Agenda item

This report presents the results of consultation on whether York should become a World Heritage Site (WHS), together with advice to potential WHSs from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.  It examines the boundary options for a York WHS and asks the Executive to consider how they wish to proceed on this matter.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the DCMS’s proposal to adopt a new, short UK Tentative List and the two-stage nomination and decision process to create the new UK Tentative List be supported.

REASON:      The DCMS preferred proposal is a cost effective means of gaining nomination to a revised Tentative List.

(ii)               That it be agreed that:

a.      A Stage 1 application be submitted for nomination to the new UK Tentative List, based on Option 3 and

b.      If successful at Stage 1, a Stage 2 application be submitted for nomination to the new UK Tentative List.

REASON:      This is the only route available to be nominated to a revised UK Tentative List.  Option 3 offers the best fit to the Statement of Significance and acknowledges the case that York is of outstanding universal value and merits World Heritage status.

(iii)             That approaches and investigations to secure partnership funding to facilitate the early appointment of a World Heritage Site Project Officer be supported.

REASON:      To facilitate further promotion of, and possible early delivery on, some of the key benefits outlined in the report and allow work to commence in good time to develop the more detailed bid information, by reducing the burden on existing Council Officers.

(iv)              That the Executive be updated on progress at each stage and that a further report on partnership, finance, timetable, HR and other arrangements be brought to the Executive if York is successful at Stage 2.

REASON:      To ensure that the Executive is fully aware of progress, and to enable decisions to be taken on key issues if York is successful in gaining nomination to a revised UK Tentative List.

Members considered a report which presented the results of consultation on the issue of whether York should become a World Heritage Site (WHS) and examined the boundary options for a York WHS.

The report followed on from a previous report on the work of the York World Heritage Steering Group (YWHSG), presented in April 2007, when the Executive had requested further consultation and investigation of the options.  The public consultation process had demonstrated overwhelming support for York gaining World Heritage status.  The Statement of Significance developed by the YWHSG had been used to assess the following boundary options for the site:

Option 1 – the Minster precinct;

Option 2 – the Minster precinct, St Mary’s Abbey City Walls and Defences, including York Castle;

Option 3 – the Central Historic Core Conservation Area.

The conclusion of the assessment was that Option 3 should be chosen, as this would introduce no additional statutory controls or constraints.

Details of the World Heritage Policy consultation, review and advice published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) were set out in paragraphs 48 to 57 of the report.  The DCMS intended to introduce a simpler, cheaper two-stage route for sites seeking nomination to a new, shorter UK Tentative List.  Although achieving nomination to this List would be a difficult task, once nominated progression to formal approval by UNESCO would be almost guaranteed.  Costs of preparing documentation for approval would be £50k per year for four years.  Costs of operating a York WHS would be around £50k per year.  Members were asked to agree a positive response to the consultation and to consider whether York should pursue World Heritage Status and seek nomination to the List (Option B) or not (Option A).

Officers reported at the meeting the receipt of three additional letters of support, from Hugh Bayley MP, York Centre for Early Music and York Archaeological Trust.

Having noted the comments made by the Shadow Executive on this item, and the comments made under Public Participation, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the DCMS’s proposal to adopt a new, short UK Tentative List and the two-stage nomination and decision process to create the new UK Tentative List be supported.¹

REASON:      The DCMS preferred proposal is a cost effective means of gaining nomination to a revised Tentative List.

(ii)               That it be agreed that:

a.      A Stage 1 application be submitted for nomination to the new UK Tentative List, based on Option 3 and

b.      If successful at Stage 1, a Stage 2 application be submitted for nomination to the new UK Tentative List. ²

REASON:      This is the only route available to be nominated to a revised UK Tentative List.  Option 3 offers the best fit to the Statement of Significance and acknowledges the case that York is of outstanding universal value and merits World Heritage status.

(iii)             That approaches and investigations to secure partnership funding to facilitate the early appointment of a World Heritage Site Project Officer be supported. ³

REASON:      To facilitate further promotion of, and possible early delivery on, some of the key benefits outlined in the report and allow work to commence in good time to develop the more detailed bid information, by reducing the burden on existing Council Officers.

(iv)              That the Executive be updated on progress at each stage and that a further report on partnership, finance, timetable, HR and other arrangements be brought to the Executive if York is successful at Stage 2. ⁴

REASON:      To ensure that the Executive is fully aware of progress, and to enable decisions to be taken on key issues if York is successful in gaining nomination to a revised UK Tentative List.