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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change |
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Date |
8 September 2021 |
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Present |
Councillor Widdowson |
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37. Declarations of Interest
The Executive Member was asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or discloseable pecuniary interest that she might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.
38. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 7 July 2021 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
39. Public Participation
It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the session under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
40. York Community Woodland – Final woodland design and woodland creation
The Executive Member considered a report which set out the
recommended final woodland masterplan showing the suggested
spatial layout and key features of York Community Woodland
following public consultation and co-design. The masterplan was
accompanied by indicative outline costs and a suggested phased
implementation schedule.
The report also set out options for external capital funding
to support the physical creation of York Community
Woodland and for appointing a woodland creation delivery partner
to lead this work on behalf of City of York Council. The Assistant Director Policy and Strategy and York Community Woodland Project Manager were in attendance to present the report and respond to questions.
Key points arising from the presentation of the report included:
· That at the meeting of the Executive in August 2021, approval of the design, delivery partner and ‘open space’ disposal notice publication was delegated to the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change.
· That extensive consultation with residents and community groups was undertaken to inform the vision and masterplan, and officers thanked those who took part.
· That officers recommended selecting Forestry England as the external capital funding source, for the reasons set out in the report. Selecting Forestry England would allow the Corporate Director of Place and the Director of Governance to progress negotiations to enter a formal lease agreement.
· That details of the other options available to the Executive Member were set out in the report.
The Executive Member thanked officers for their report, and also thanked both Forestry England and the White Rose Forest for their work on the the York Community Woodland.
Resolved:
i. That the final woodland design masterplan be approved as the basis for woodland creation and for submission to Forestry Commission for woodland approval and the associated indicative outline costs and phased woodland creation implementation schedule be noted.
Reason: The masterplan meets the design brief and will guide the creation of York Community Woodland and ensure it meets the community woodland vision, agreed project objectives and Forestry Commission regulatory requirements,
ii. That the recommendation to select Forestry England as the external capital funding source be approved, to support York Community Woodland and act as the council’s woodland creation delivery partner, based on the options appraisal set out in the report.
The Executive Member was presented with the option to select either the White Rose Forest Trees for Climate Fund or Forestry England as the external capital funding source.
Reason: The external funder and woodland creation deliver partner will work with the council to create and manage the woodland in line with shared objectives, priorities and timescales. Approving the recommendation will enable the Director of Place in association with the Director of Governance and relevant officers to negotiate and enter into a formal lease agreement with Forestry England under Delegated Authority granted by the council’s Executive on 26 August 2021.
iii. That the publication of any necessary ‘open space’ disposal Notice under S.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved. If any comments are received from the public in response to such Notice, these will be referred to the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change for consideration.
Reason: To ensure compliance with the Council’s obligations pursuant to S.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Cllr P. Widdowson, Executive Member
[The meeting started at 3.04 pm and finished at 3.07 pm].