Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm arrangements for chairing the meeting as follows:

Councillor XXX – All standard agenda items 1-5.

Councillor XXX – Agenda item 6 – ‘Please insert report title here’  

Councillor XXX – Agenda item 7 – ‘Please insert report title here’

Continue as above

Councillor XXX – Agenda item X – Urgent Business -

The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion opened the meeting and would chair items 1 to 5. The Executive Member for Housing Planning & Safer Communities would then chair items 6 to 8.

To receive and note apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

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.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it

becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

(1)  Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2) Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member

concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3) Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months

must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget

calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction

applies to them. A failure to comply with these requirements is a

criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government

Finance Act 1992.

The Executive Members were invited to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests, or any disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

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 on Friday 29 August 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 noted that there had been two registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Flick Williams raised concerns regarding the UK welfare system becoming harder to navigate she also enquires regarding individuals being moved over to Universal Credit from other forms of welfare and whether this will increase Council tax bills on these individuals.  

The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion asked that Flick Williams share her specific concerns relating to Council Tax and Universal Credit with the Executive Member to allow officers to investigate any impact of these changes.

Denise Craghill spoke on behalf of the Green Party. She noted that the party supported the Public Space Protection Orders but had concerns regarding the new additional powers that were to be included within the orders. She raised particular concerns regarding how these powers would affect the homeless and could be used to drive homeless people out of the city.

This report provides details on the Financial Inclusion/Welfare Benefits outturn report for 2024/25 and ongoing work in 2025/26.

Resolved:

                         i.         Noted and comment on the details of the report regarding providing support to residents affected by the impacts of the continuing high cost of living;

                        ii.         Delegated any decision-making relating to the Government’s expected Crisis and Resilience Fund (details awaited) requirements to the Director of Finance (s151) in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion.

Reason:     To ensure councillors, residents and stakeholder groups are aware of the ongoing financial inclusion activity across the city. To ensure the council reacts quickly to any new government.

Officers introduced the report highlighting the work the Council has undertaken and the impact this has had working alongside the community voluntary sector. Officers noted that they were seeking the Executive Members to note the support provided to residents to date and agree to delegate any decision-making relating to the Government’s expected Crisis and Resilience Fund. Officers also noted that in the future they hoped-for longer-term funding from Government to give more certainty and the opportunity for greater planning around support.

The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion and the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education thanked officers and partners for the important services that they provided to support people. The Executive Member noted that the widening levels of inequality in our society was a national scandal which meant the kinds of support the Council provided was important. The Executive Member made particular note of the school holiday support which provided activities to young people and children, as well as, providing balanced meals outside of school term time. The Executive Member welcomed the strong partnership work the Council was engaged with and hoped to see even greater outcomes with partners as the Council moved towards a Local Neighborhood Support Model.

Resolved:

                         i.         Noted and comment on the details of the report regarding providing support to residents affected by the impacts of the continuing high cost of living;

                        ii.         Delegated any decision-making relating to the Government’s expected Crisis and Resilience Fund (details awaited) requirements to the Director of Finance (s151) in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion.

Reason:     To ensure councillors, residents and stakeholder groups are aware of the ongoing financial inclusion activity across the city. To ensure the council reacts quickly to any new government.

This report presents the option to agree to proceed to public consultations on the potential extension of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle the problems caused by groups of people within the city walls.

Resolved:

                         i.         Approved the decision to consult with the public and partners on the extension of the PSPO which would ensure that the Council would have greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the city walls including the following possible options the council could consider:

·      A ban on drinking alcohol in public within the area;

·      The ability to remove large groups of 3 or more people who are causing anti-social behaviour for both sites;

·      Begging, no person shall make any verbal, non-verbal or written request for money, donations or goods, including the placing of hats, clothing or containers so as to cause or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance.

·      No return within 24 hours if asked to leave. No person shall, after being requested to leave by an authorised officer due to them behaving in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person within the city Centre without reasonable excuse, remain or return to the city Centre within a period of 24 hours.

·      Loitering, no person shall loiter, sit or lay on the floor or on temporary structures in or adjacent to doorways or around pay machines (including banks, supermarkets) in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person within the city Centre.

Reason:     To consult on providing the Council with greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the city walls.

Officers introduced the report outlining the proposal to go for public consultation on the Public Space Protection Order for the City Centre. It was confirmed that this area had had persistent issues with drinking and begging and North Yorkshire Police believed having a broader public safety protection order like other areas of the country would assist in addressing issues.

The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities noted the comments from public speakers and concerns raised in the media, the Executive Member confirmed that these changes to the Public Space Protection Order would not aim to evict people from York. Officers also clarified in relation to homelessness and rough sleepers the Council had a specific Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy that aimed to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities noted that the city centre had issues relating to drinking and aggressive behaviour with an increase in anti-social behaviour in recent months. He welcomed everyone to engage in the consultation.

Resolved:

                         i.         Approved the decision to consult with the public and partners on the extension of the PSPO which would ensure that the Council would have greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the city walls including the following possible options the council could consider:

·      A ban on drinking alcohol in public within the area;

·      The ability to remove large groups of 3 or more people who are causing anti-social behaviour for both sites;

·      Begging, no person shall make any verbal, non-verbal or written request for money, donations or goods, including the placing of hats, clothing or containers so as to cause or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance.

·      No return within 24 hours if asked to leave. No person shall, after being requested to leave by an authorised officer due to them behaving in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person within the city Centre without reasonable excuse, remain or return to the city Centre within a period of 24 hours.

·      Loitering, no person shall loiter, sit or lay on the floor or on temporary structures in or adjacent to doorways or around pay machines (including banks, supermarkets) in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person within the city Centre.

Reason:     To consult on providing the Council with greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the city walls.

This report presents to option to agree to proceed to public consultations on the potential extension of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle the problems caused by groups of people within the area bordering Union Terrace, Clarence Street Gardens and the Groves.

Resolved:

                      i.         Approved the decision to consult with the public and partners on the extension of the PSPO which would ensure that the Council would have greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour in these areas, including the following possible options the council could consider:

·      A ban on drinking alcohol in public within the area;

·      The ability to remove large groups of 3 or more people who are causing anti-social behaviour for the sites.

Reason:     To consult on providing the Council with greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the Union Terrace, Clarence Street Gardens and the Groves area.

Officers introduced the report, outlining that the This item was similar to the Public Space Protection Order for the City Centre and that they were seeking to go to consultation on a Public Space Protection Order for Union Terrace and Clarence Gardens. Officers noted that the area had had issues with anti-social behaviour and drinking. The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities thanked officers for the report and once again encouraged everyone to engage in the consultation.

Resolved:

                      i.         Approved the decision to consult with the public and partners on the extension of the PSPO which would ensure that the Council would have greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour in these areas, including the following possible options the council could consider:

·      A ban on drinking alcohol in public within the area;

·      The ability to remove large groups of 3 or more people who are causing anti-social behaviour for the sites.

Reason:     To consult on providing the Council with greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the Union Terrace, Clarence Street Gardens and the Groves area.