Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to summarise the background and history relating to this site and to set out for agreement the actions required, and the process to be followed to secure long-term management of this land for public benefit as per the section 106 agreement signed and dated 2 June 1997

RESOLVED:      

That Option 2 be approved and the process set out in the report, with the following amendments, be agreed:

(i)      That the Habitat Plan and Site Layout plan be improved for the final copy of the Management Framework.

(ii)      The Ecological Assessment should be made more specific to York species, particularly in relation to Bats etc but without being over-prescriptive.

(iii)     Section 1.4 be amended to recognise that there is currently not general disabled access to the site and improvements could be made.

(iv)     The value of the land as a community resource should be upfront in the Management Framework.

(v)     The Community involvement sections 3.3 and 3.4 should be strengthened and potentially based around a reinvigorated ‘friends of’ model.

(vi)     That the final wording be delegated to the Director of City Strategy in conjunction with the Cabinet Member.

(vii)    That the Council would seek to ensure that the site was managed according to the draft management framework for the interim period until a new managing organisation was established.

REASON:           

In order to confirm the process to be followed to secure the effective long-term management arrangements for land at Mayfield Grove York as per Section 106 agreement dated 2^nd June 1997.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which summarised the background and history relating to the Mayfield Grove site and to set out for agreement the actions required and the process to be followed to secure long term management of the land for public benefit as per the section 106 agreement signed and dated 2 June 1997.

The Council had produced a Management Framework which was attached at annex 4 to the report. It set out the minimum requirements necessary for the successful management of the land at Mayfield Grove. It had been informed by the ongoing informal management arrangements and dialogue with York Natural Environment Trust (YNET) and Chase Residents Association (CRA) over recent months.

Having taken into consideration the representations made by the public speakers and Council members, the Cabinet Member made the following comments:

·        Apologised for the ongoing situation and the fact that the land transfer is still to be finalised.

·        Acknowledged the efforts made by local residents in trying to discover who has responsibility for the land. As a result the Council has paid attention and a solution was now trying to be found. The key issue is to move forward.

Option 2 was approved with the amendments detailed below. The Cabinet Member suggested the changes to take into account the representations made by interested parties and council members at the meeting.

RESOLVED:      

That Option 2 be approved and the process set out in the report, with the following amendments, be agreed:

(i)      That the Habitat Plan and Site Layout plan be improved for the final copy of the Management Framework.

(ii)      The Ecological Assessment should be made more specific to York species, particularly in relation to Bats etc but without being over-prescriptive.

(iii)     Section 1.4 be amended to recognise that there is currently not general disabled access to the site and improvements could be made.

(iv)    The value of the land as a community resource should be upfront in the Management Framework.

(v)     The Community involvement sections 3.3 and 3.4 should be strengthened and potentially based around a reinvigorated ‘friends of’ model.

(vi)    That the final wording be delegated to the Director of City Strategy in conjunction with the Cabinet Member.

(vii)    That the Council would seek to ensure that the site was managed according to the draft management framework for the interim period until a new managing organisation was established.

REASON:          

In order to confirm the process to be followed to secure the effective long-term management arrangements for land at Mayfield Grove York as per Section 106 agreement dated 2^nd June 1997.