Agenda item

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the Executive.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as two working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Friday, 3 October 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 meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that there had been eight registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Roger Tuckett spoke in relation to agenda item 7, A City that Works for All: York's All-age Autism and ADHD Strategy 2025-2030. He spoke about the impact of undiagnosed autism career in relation to work, family connections and financial stability. He was keen to ensure societal integration for all autistic and neurodivergent people. It was reported that life expectancy for autistic people was between 6 and 11 years lower than the rest of the population. Up to 35% planned or attempted suicide during their lifetime. 42% of autistic children experienced anxiety compared to 3% of non-autistic children. Educational outcomes were persistently worse. And just three in ten autistic adults were in work compared to five in ten for all disabled people and eight in ten for non-disabled people.

The development of a new autism strategy was welcomed, preceded by a full needs assessment, including ADHD. It involved lived experience in co-design and co-production not just as an aspiration. Its focus on societal aspects was exemplary. However, it remained largely tactical and may lack a clear strategic pathway of how to achieve all the wider outcomes of the autistic communities and their families sought in fully removing health and social inequalities brought about by neurodivergence. A robust annual action plan was needed with measurable targets and accountability. However, the various statutory authorities still provided a fragmented approach to support, particularly between health and social care services with the third sector and often with poor communication with neurodivergent communities themselves.

It was requested that City of York Council supported a call for a leadership summit during 2026 for autism and ADHD across York and North Yorkshire. This should include direct participation as equal partners not only from the various statutory bodies, but also the third sector and neurodivergent communities to explore better ways of integrating support strategies and stimulating co-operative working.

The Leader of the Council responded that the request for involvement at the leadership summit was to be addressed by Councillor Lucy Steels-Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

Gwen Swinburn spoke in relation to agenda item 13, £500k Parks Investment Fund – Scheme Approval. There was concern that King George Field remained last on the Parks Investment Fund. It was reported that the site had been legally dedicated as a memorial to King George V and was the only recreational space for residents. It was felt that the council's statutory duty to maintain it had been ignored. In addition, the adjacent play area at Aaron Place had been neglected with missing and outdated play equipment. The Council's scoring system had ranked King George Field the lowest, and despite being inaccessible, officers had not given full infrastructure points.

The Leader of the Council responded that King George Field was on the list for further consideration and that whilst £500k was a significant investment it did not cover all that needed to be done across the city.

Councillor Fenton spoke in relation to agenda item 10 – Delivering More Affordable Housing in York – Update on the Housing Delivery Programme; and agenda item 12 – Park and Ride: Site Improvements and New Bus Service Contract. In relation to the housing delivery programme, he welcomed that work was underway to develop design options for Askham Bar former park and ride site. The site had real potential not just for much needed affordable housing, but also for health and community facilities. The development also provided an opportunity to look at transport infrastructure in the area with view to improving bus reliability and upgrading cycling and walking routes. It was requested that Executive Members and officers worked with local councillors and the wider community as this important scheme progressed.

In relation to park and ride investment, the proposed secure overnight parking provision at Askham Bar was particularly welcomed. Whilst understanding the logic for the 2-year contract extension it was requested that this did not prevent discussions on changes to existing services. For example, consideration being given to an intermediate stop to be introduced on the number three route so that the park and ride was a practical choice for staff working at schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities in the Tadcaster Road area.

In relation to agenda item 16, York Christmas Market 2025 – Implementation of Temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order the recommendation from the Chief Constable this year was clear as was the advice last year from counter terrorism officers. Residents and visitors expected Executive to make decisions which prioritised public safety. Publication of the report six hours before the start of the meeting meant there had been very little opportunity for proper scrutiny or for members of the public to register to speak on this important matter.

Hilary Conroy spoke in relation to agenda item 7, A City that Works for All: York’s All-age Autism and ADHD Strategy 2025-2030.  There was concern about the pilot scheme which it was reported had initially rejected 90% of the people who requested an assessment for autism and ADHD. It had since been permanently installed, which created a two-tier system of those considered urgent enough for assessment and approximately 9,000 people who were currently being held on a waiting list. It was in this context that work on an updated strategy began at City of York Council. That whilst the initial health needs assessment was at times problematic, officers had shown themselves to be exemplary in their ability to listen, understand, and take on board the feedback they had received. They sought out a variety of voices to ensure that the loudest or most engageable were not the only ones shaping this piece of work. It was hoped that others could take note on how to apply this approach through relationships, honesty, humility, and genuine interest. Overall, although pleased with the results of these efforts there was some concern about the response from partners. There were questions to be asked about what was prioritised over this work and how informed or accepting decision makers were about the needs highlighted in the strategy. It was hoped that some of the ambitions referred to within the strategy could be met in the next five years. There had already been a shift within City of York Council in understanding neurodivergence and it was hoped that the Integrated Care Board (ICB) could follow suit in years to come.

Reference was also made to agenda item 16, York Christmas Market 2025 – Implementation of Temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order. As a representative of York Disability Rights Forum, there was concern about the formal recommendation to prevent blue badge holders access to the city centre. That blue badge holders should not be treated as second class citizens just because of their disability. That if the York Christmas Market was considered such a danger, then perhaps the Council should consider whether changes were needed in terms of layout. The lack of space around the market itself was already problematic for disabled people beyond the issue of blue badge parking. This was an opportunity to rethink the whole approach and ensure a city that worked for all.

Helen Jones spoke in relation to agenda item 16, York Christmas Market 2025 - Implementation of Temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order, as a member of York Disability Rights Forum.  There was concern that the recommendation to close city centre access for blue badge holders from 10.00am to 7.00pm from 13 November to 21 December 2025 meant that blue badge holders would be unable to access city centre services, such as banks and opticians, and took away the opportunity to socialise with family and friends. Christmas could already feel a lonely time for some and exclusion from the city centre only heightened that. Additionally, York Christmas Market was not considered accessible. It was overcrowded and extremely difficult to navigate as a wheelchair user.

Bigby Eris Waterson spoke in relation to agenda item 16 – York Christmas Market 2025 – Implementation of Temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order. Whilst recognising that there had been a recommendation to ensure public safety, it was felt that it had the opposite effect for disabled people. Many disabled people were reliant on access to the city centre. As the city became busier for Christmas, it was more dangerous for those with disabilities with overcrowding being a particular issue.

Chief Inspector Ryan Chapman, North Yorkshire Police spoke in relation to agenda item 16, York Christmas Market 2025 -

Implementation of Temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order. It was reported that there were two statements to be presented, one on behalf of counter terrorism and one from North Yorkshire Police.

In relation to counter terrorism the following was reported:

“Counter Terrorism Police North-East would like members to take account of the terrible and tragic terrorist incidents in Manchester on 2 October 2025 when deliberating the issues of access to this year's Christmas Market in York. Once again, the attack involved the use of a vehicle as a weapon. It is crucial to ensure that the areas of York city centre are protected at the time of the busy Christmas market. This means keeping the area inside the scheme accessible only to emergency response vehicles. Determined terrorists will seek to exploit any vulnerabilities to mount a successful attack. There have been numerous examples worldwide of attacks on Christmas markets and plots to attack such events over the past few years, including last year in Germany.”

In relation to North Yorkshire Police, the following was reported:

“The Christmas Market is an important seasonal event in the City of York and North Yorkshire. Police are keen to work in partnership with City of York Council to ensure it is a success. It is important to note that responsibility for public safety at this event sits with the event organiser. The York Christmas Market attracts a high-density crowd and the presence of vehicles in such an environment creates an obvious opportunity for a terrorist attack using vehicles as weapons. As you're aware, the City of York contains the only tier one site outside of London. Following the 2024 event, there were reports that many felt that crowds were too dense and could be better managed. In recent years, we have witnessed vehicles within the area that were either static or moving within the area and therefore seemed to be blue badge holders. This creates an obvious risk on the basis that an intended terrorist could easily obtain such a pass if minded to do so. We take the view that the ATTRO should have been in place previous years to mitigate this threat. It is factually incorrect to suggest that the Chief Constable has the power to impose an ATTRO. Such an order can only be granted by the highway authority on the recommendation of the Chief Officer. It is our understanding that a proposal to recommend a temporary ATTRO to the highways authority was discussed at the City of York Safety Advisory Group on 10 September 2025 where it received the support of all agencies present, including officers from the City of York Council. It is vitally important that we all take appropriate steps to protect residents and visitors to this great city from terrorism. The events in Liverpool and Manchester illustrate the devastating impact of a vehicle driven into a dense crowd. It's a proportionate and reasonable step for the Chief Constable to recommend a temporary ATTRO to the City of York Council as highway authority. It is a matter for the council if they wish to accept or reject the recommendation.”

(During the course of the public participation session it was noted that one of the individuals registered to speak was not in attendance at the meeting.)