Agenda item

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 18^th 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.