Agenda and minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Merrett and Smalley.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

(1)         Members must consider their interests, and act according to the

following:

(2)         Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)         Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them. A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

In respect of Agenda item 14 (Motions on Notice), specifically the motion titled ‘Supporting York’s small businesses’, Cllr Kilbane declared a pecuniary interest in a business trading on Bishopthorpe Road, noting that having sought advice from the Monitoring Officer, he had clearance to participate in debate on the motion. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that as the item under debate was a general point about 30-minute parking restrictions across wherever they may have been, rather than specifically relating to Bishopthorpe Road only, there was not a direct impact on Cllr Kilbane’s interest.

In respect of Agenda item 14 (Motions on Notice), specifically the motion titled ‘Non-proliferation of fossil fuels’, Cllr Knight declared a pecuniary interest as an employee of Northern Gas Networks.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings of Council held on 27 March 2025 and 22 May 2025.

Resolved:   That the minutes of the Council meetings held on 27 March 2025 and 22 May 2025 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider any announcements made by the Lord Mayor in respect of Civic business.

The Lord Mayor provided Council with an update on the activities of the Civic Party over his first eight weeks of office. He noted that 110 engagements had been undertaken, thanking Cllr Wells for undertaking a number of these as Deputy Lord Mayor. He noted that highlights included meeting people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds across a range of events that demonstrated York’s traditions, diversity, links with the armed forces, and the city’s sporting achievements.

With reference to his commitment to visit every school and college in the city, the Lord Mayor confirmed he had visited 20 so far and had been touched by the reception and questions from schoolchildren. He thanked officers, especially the Civic Party’s PA, for their support and guidance in the discharging of civic duties.

At this point in the meeting, any member of the public who has registered to address the Council, or to ask a Member of the Council a question, on a matter directly relevant to the business of the Council or the City, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Tuesday, 15 July 2025.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this public meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission.  The remote public meeting can be viewed live and on demand at

www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that eight members of the public had registered to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation scheme.

Flick Williams spoke on Agenda item 8 (Questions to the Leader or Executive Members) in relation to the impact of the government’s legislative agenda on disabled citizens of York. Noting the fears felt by many, she questioned the absence of the Disability Pride flag from the Mansion House and highlighted a rise in disability hate crime.

Gwen Swinburn spoke in relation to governance matters, highlighting the support of businesses in the Groves for a statutory challenge to increases in parking charges. Noting increased parking pressures in the area, she suggested that the charges were unlawful and presented a parking review request to the Lord Mayor.

Phil Pinder, participating remotely, spoke in relation to increased car parking charges. Expressing concern over the impact of increases on city centre residents and businesses, he noted a fall in retail sales and customer numbers, especially among York residents, warning that a city centre solely for tourists was neither sustainable nor desirable.

Emma Hardy spoke regarding the implications for Council services of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on biological sex under Equality Act. Highlighting the safeguarding of single-sex spaces, she criticised the Council Leader’s comments at a protest against the ruling and called on Members to hold the Council to account in this area.

Virginia Shaw spoke in relation to the motion on fossil fuel non-proliferation at Agenda item 14 (Motions on Notice). Urging support for the Non-Proliferation Treaty, she highlighted the importance of a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuel use, noting that York would be the first council in Yorkshire to endorse the Treaty.

Charlotte Freeman spoke regarding the same motion at Agenda item 14 on behalf of the Parents for Future York group. Emphasising that climate change was a global emergency of which fossil fuel use was the primary driver, she highlighted the importance of setting an example, and children’s right to a safe and liveable planet.

Sarah Perkin of Parents for Future York also spoke in relation to the motion on fossil fuel non-proliferation, noting that climate change was becoming more extreme and unpredictable. Highlighting the need for systemic change, she noted the relevance of York’s Human Rights City status, urging Council to support the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Sean Hagan spoke in in support of the motion and amendment on improving equality of access to elections, also at Agenda item 14. Drawing attention to the issue of voter disengagement and the erosion of trust in democracy, he called on Members to support the proposal to introduce a proportional voting system for both national and local elections.

To consider any petitions received from Members in accordance with Standing Order B5.  Notice has been received of seven petitions to be presented by:

i)                  Councillor Warters regarding the maintenance of Fulford Cemetery.

ii)                Councillor Warters regarding capping the numbers of university students in the city.

iii)              Councillor Mason regarding parking charges.

iv)              Councillor Hook regarding a 20mph speed limit in Poppleton.

v)                Councillor Fenton regarding replacing the zebra crossing on Beckfield Lane in Acomb with a push button crossing.

vi)              Councillor Merrett regarding parking charges and Traffic Regulation Orders in relation to parking in the Groves.

vii)            Councillor Hollyer regarding dualling York’s Outer Ring Road.

Under Rule B6 the following petitions were presented for consideration by the relevant decision maker, in accordance with the council’s petition arrangements:

a)   Cllr Warters regarding the maintenance of Fulford Cemetery.¹

b)   Cllr Warters regarding capping the numbers of university students in the city.²

c)    Cllr Mason regarding parking charges.³

d)   Cllr Hook regarding a 20mph speed limit in Poppleton.⁴

e)   Cllr Fenton regarding replacing the zebra crossing on Beckfield Lane in Acomb with a push button crossing.⁵

f)      Cllr Clarke, on behalf of Cllr Merrett, regarding parking charges and Traffic Regulation Orders in relation to parking in the Groves.⁶

g)   Cllr Hollyer regarding dualling York’s Outer Ring Road.⁷

[The meeting adjourned between 7.19 pm and 7.30 pm].

To receive and consider a written report from the Leader on the work of the Executive.

A written report was received from Cllr Douglas, Leader of the Council, on the work of the Executive.

Cllr Douglas was joined by the other Group Leaders in welcoming the Lord Mayor to his first ordinary Council meeting in the Chair, and in paying tribute to the Chief Operating Officer, Ian Floyd, who was due to retire in 2026 after 17 years’ service to the Council.

It was also noted that the recent Ofsted inspection had rated the Council’s Children’s Services as Outstanding in all areas, and congratulations were offered to the Director and officers.

Following a point of order being raised by Cllr Nelson pursuant to Rule B19 (1) (b) in relation to the language used by Cllr Steward, Cllr Steward withdrew a comment in relation to paternity leave.

To question the Leader and/or Executive Members in respect of any matter within their portfolio responsibility, in accordance with Standing Order B8.

Members were invited to question the Leader or Executive Members. Questions were received from the floor from the following Members, and replied to as indicated:

Questions to Cllr Douglas, Leader of the Council

Armed Forces Day

From Cllr Healey: It was reported in the Independent that the Peace Pledge Union threatened to protest the Armed Forces Day if military equipment was displayed. Will the Council Leader condemn these threats and ensure that in future years we properly honour our Armed Forces?

Response: I’m afraid I can’t really give you a full answer as quite frankly it is just fake news. So much of what was printed was absolutely, totally and utterly not the case at all, and I would say to Cllr Steward as well on that note, the fact that you said there was a ban on military vehicles is just absolutely not the case. So, what can I say – fake news, nothing to answer.

Supplementary from Cllr Healey: A surprising answer, I must say. Could the Council Leader please elaborate then on whether there were residents’ concerns, and who those residents were, particularly if they were part of an organisation, and whether any directive, advice, conversations therefore happened with the military organisations about equipment as certainly one of the cadet forces have relayed on to myself that they were asked by the media not to bring equipment?

Response: I can say to you that of course there were resident concerns made about the presence of military vehicles and also decommissioned arms on Council land, yes there were, but they weren’t from any organisations, they were from individuals who wrote to me, just as I’m sure they wrote to many people across the chamber about concerns that they have. And what I did was I decided to take a balanced approach and thought about the potential for any protest for people with concerns about that, no particular organisation, and on balance with discussion with our military partners we decided that it was the best thing to ask the Queen’s Own Yeomanry to see if they would be consenting of not bringing that equipment. And so that is the conversation that was had, it was a reasonable conversation, it was balanced, and unfortunately what we have at this point in time is a press that once they think that there is a wedge issue that can drive division in our communities and they see this issue as one of those, then they started to print fake news, and that’s where we ended up. So I think we all need to think about the language that we use. There was no ban on anything, I must have said this numerous times; it was a reasonable conversation between participants, there was a decision made, unfortunately the Queen’s Own Yeomanry therefore decided not to attend. They were more than welcome to, and that is all I can tell you. There is nothing more to it.

Supplementary from Cllr Mason: Will the Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To receive a report from Councillor Hollyer, Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, on the work of the Committee.

A written report was received from Cllr Hollyer, Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, on the work of the Committee.

To receive a report from Councillor Fenton, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, on the work of the Committee.

A written report was received from Cllr Fenton, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, on the work of the Committee.

To receive a report from the Joint Standards Committee on the work of the Committee during the 2024/25 municipal year.

A written report was received from Cllr Runciman, Chair of the Joint Standards Committee, on the work of the Committee.

To receive and consider for approval the recommendations of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, as set out below:

Council received a report which presented the recommendations of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee at its meeting held on 10 April 2025, as contained in the reports set out in the Council agenda from page 85. Cllr Melly moved, and Cllr Cuthbertson seconded, the following recommendation contained in the report:

“That in accordance with Option 1, Council approves the new fee as recommended by Members of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.”

Reason:     To meet the legislative requirements of the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024.

On being put to the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED and it was

Resolved:   That the above recommendation be approved.¹

To consider the appointments and changes to membership of committees and outside bodies set out on the list attached to this summons.

Resolved: That the appointments and changes to membership set out the agenda papers at page 93 and supplementary papers at page 3, subject to the correction reported verbally by the Lord Mayor, be noted.

[The meeting adjourned from 8.25 pm to 8.37 pm. Cllr Warters left the meeting during the adjournment].

To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order B10:

Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order B10:

i)                From Councillor Rose:

Improving equality of access to elections

“Council notes:

·       its approved council motions in recent years on voter engagement and participation, including the December 2022 motion opposing new rules imposed on electors, including the new photo ID requirement, in March 2024 backing the ‘My Vote My Voice’ campaign on equal access to voting, and in July 2024 highlighting disenfranchisement problems resulting from a flawed postal vote system;

·       Elections Act 2022 nationality requirements resulting in a lottery of who can vote in different elections, with different treatment of different EU and other citizens in different domestic elections;

·       that groups that are more likely to be disenfranchised than others include those with physical mobility challenges, mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodivergence; younger people; people from poorer backgrounds; people with fewer educational qualifications; ethnic minorities; residents with other nationalities and primary languages; and private tenants in high-turnover-rate areas (such as high rent or high short-term-lets rates areas);

·       that according to 2021 census data York has many people in more highly disenfranchised groups, with a population that are approximately 20% private renters, 17% disabled people, 16% with bad or middling health, 14% 18-24 year olds, 14% social renters, 11% born overseas, 6% widowed, 4% single parents, 4% non-white British, 4% non-white non-British, 3% white non-British, and 0.3% Gypsy, Roma or Traveller;

·       the January 2025 IPPR report: Modernising Elections: How To Get Voters Back that recommended many changes including automatic voter registration, removal of Photo ID requirements, non-working day elections, voting rights for permanent residents, compulsory voting, £100k limits for political donors, votes for 16-17 year olds, and sortition for poll workers;

·       That Scotland and Wales have implemented residence-based voting rights that give equal rights to vote to all residents, with Manchester, Cambridgeshire, several London boroughs, Liverpool, Sheffield and others all supporting the same rights for England.

Council believes all residents should have equal rights and access to voting, and that the creation of new barriers to voting through the Elections Act 2022 was wrong. Complex voting eligibility and voter ID requirements have since disenfranchised voters.

Council further believes that the government and local authorities should fully engage with the IPPR recommendations and maximise support and encouragement for engaging with democratic processes, and that partners including educational institutions and landlords should do more to encourage voter registration and participation.

Council resolves:

·       to request the Council Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Deputy Prime Minister, making the case that local election franchising be applied equally to all residents in England, in line with Scotland and Wales;

·       to request the Council Leader writes to letting agencies and landlords with significant numbers of properties in York, the University of York and York St John University, seeking greater support in registering more residents to vote, including consideration of automatic registration;

·       to request the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 26.

i.            Improving equality of access to elections

Moved by Cllr Rose and seconded by Cllr Coles:

“Council notes:

·     its approved council motions in recent years on voter engagement and participation, including the December 2022 motion opposing new rules imposed on electors, including the new photo ID requirement, in March 2024 backing the ‘My Vote My Voice’ campaign on equal access to voting, and in July 2024 highlighting disenfranchisement problems resulting from a flawed postal vote system;

·     Elections Act 2022 nationality requirements resulting in a lottery of who can vote in different elections, with different treatment of different EU and other citizens in different domestic elections;

·     that groups that are more likely to be disenfranchised than others include those with physical mobility challenges, mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodivergence; younger people; people from poorer backgrounds; people with fewer educational qualifications; ethnic minorities; residents with other nationalities and primary languages; and private tenants in high-turnover-rate areas (such as high rent or high short-term-lets rates areas);

·     that according to 2021 census data York has many people in more highly disenfranchised groups, with a population that are approximately 20% private renters, 17% disabled people, 16% with bad or middling health, 14% 18-24 year olds, 14% social renters, 11% born overseas, 6% widowed, 4% single parents, 4% non-white British, 4% non-white non-British, 3% white non-British, and 0.3% Gypsy, Roma or Traveller;

·     the January 2025 IPPR report: Modernising Elections: How To Get Voters Back that recommended many changes including automatic voter registration, removal of Photo ID requirements, non-working day elections, voting rights for permanent residents, compulsory voting, £100k limits for political donors, votes for 16-17 year olds, and sortition for poll workers;

·     That Scotland and Wales have implemented residence-based voting rights that give equal rights to vote to all residents, with Manchester, Cambridgeshire, several London boroughs, Liverpool, Sheffield and others all supporting the same rights for England.

Council believes all residents should have equal rights and access to voting, and that the creation of new barriers to voting through the Elections Act 2022 was wrong. Complex voting eligibility and voter ID requirements have since disenfranchised voters.

Council further believes that the government and local authorities should fully engage with the IPPR recommendations and maximise support and encouragement for engaging with democratic processes, and that partners including educational institutions and landlords should do more to encourage voter registration and participation.

Council resolves:

·     to request the Council Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Deputy Prime Minister, making the case that local election franchising be applied equally to all residents in England, in line with Scotland and Wales;

·     to request the Council Leader writes to letting agencies and landlords with significant numbers of properties in York, the University of York and York St John University, seeking greater support in registering more residents to vote, including consideration of automatic registration;

·     to request the Council, through the appropriate committee, considers those recommendations of the IPPR in which there is local discretion, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.