Agenda and minutes

Resolved –

That the public Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2021, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Councillor Derek Bastiman declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6 – Review of Personal Safety Measures for County Coucillors, and removed himself from the meeting for that item.

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 25 November 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.

There were no public questions or statements.

Recommendation: That the contents of the report be noted.

Considered – A report of the Chief Executive providing an overview of performance in relation to complaints and information on compliments received by the Council during the year 2020/21.

County Councillor Greg White introduced the report and drew attention to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman annual letter to the Council at appendix 1.

Members noted a reduction in the number of compliments and commendations, thought in part due to be as a result of a reduced number of weddings held at registrars throughout the year.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

Recommendation:

That the Executive take a proportionate and scaled approach to managing the risk of verbal, physical and on-line abuse of County Councillors through the following:

a)    Continued awareness raising through training and briefings

b)    A review of the arrangements County Councillors have in place for managing their personal safety when attending meetings and meeting with members of the public

c)    Enabling County Councillors to contact designated officers to provide information about potentially violent persons prior to undertaking a home visit

d)    Promotion of the reporting of incidences to better understand the scale of the issue and what further actions could be taken to reduce the associated risks

e)    Liaison with the Police where specific concerns have been raised

f)     Access to dedicated funding to enable additional security measures to be put in place.

Considered: A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) providing an overview of the measures currently in place for County Councillors to keep them safe when attending meetings in the community, in order to consider what further actions could be taken.

Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) introduced the report and confirmed that the proposal in response to guidance issued nationally, was to introduce a ring-fenced fund of £15K for additional safety measures for Councillors, where there were perceived concerns.  It was noted  that the fund would be introduced on a trial basis.

Members welcomed the introduction of the fund, on the basis that no elected Member should feel threatened or to intimidated to seek public office.  They were also pleased to note the confidentiality clause and agreed there should be no financial limit placed on ensuring democracy, or that money alone should not be seen as the only way to achieve an improved level of safety for Members.  In that respect, attention was drawn to the personal safety guidance previously made available and to the proposed actions in the report.

Members questioned the potential issues around the sharing / disclosing of personal data and Barry Khan confirmed there would be a proportional and measures approach.

Finally, it was suggested that to assist Members in assessing the level of potential risk associated with their work, a pro-active approach be taken through the provision of a list of low-cost options for improved safety.

Resolved - That a proportionate and scaled approach to managing the risk of verbal, physical and on-line abuse of County Councillors be taken through the following:

a)    Continued awareness raising through training and briefings

b)    A review of the arrangements County Councillors have in place for managing their personal safety when attending meetings and meeting with members of the public

c)    Enabling County Councillors to contact designated officers to provide information about potentially violent persons prior to undertaking a home visit

d)    Promotion of the reporting of incidences to better understand the scale of the issue and what further actions could be taken to reduce the associated risks

e)    Liaison with the Police where specific concerns have been raised

f)     Access to dedicated funding to enable additional security measures be put in place.

Recommendations:

The Executive is asked to note the contents of this report and to:

i.     Delegate the approval of the draft content of the Section 75 Partnership Agreement and associated schedules to the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services in consultation with the Director of Public Health, the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and the Executive Member for Public Health; and

ii.    Approve commencement of a 30-day consultation on the draft content of the Section 75 Partnership Agreement.

Considered: A report of the Corporate Director – Health and Adult Services and Director of Public Health, providing an update on the Section 75 agreement between the County Council and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (YSFT) following a 60-day consultation on the proposed service model changes to the Integrated Sexual Health Service.

County Councillor Andrew Lee introduced the report and confirmed the Authority was mandated to provide an integrated Sexual Health Service, and that the proposed changes would deliver a more enhance online offer, an improved telephone service, and timely access to face-to-face appointments at strategically placed clinics.

Members welcomed the proposals, noting they would be implemented by 2022, as they agreed they would deliver a modernised service, which was particularly suitable for such a rural county.

Resolved – That the contents of the report be noted, and:

i.        Approval of the draft content of the Section 75 Partnership Agreement and associated schedules be delegated to the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services in consultation with the Director of Public Health, the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and the Executive Member for Public Health; and

ii.       A 30-day consultation on the draft content of the Section 75 Partnership Agreement be commenced.

Purpose:

To enable appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies to be considered.

Considered: A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

Resolved – That Cllr Derek Bastiman replace Cllr Andrew Lee on the following Outside Bodies:

·           York and North Yorkshire LEP Infrastructure Board

·           Welcome to Yorkshire – as the substitute member

·           Yorventure Management Group –as the substitute member.

Considered –

The Forward Plan for the period 22 November 2021 to 30 November 2022 was presented.

Resolved -   That the Forward Plan be noted.