make the County an inclusive place to be in where people should not have to fear they will face prejudice on any grounds.  North Yorkshire County Council welcomes and celebrates diversity and the strengths this brings to our communities and workforce.  We are clear that you will be valued in North Yorkshire no matter what your race, age, sexuality, gender, or gender reassignment, disability, belief or marital status. North Yorkshire is a place for everyone.

The recommendation at paragraph 4.3 of the report (page 13026 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams.  The motion was declared carried with 66 for, none against and no abstentions.

Resolved -

That the revised Equality and Diversity Statement be recommended to the Chief Executive Officer for approval under his emergency delegated decision making powers.

County Council to review arrangements for holding formal meetings of the Authority’s committees.

The recommendation at paragraph 12 of the report (page 13033 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.

The vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried, with 67 for, none against and no abstentions.

Resolved –

That Council recommend to the Chief Executive Officer to consider under his emergency delegated powers, that:

1.    The adoption of Option 1, as outlined in para 5.7 of the report. That is to carry on holding the remote access, live broadcast informal meetings with any formal decisions required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency decision making powers and after consultation with Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account any views of the relevant Committee Members.

2.    The continued use of remote access, live broadcast informal meetings is reviewed in September 2021 with a further report being considered at the Council meeting on 17 November 2021.

3.    That the meeting of the County Council on 17 November 2021 is held as a remote access, live broadcast meeting.

4.    That the power be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer in Consultation with the Leader to determine which committee meetings should be held virtually and which could be held physically. As such and during this period, a face to face meeting could be held.

5.    This to be reviewed in September 2021 with a further report being considered at the Council meeting on 17 November 2021.

6.    Full Council to give its agreement that not attending a physical meeting in person for a 6-month period (as opposed to continuing to attend virtual informal meetings) will not disqualify a county councillor under the automatic vacation of office provisions set out in section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

This follows the 6 May 2021 by-elections and subsequent changes to the political balance of the Council.

The recommendation at paragraph 13 of the report (pages 13037 to 13038 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.

The vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried, with 67 for, none against and no abstentions.

Resolved –

That Council recommend to the Chief Executive Officer to consider under his emergency delegated powers, that:

County Councillor David Staveley takes up the existing Conservative vacancy on Transport Economy and Environment and OSC (previously held by County Councillor Richard Welch)

County Councillor Matt Scott takes up a seat on the Transport Economy and Environment OSC

County Councillor John McCartney gives up his seat on the Transport Economy and Environment OSC

County Councillor Roberta Swiers takes up a seat on the Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee

County Councillor Andrew Backhouse gives up his seat on the Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee

County Councillor Robert Windass takes up a seat on the Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee

County Councillor Philip Broadbank gives up his seat on the Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In addition:

County Councillor Philip Broadbank takes up the existing Liberal Democrat vacancy on Audit (previously held by County Councillor Geoff Webber)

County Councillor Angus Thompson to come off the Corporate and Partnerships OSC and be replaced by County Councillor Matt Scott.

A review of the work of overview and scrutiny in 2020/21 and looking ahead to work that will be done in 2021/22.

The recommendation at paragraph 8 of the report (page 13043 of the Minute Book) was noted.

Resolved –

To note the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2020/21.

The written statements of the Executive Members and Chairmen of the Scrutiny Board and Overview and Scrutiny Committees having previously been circulated were noted.

County Councillor David Chance, Executive Member for Stronger Communities, made a statement and answered questions.  A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13054 to 13057).

County Councillor Michael Harrison, Executive Member for Health and Adult Services, made a statement, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13058 to 13060).

County Councillor Caroline Dickinson, Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, made a statement and answered questions.  A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13062 to 13064).

County Councillor Andrew Lee, Executive Member for Open to Business, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13066 to 13067).

County Councillor Greg White, Executive Member for Library, Customer and Community Services, made a statement, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13068 to 13072).

County Councillor Gareth Dadd, Executive Member for Finance and Assets and Special Projects, made a statement, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13074 to 13075).

County Councillor Janet Sanderson, Executive Member for Children’s Services, made a statement, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13076 to 13080).

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, Executive Member for Education and Skills, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13082 to 13084).

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, made a statement and answered questions.  A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13086 to 13087).

The written statements of the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Board and the Overview and Scrutiny Committees having previously been circulated, and which appear in the Minute Book (pages 13088 to 13103).

County Councillor John Ennis, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Health Committee, answered a question.

There are no Notices of Motion.

No Notices of Motion were received within the deadline.

There were no Council Procedure Rule 10 questions.

The meeting closed at 12:17pm