Decision details

Background / Decision Summary:

Historically the Council has supported the care and development of the St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve by entering into annual service level agreement (SLA) with the Friends St Nicholas Fields (the Friends). The last SLA was approved by the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change in April 2021 and covered the period up to 31st March 2026. See link. https://democracy.york.gov.uk/documents/s148639/S%20Nicks%20SLA.pdf

A new agreement is proposed to cover the period up to 31st March 2027 to the value of £23,000. The site is owned by the City Council and was leased to the Friends in 2014 on a 99-year lease. A plan of the leased area is attached as annex 1.

The core requirements of the SLA remain the same, namely to:

• Manage and maintain St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve
• Present a programme of volunteer, education and outreach work
• Retain Keep Britian Tidy Community Green Flag status
• Run projects, events and services which help to make York more sustainable.

The full version is attached as annex 2.

The Public Realm base budget for 2026/27 contains provision for the level of funding proposed.

• To offer a 12-month service level agreement at the current funding level

• To offer a 12-month service level agreement at a reduced funding level

• Not to offer a service level agreement

• To offer a longer multiyear service level agreement

• To offer a 12-month service level agreement at a reduced funding level. This has been rejected as the core Public Realm budget for 2026/27 provides for the level of funding proposed.

• Not to offer a service level agreement. This has been rejected as it could place the Friends in a difficult position given the lack of notice and limited time to adopt to a new financial situation.

• To offer a longer multi-year service level agreement. This has been rejected so not to prejudge the Authorities’ future financial circumstances