Agenda and minutes

Members of the Executive and Corporate Management Team introduced themselves, followed by other Councillors present at the meeting.

Resolved –

That the public Minutes of the informal meeting of Executive Members held on 22 June 2021, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed by the Chairman as a correct record.

In regard to Agenda item 10 – Support for Tour de Yorkshire, County Councillor Carl Les did not declare an interest but confirmed that he would recuse himself from the meeting for that item as he held a role on Welcome to Yorkshire and the item would involve discussion about funding.  He therefore confirmed consideration of agenda item 10 would be moved to the end of the meeting.

Resolved –

That the Committee would not need to go into private session for consideration of Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 12 or Agenda item 13 – Private Minutes of the informal meeting held on 22 June 2021, as there were no substantive questions or debate required in relation to those documents.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Melanie Carr of Democratic and Scrutiny Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Thursday 8^th July 2021, three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:-

·            at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

·            when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

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.

County Councillor Carl Les confirmed that a written statement had been submitted by Ms Bridget Holmstrom on behalf of the Climate Action Stokesley and Villages. He welcomed Ms Holmstrom to the meeting and confirmed she would be given the opportunity to present her statement at the start of Agenda item 6 – Carbon Reduction Plan.

Recommendation:

That, subject to any comments Executive Members may have, the draft Carbon Reduction Plan at Appendix 1 be proposed to the Chief Executive Officer for his consideration and approval, using his emergency delegated powers.

Considered – A report of the Chief Executive presenting a draft Carbon Reduction Plan for Executive Members’ consideration.

County Councillor Greg White introduced the report that confirmed the Council’s aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, the work undertaken to date and the plans to be put in place over the next few years. 

The Chairman invited Ms Holstrom to present her public submission to Executive Members, which had been circulated to Executive Members ahead of the meeting.  The written statement submitted by Ms Holstrom stated:

“Climate Action Stokesley and Villages are pleased that the North Yorkshire County Council have developed a carbon reduction plan with the objective of reaching Carbon Net Zero by 2030. It is a concern that this is not binding as there is the caveat of ‘as near to that date as possible’.

Clearly a lot of work has gone into producing this carbon reduction plan, so well done NYCC. There is much to like here, for example the 2030 net zero target, LED street lighting, a building efficiency programme, a heat decarbonisation plan and £1 million to pump-prime business cases. However, by focussing on its own operations, we think that NYCC is missing out on opportunities to use its influence to drive urgentl  ...  view the full minutes text for item 615.

Recommendation:

That the members of the Executive consider the options outlined in section 5.7 of the report and then make a proposal to the Chief Executive Officer for recommendation, under his emergency delegated powers, to full Council for review at their meeting on 21 July 2021.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) presenting options for holding formal committee meetings from 21 July 2021 onwards.

County Councillor Carl Les introduced the report acknowledging the advantages of the two options currently available i.e. meetings held remotely (the savings to be made in time, cost and carbon) and meetings held in person (the benefits gained from social interaction for members pre-meeting and the Members being seen to make the decisions).

He suggested that meetings continue to be held remotely until after the summer, with a review in September based on the Covid infection rates over summer, the number of hospitalisations and deaths, and the ping rates for social-isolation.  He highlighted the present uncertainty around the rates going up and proposed a further recommendation to July Council, that the November Council meeting also be held remotely.  He suggested the proposed September review could look again at the need for the November Council meeting to be held remotely, and if required, the Chief Executive Officer could be asked to take a further decision on whether that was still necessary.

He also suggested the review could take account of any decision by the government regarding the introduction of new regulations that enabled lawful remote access formal committee meetings to take place, expected later in the year. 

Executive Members agreed it was a sensible approach.  They noted the increased engagement of the public in decision-making meetings because of them being held virtually, and agreed some form of virtual meetings could be beneficial going forward.  However the benefits of face to face meetings was also recognised and therefore it was suggested that a hybrid approach should also be considered, subject to the appropriate technology being put in place.

Executive Members therefore agreed to propose option 1 in paragraph 5.7 of the report i.e. to carry on holding the remote access, live broadcast informal meetings with any formal decisions required by those committees subsequently being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency delegated powers, taking into account the views of the committee Members and all relevant information. 

Attention was also drawn to paragraph 5.10 of the report, which suggested a continuation of virtual meetings would require full Council to agree that not attending a physical meeting in person for a 6 month period (as opposed to continuing to attend virtual informal meetings), would not disqualify a county councillor under the automatic vacation of office provisions set out in section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.  Members agreed that should also be included in their recommendations.

Resolved – That the following proposals be put to the Chief Executive Officer for his recommendation to full Council, using his emergency decision making powers:

i.        Remote access, live broadcast informal meetings be continued with any formal decisions required by those committees subsequently being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency delegated powers, taking into account the views of the committee Members and all relevant information;

ii.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 616.

Recommendation:

That, subject to any comments Members may have, the outlined amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Independent Remuneration Panel be proposed to the Chief Executive Officer for recommendation, under his emergency decision making powers, to the meeting of the County Council on 21 July 2021.

Considered – Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) outlining proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP).

County Councillor David Chance introduced the report confirming that the review of the IRP’s terms of reference undertaken earlier this year, had resulted in the proposals detailed in the report for some additions/amendments relating to the recruitment, induction and performance of new members of the panel and the duration of the term of office. He also drew attention to the rationale for the proposed changes, as detailed in the report.

Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal & Democratic Services) provide a brief overview of the background to, and role of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

County Councillor David Chance questioned the need for three of the four proposals i.e. the suggested reduction in size of the Panel, the introduction of a probationary period and the extension of the term of office period to six years.  He proposed that further investigation and discussions take place with Panel members, to better understand their thinking.

Executive Members agreed with the concerns raised, but all agreed with the proposal that the Chair of the IRP should be included in the interview panel for new IRP members.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd suggested that it would be more appropriate nationally if the MCHLG appointed Panel Members, in order maintain true independence.

Resolved – That

i.       It be proposed to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency decision making powers he recommend to full Council on 21 July 2021, the Chair of the IRP be included in future interview panels for new IRP members

ii.      Further investigation and discussions take place with the IRP regarding their other three proposals, as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the report

At this stage, County Councillor Don Mackenzie left the meeting to attend a meeting of LNER

Recommendation:  That the Executive notes the report and considers any matters arising from the work of the Area Constituency Committees, that merits further scrutiny, review or investigation at a county-level.

Considered –  A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal & Democratic Services) providing an overview of the key issues considered at recent meetings of the Area Constituency Committees. 

Resolved - That the report be noted.

County Councillor Carl Les recused himself from the informal meeting at 12:14pm, on the basis that he held a non-pecuniary role on Welcome to Yorkshire

Recommendations:

That the Executive recommend to the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency delegated powers that he:

i.       approves funding of £100k to Welcome to Yorkshire as a fee  to staging the 2022 Tour de Yorkshire;

ii.      approves the provision of a further fee  of up to £100k in the event that Welcome to Yorkshire are unable to generate sufficient sponsorship for the 2022 event and that this provision is funded from the Strategic Capacity Unallocated; and

iii.     delegates authority to the Corporate Director, Business & Environmental Services in consultation with the Corporate Director, Strategic Resources to make any payment to Welcome to Yorkshire which becomes due after appropriate due diligence is carried out.

Considered – Report of the Chief Executive Officer seeking approval for a £100k fee to Welcome to Yorkshire towards staging the Tour de Yorkshire in 2022, and in the event that Welcome to Yorkshire are unable to secure sufficient race sponsorship, a further fee of up to £100K for the event.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd introduced the report that sought allocation of the previously agreed sum of £100k to host the event this year, to the hosting of the event in 2022 instead.  He confirmed that the event organisers were also requesting the underwriting of an additional £100k, in case Welcome to Yorkshire failed to secure the sponsorship required.  He stressed the additional sum was not a guaranteed cost to the County Council, and that all other Councils hosting a stage of the race had also been asked to underwrite the event.

He went on to suggest that post the event, two reviews be undertaken.  One in terms of the event’s sponsorship and the media coverage the county received due to the event etc.  The other, a wider review of the principal of supporting one-off events.

County Councillor David Chance suggested that rather than it being a further fee, it was in fact a guarantee that was being requested.  Gary Fielding – Corporate Director for Strategic Resources  confirmed it was a guarantee that manifested itself as a further fee contingent upon certain conditions taking place, and had been deliberately worded as such.

Resolved – That it be recommended to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency delegated powers he:

i.       approve funding of £100k to Welcome to Yorkshire as a fee for staging the 2022 Tour de Yorkshire;

ii.      approve the provision of a further fee of up to £100k in the event that Welcome to Yorkshire are unable to generate sufficient sponsorship for the 2022 event and that this provision be funded from the Strategic Capacity Unallocated; and

iii.     delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Business & Environmental Services in consultation with the Corporate Director, Strategic Resources to make any payment to Welcome to Yorkshire which becomes due after appropriate due diligence is carried out;

iv.     Approve the undertaking of two reviews post the Tour de Yorkshire event in 2022 – the first to review the event’s sponsorship and the resulting media coverage the county received.  The second a wider review of the principal of supporting one-off events;

Considered –

An Executive extract from the Forward Plan for the period 5 July 2021 to 31 July 2022 was presented.

Resolved -   That the Executive Forward Plan be noted.

Recommendations:

Executive Members are asked to note the contents of this report and to recommend to

the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency powers he:

i.      Approve the revised budget for the Section 75 agreement and delegate any amendments to this budget to the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services in consultation with the Corporate Director for Strategic Resources;

ii.     Delegate the approval of the consultation on the proposed new service model to the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services in consultation with the Director of Public Health and the Executive Member for Public Health.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Health and Adult Services and Director of Public Health, providing an update and revised position on the Section 75 agreement between NYCC and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (YSFT).

County Councillor Caroline Dickinson introduced the report confirming that following a review of the Sexual Health Service and a re-tendering exercise, the County Council was looking to extend its arrangements through a Section 75 Agreement.  It was noted that Covid had impacted on the progression of the previously proposed Section 75 Agreement, so a detailed review of the position had since been undertaken.  This had resulted in amendments to the financial position, the service model and the initial length of the Section 75 Agreement.

Attention was drawn to the proposed service changes detailed in the report, which would be subject to a 60-day public consultation and virtual workshops for partners.

As there was no discussion about the content of the exempt Appendix 1, the Executive choose not to go into private session.  Instead it was

Resolved – That it be recommended to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency powers he:

i.  Approve the revised budget for the Section 75 agreement and delegate any amendments to that budget to the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services in consultation with the Corporate Director for Strategic Resources;

ii.    Delegate the approval of the consultation on the proposed new service model to the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services in consultation with the Director of Public Health and the Executive Member for Public Health.

As there was no discussion about the content of the exempt draft Minute, Executive Members choose not to go into private session, and it was

Resolved –

That the private Minute from the informal meeting of Executive Members held on 22 June 2021, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed, and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.