Agenda and minutes

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.

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

Cllr Fenton noted that he had a non-prejudicial interest relating to minute 33 Update on the Asset Management Strategy as he was a trustee at a community centre which is run from a Council asset.  

Cllr Pearson noted that he had a non-prejudicial interest relating to minute 33 Update on the Asset Management Strategy as he was a trustee at a community centre which is run from a Council asset.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Economy, Place, Access, and Transport Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27 February 2024.

Resolved: The Committee agreed the minutes of the 27 February 2024 meetings be signed as a correct record.

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 Committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 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 Thursday 21 March on 2024.

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.

During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we ran council meetings, including facilitating remote participation by public speakers. See our updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

Written representations in respect of items on this agenda should be submitted to Democratic Services by 5.00pm on

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report provides an update on the Asset Management Strategy, as requested by the Committee.

The Committee considered the report providing an update on the Council’s Asset Management Strategy. Officers confirmed that the Council generates around £6.7m from its commercial portfolio of about 330 properties. It was confirmed that the many of the Council’s properties were rented to independent traders in areas such as the Shambles. The Council also maintained office spaces, such as, at its Eco Business Centre which had a focus on startup companies.

It was confirmed that most of the Council’s city centre units were occupied. Officers confirmed that there was always a conversation nationally about how to use a Council’s commercial activity to support the funding of services. They noted that the Council was heavily commercial but were not in the same position of some Councils who had built billion pound investment portfolios. They noted that the Council’s Asset Management Strategy sought to identify opportunities within York that didn’t unnecessarily increase risk. The Committee enquired as to where the proposed saving of £800,000 in the Council budget would be identified from the Council’s assets. Officers noted that two Council owned cottages were being marketed to be sold at a market price of £400,000 each.  

The Committee enquired about the role the new Combined Authority and regional Mayor would have on Council assets and housing delivery. Officers confirmed that the Council would continue to own its assets and that the Mayor would hold a strategic position in Housing delivery, but that the Council would continue to operate its housing delivery programme and housing strategies. Members also enquired as to whether the Council was in discussion with the combined authority to ensure there would be a presence in York. Officers confirmed that the Combined Authority already rented space at the Councils West Offices building to the Combined Authority and would continue partnership working to ensure there remains a strong voice from York in the authority.

Members questioned the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects and Equalities about how the Executives pledge of 100% affordable housing would be implemented. The Executive Member explained that on Council land designated for housing development, these would be developed either by the Council or registered providers as 100% affordable housing.

Officers confirmed that they were working on 100% affordable housing and in discussion with Members confirmed that there were challenges on some sites to deliver 100% affordable housing but were reviewing this for sites such as 17-21 Piccadilly. Officers confirmed that they would know more after this review but that small city centre sites such as this could pose problems for registered providers to take on and build 100% affordable housing.

The Committee discussed whether the Council could encourage certain types of businesses and promote certain sectors. Officers confirmed that the Asset Management Team worked closely with the Council’s Economic Development Team to use the Council’s role as one of the city’s largest commercial landlords to support the Council’s economic strategy.

Members raised questions regarding how the Council was seeking to decarbonise its current portfolio. It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s work plan for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Members confirmed that the full task and finish group report into Dial and Ride would no longer be ready for the Committees April meeting. It was therefore agreed that a brief update would be provided on the progress of the task and finish group. The Committee also discussed work planning for the next municipal year, other potential task and finish groups, and how they could engage residents in identifying agenda items.

Resolved:

                      i.         Noted the Committee work plan.

                     ii.         The Chair of the Committee to explore how residents could be engaged in work plan setting and to draft a list of potential items the Committee could consider in the next municipal year.

Reason:     To ensure the Committee maintains a programme of work.