Agenda and draft minutes

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1.     Main meeting – welcome and introductions (7pm)

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Myers who welcomed everyone, set out the housekeeping rules and reminded residents that the meeting was non-political.

2.     Ward funding and local projects

Cllr Myers briefly outlined Connecting Clifton, a newsletter that was recently delivered to households across the ward. The newsletter results from the Clear, Hold, Build campaign and aims to share news about local projects, initiatives and activities.

Cllr Myers spoke about the Crombie Avenue play area improvements consultation which was included in the ward meeting on 18^th of March 2026.  Comments in respect of shortlisted proposals are still being invited. It is envisaged that the play area refurbishment will be completed before the summer 2026.

Cllr Myers outlined ward priorities which are being used to guide spending of the ward budget. The emphasis is on provision of activities and facilities for young people, and the ward would welcome a conversation with anyone involved in youth work and interested in delivering youth activities in Clifton.

Individual ward budget allocation is comprised of £250,000 shared across the city. In the financial year 2025/26 Clifton Ward was allocated £19,812. This funding enabled provision of financial support towards several projects at a ward level. 

Art of Protest (AoP), who presented at the ward meeting last week, have been involved with mural installation on Acomb Front Street and several other creative art projects in other cities. In Clifton a project, featuring art workshops with pupils from Clifton Green, Burton Green and Vale of York schools is taking place. It will result in creation of murals within school sites and a temporary art installation at Ashton Park. Ward funding contribution enabled AoP to secure larger grant from the Nort Yorkshire Combined Authority Community Fund towards this project. Two other significant funding bids towards place making projects to enhance visual aesthetics of Crichton Avenue shops parade and create corridors connecting green spaces in Clifton are being pursued by the AoP.  Both projects are aimed to enhance the street environment and alleviate issues with anti-social behaviour in the area.

Representatives from some of the groups in receipt of ward funding during the last financial year were present and Cllr Myers invited them to speak about their project and experience of ward funding. 

Kelly McTighe, GLL Healthwise Coordinator spoke about chair-based exercise sessions aimed to encourage people of all abilities to become and remain more active, help to manage and improve existing medical conditions. A typical session includes elements of strength, balance and mobility exercises with few relaxed dance movements at the end. Sessions have been running for two years, every Friday, 10.30am at the Clifton Community Hall on Evelyn Crescent. Feedback from participants informs about additional wellbeing gains resulting from an opportunity for social interaction. An increase in the number of individuals from the community attending the sessions has been noted over the past few months.

Councillor Wells added that sessions are free to attend and form part of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Annual report and members selection.

Peter Smith, Chairman of the Clifton Planning Panel (PP) gave an overview of the Panel work and activities over the last year. Outlying areas of York have Parish Councils which act as statutory consultees and comment on planning applications. In central areas of York there are no Parish Councils, however the function to comment on planning applications can be fulfilled by PPs. Clifton PP is made up of local volunteers who get together to comment on all type of planning applications. Everyone living in the ward is welcome to join the PP. Most common planning applications in Clifton ward are related to building extensions, or work on trees. Since January last year 72 planning applications have been sent to the PP for comments. Applications to transform houses into Housing of Multiple Occupation (HMO) are on increase. The policy states that there can be no more than 10% of HMOs on a given street, however there are few exceptions.

Large part of the ward is included in the Clifton Conservation area and any house extension, replacement of window frames, or pruning of a mature tree within it requires a planning application.

Planning applications are emailed by the Planning Department to Peter who disseminates them to PP members for consideration. Communication between the PP members is via email. Should a member of the PP know the applicant they have to declare interest and abstain from commenting. Main factors that are taken into consideration while considering an application are the impact on neighbouring properties, potential overshadowing and size of the extension. Once a comment is agreed by the PP it is submitted on the planning portal. Clifton PP has three members – Peter Smith, Joanna Finlay and Jacqueline Fenwick who are happy to carry on being involved. Anyone interested in joining the PP is very welcome.

Cllr Myers added that the PP input provides valuable community perspective in respect of a particular application.

Cllr Myers then outlined the HMOs policy in York. Recent refusal to grant planning application for creation of another HMO on Cromer Street was successfully defended in court, because the 10% threshold had already been reached on that street.  Everybody needs somewhere to live, but there must be an appropriate mix of types of housing. CYC as the Local Planning Authority is on top of the HMOs matter and a similar policy in relation to holiday lets is being worked on.

Cllr Myers passed on apologies from a representative of the Clifton Methodist Church who was going to give an update on the plans in relation to the church congregation and building. The Church has been active for over 100 years and will be closing towards the end of April, when the building will be marketed for sale.  This meeting is one of the last events to take place in the church building. There will be a final prayer at the end of April to which anyone is invited. A space has been offered in the community room at the Homestead Park for the congregation to use for gatherings following closure of the existing church building.

Q – Could continuation of the Inspire Youth mobile youth club session at Ashton Park be supported? Young people in that area really need it and it helps to divert young people from hanging out outside Crichton Avenue shops and instead be involved in a positive activity.

A – The ward has been supportive of Inspire Youth from the outset. They deliver quality youth outreach work; however they have faced some difficulties at Ashton Park and are now deciding if they can continue there. It is hoped that a link between Inspire Youth and AoP strengthens the offer for young people in the area.

Q – The existing bicycle store outside blocks of flats at the top of Burton Stone Lane is not secure. Could something similar to the external metal stores on Wains Road in Dringhouses be installed?

A – We are aware of residents’ concerns and have visited the location during the recent walkabout with the Neighbourhood Caretakers team – a new service dedicated to clearing up areas of adopted land, housing communal gardens, paths and alleyways. External lockable stores were installed on Rowntree Avenue previously and a possibility of similar solution for the blocks of flats needs to be investigated.

A comment was made about poor state of pavements in the area, especially at locations where there are large trees adjacent to the pavement, with roots lifting the tarmac/paving flag surface. Burton Stone Lane was named as one of the streets with pavements difficult for mobility scooters users to navigate. Uneven dropped kerbs can make the issue worse.

A – CYC can rectify issues where a tree root creates a hazard on the pavement. We can report specific locations for investigation. In respect of dropped kerbs the new Movement and Place Plan aims to improve accessibility by prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users by reducing traffic and improving infrastructure, including enhanced, continuous dropped kerb networks.

A comment was made about the communal garden at Marjorie Waite Court Independent Living Scheme, where extension of a patio adjacent to a ground floor flat is possible, however the cost has to be met by the resident. The person felt that this should be covered from the monthly rent payments.

Q – Could the alleyway leading from Lady Road, along the back of the school towards  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.