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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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MEETING |
Clifton Ward Committee |
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DATE |
23 March 2026 |
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PRESENT |
COUNCILLORS D Myers and Wells |
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APOLOGIES |
COUNCILLORS |
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1. Drop-in from 6:30pm
2. Ward funding and local projects 7pm
1. Main meeting – welcome and introductions (7pm)
The meeting was chaired by Councillor Myers who welcomed everyone, set out the housekeeping rules and reminded residents that the meeting was non-political.
2. Ward funding and local projects
Cllr Myers briefly outlined Connecting Clifton, a newsletter that was recently delivered to households across the ward. The newsletter results from the Clear, Hold, Build campaign and aims to share news about local projects, initiatives and activities.
Cllr Myers spoke about the Crombie Avenue play area improvements consultation which was included in the ward meeting on 18th of March 2026. Comments in respect of shortlisted proposals are still being invited. It is envisaged that the play area refurbishment will be completed before the summer 2026.
Cllr Myers outlined ward priorities which are being used to guide spending of the ward budget. The emphasis is on provision of activities and facilities for young people, and the ward would welcome a conversation with anyone involved in youth work and interested in delivering youth activities in Clifton.
Individual ward budget allocation is comprised of £250,000 shared across the city. In the financial year 2025/26 Clifton Ward was allocated £19,812. This funding enabled provision of financial support towards several projects at a ward level.
Art of Protest (AoP), who presented at the ward meeting last week, have been involved with mural installation on Acomb Front Street and several other creative art projects in other cities. In Clifton a project, featuring art workshops with pupils from Clifton Green, Burton Green and Vale of York schools is taking place. It will result in creation of murals within school sites and a temporary art installation at Ashton Park. Ward funding contribution enabled AoP to secure larger grant from the Nort Yorkshire Combined Authority Community Fund towards this project. Two other significant funding bids towards place making projects to enhance visual aesthetics of Crichton Avenue shops parade and create corridors connecting green spaces in Clifton are being pursued by the AoP. Both projects are aimed to enhance the street environment and alleviate issues with anti-social behaviour in the area.
Representatives from some of the groups in receipt of ward funding during the last financial year were present and Cllr Myers invited them to speak about their project and experience of ward funding.
Kelly McTighe, GLL Healthwise Coordinator spoke about chair-based exercise sessions aimed to encourage people of all abilities to become and remain more active, help to manage and improve existing medical conditions. A typical session includes elements of strength, balance and mobility exercises with few relaxed dance movements at the end. Sessions have been running for two years, every Friday, 10.30am at the Clifton Community Hall on Evelyn Crescent. Feedback from participants informs about additional wellbeing gains resulting from an opportunity for social interaction. An increase in the number of individuals from the community attending the sessions has been noted over the past few months.
Councillor Wells added that sessions are free to attend and form part of the ward effort to support residents. Clifton Community Hall is attached to the Marjorie Waite Court Independent Living Scheme; however, it has a dedicated entrance form Evelyn Crescent. There are other activities taking place at the Hall which are worth exploring.
Suzanne Tomlinson, Clifton Elderberries spoke about day trips project. Started as a luncheon club the project evolved into social outings for senior citizens. The usual outing starts with a departure from the Clifton Church at 1pm, then a visit to a location such as a gardening centre where an afternoon tea is served and a return to York in the evening. Trips are by a coach, and fees are covered from ward grant monies. The group discovered ward funding back in 2013 and has been supported with contributions from both Clifton and Rawcliffe and Clifton Without wards since then. Three coach trips have been organised this year and 51 individuals took part. The aim of the initiative is to combat loneliness and social isolation via an opportunity meet and interact with other people of similar age and potentially make new friends.
Graham Millar, Clifton Green Management Committee spoke about the group that was established on the last day of December 1904 and has been running ever since. The group oversees ongoing maintenance and care of the Clifton Green. Meetings to discuss issues relating to upkeep, safety and appearance of the Green are held four times a year. In spring and autumn residents are invited to take part in community maintenance sessions which are always well attended and encourage community spirit. The group logs approximately 80 hours of voluntary work clearing up and the Green per annum. It is enjoyable activity, and everyone is welcome to join. Recent condition survey of the perimeter fence identified issue with several posts rotting at the base and recommended replacing deteriorating elements and repainting the whole fence. The group was awarded with a ward grant which will cover 1/3 of the project costs and remaining 2/3 will be raised via community fundraising.
Councillor Wells added that the Green is a great local amenity offering space to walk, exercise your dog, or sit in a shade of one of the trees. Councillor Wells thanked volunteers for looking after the Green so well.
Simon Boyle, Bootham South Residents Association (RA) Treasurer has been involved with the group from its inception. The area covered by the RA falls within both Guildhall and Clifton wards. The RA formed about 18 months ago in response to increased issues with county lines in the area. Marygate car park, with multiple escape routes, was being used by drug dealers who were bold enough to offer free samples to school children in a daytime. Simon felt that nothing was being done by the authorities and took upon himself to create a flyer and drop it to around 500 properties in the area. As a result, 250 people have signed up to become members of the RA, which made it possible for the group to have a strong voice on local matters. Following that authorities engaged with the RA which resulted in more frequent Police patrols and eventually de-escalation of the drug dealing issue. The RA now focuses on other projects to make the area safer, cleaner and greener. Some of the projects currently looked at include adoption of the BT Phone box on Marygate to home a defibrillator and be used as a community book share; creation of a mural to improve aesthetics of the Railway underpass; improvements to lighting in the underpass and improvements to traffic signals at the top of St Mary’s. The RA meets regularly and has a website where description of their projects and minutes from previous meetings can be found. Everyone living in the area, or with interest in the area is welcome to be involved. In closing remarks Simon mentioned Clifton ward grant funding which helped the RA to cover costs of their website and venue hire for meetings.
A suggestion was made for installation of better signage for cyclists to slow down or stop as they come down the Scarborough Bridge ramp.
A – This has been raised with the CYC Sustainable Transport Team and will be scheduled for intervention. This should alleviate the issue with the blind left turn as you come down the ramp.
At this point Cllr Myers briefly spoke about other projects funded by the ward over the last year, namely: Therapeutic Art and Play Therapy Yorkshire (TAPTY) activities for young people over the summer 2025 school holidays, St Luke’s Church Grapevine magazine, York City Football Club Foundation football themed activities for young people during summer 2025 and Easter 2026, York Rugby League Football Club Foundation multi-sports activities for young people over the summer 2025, repair of notice boards across the ward, Inspire Youth Yorkshire mobile youth club sessions at Ashton Park, pilot project to plant trees in front gardens, restoration of planters on Wilberforce Avenue, consumables for a community defibrillator on Evelyn Crescent and additional copies of the Connecting Clifton newsletter.
3. Clifton Planning Panel 7:30pm
Peter Smith, Chairman of the Clifton Planning Panel (PP) gave an overview of the Panel work and activities over the last year. Outlying areas of York have Parish Councils which act as statutory consultees and comment on planning applications. In central areas of York there are no Parish Councils, however the function to comment on planning applications can be fulfilled by PPs. Clifton PP is made up of local volunteers who get together to comment on all type of planning applications. Everyone living in the ward is welcome to join the PP. Most common planning applications in Clifton ward are related to building extensions, or work on trees. Since January last year 72 planning applications have been sent to the PP for comments. Applications to transform houses into Housing of Multiple Occupation (HMO) are on increase. The policy states that there can be no more than 10% of HMOs on a given street, however there are few exceptions.
Large part of the ward is included in the Clifton Conservation area and any house extension, replacement of window frames, or pruning of a mature tree within it requires a planning application.
Planning applications are emailed by the Planning Department to Peter who disseminates them to PP members for consideration. Communication between the PP members is via email. Should a member of the PP know the applicant they have to declare interest and abstain from commenting. Main factors that are taken into consideration while considering an application are the impact on neighbouring properties, potential overshadowing and size of the extension. Once a comment is agreed by the PP it is submitted on the planning portal. Clifton PP has three members – Peter Smith, Joanna Finlay and Jacqueline Fenwick who are happy to carry on being involved. Anyone interested in joining the PP is very welcome.
Cllr Myers added that the PP input provides valuable community perspective in respect of a particular application.
Cllr Myers then outlined the HMOs policy in York. Recent refusal to grant planning application for creation of another HMO on Cromer Street was successfully defended in court, because the 10% threshold had already been reached on that street. Everybody needs somewhere to live, but there must be an appropriate mix of types of housing. CYC as the Local Planning Authority is on top of the HMOs matter and a similar policy in relation to holiday lets is being worked on.
4. Have your say 8pm
Cllr Myers passed on apologies from a representative of the Clifton Methodist Church who was going to give an update on the plans in relation to the church congregation and building. The Church has been active for over 100 years and will be closing towards the end of April, when the building will be marketed for sale. This meeting is one of the last events to take place in the church building. There will be a final prayer at the end of April to which anyone is invited. A space has been offered in the community room at the Homestead Park for the congregation to use for gatherings following closure of the existing church building.
Q – Could continuation of the Inspire Youth mobile youth club session at Ashton Park be supported? Young people in that area really need it and it helps to divert young people from hanging out outside Crichton Avenue shops and instead be involved in a positive activity.
A – The ward has been supportive of Inspire Youth from the outset. They deliver quality youth outreach work; however they have faced some difficulties at Ashton Park and are now deciding if they can continue there. It is hoped that a link between Inspire Youth and AoP strengthens the offer for young people in the area.
Q – The existing bicycle store outside blocks of flats at the top of Burton Stone Lane is not secure. Could something similar to the external metal stores on Wains Road in Dringhouses be installed?
A – We are aware of residents’ concerns and have visited the location during the recent walkabout with the Neighbourhood Caretakers team – a new service dedicated to clearing up areas of adopted land, housing communal gardens, paths and alleyways. External lockable stores were installed on Rowntree Avenue previously and a possibility of similar solution for the blocks of flats needs to be investigated.
A comment was made about poor state of pavements in the area, especially at locations where there are large trees adjacent to the pavement, with roots lifting the tarmac/paving flag surface. Burton Stone Lane was named as one of the streets with pavements difficult for mobility scooters users to navigate. Uneven dropped kerbs can make the issue worse.
A – CYC can rectify issues where a tree root creates a hazard on the pavement. We can report specific locations for investigation. In respect of dropped kerbs the new Movement and Place Plan aims to improve accessibility by prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users by reducing traffic and improving infrastructure, including enhanced, continuous dropped kerb networks.
A comment was made about the communal garden at Marjorie Waite Court Independent Living Scheme, where extension of a patio adjacent to a ground floor flat is possible, however the cost has to be met by the resident. The person felt that this should be covered from the monthly rent payments.
Q – Could the alleyway leading from Lady Road, along the back of the school towards A19 be made more accessible?
A – The alleyway is on a regular cleaning schedule, however due to its location there is no room to make it wider. Improvements to lighting and surface condition can be investigated.
A comment was made that if everyone was cleaning outside their house the area would look much tidier. As it is there is a lot of litter on the pavements that no one takes responsibility for.
A – Unfortunately some people now feel less connected with where they live. One reason behind this is that people move houses more frequently comparing to few decades ago.
At this point Cllr Myers mentioned the imminent consultation about moving from recycling boxes to wheeled recycling bins. The issue with recycling crews rushing and not emptying content of the recycling container entirely or dropping pieces of recycling while emptying the container is being addressed separately.
Q – Could the existing free parking time limit outside businesses by the Green, the old Boots side of the road be reduced to 1 hour? The current 1.5-hour free parking enables individuals to park their car and walk to visit the city centre, making it more attractive in comparison to paying for parking in the city centre. The café is adversely affected by this situation, as parking space for potential customers it taken by those who visit the city centre. Reduction of the free parking time limit to 1 hour would be sufficient for café and other local business visitors, bringing more turnover.
A – We will investigate that. There was a similar request few years ago, which was refused with justification that the change was not necessary. Based on your request we will raise this matter with CYC Parking Services.
A comment was made that parking restrictions on the other side of the road, outside the butchers were changed to 1-hour free parking.
Cllr Myers added that the recent underground utilities work resulting in a section of cobbled area being covered with tarmac was undertaken as a temporary fix to make the surface safe. The policy is to replace the surface like for like and we are expecting for the surface to be recobbled soon.
Q – When will the shelter be installed at the recently refurbished bus stop outside the old Boots pharmacy, and will there be a seat?
A – We are unsure what causes the delay with installation of the shelter but are being advised that it will be installed. If there is a shelter, a seat should also be installed. We will investigate that.
No further questions were raised, and Cllr Myers closed the meeting at 8pm
, Chair
[The meeting started at Time Not Specifiedand finished at Time Not Specified].