Decision details

The scrutiny of the vision for a Cultural Quarter will aim to achieve a long-term direction for the area between the National Railway Museum, York Railway station and the Minster.  

Members received a report which asked them to consider a scrutiny topic registered by Councillor Chris Hogg to examine the vision developed in 2007 for a Cultural Quarter for York, linking the city centre with development sites in York North West.

Cllr Hogg and the Head of Arts & Culture attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions on the topic.

Members noted that no written comments had been provided from the York North West Team, in City Strategy, or from the York Central Board.  Councillor Moore proposed and Councillor Scott seconded a motion that consideration of the topic should be deferred to the next meeting to allow these comments to be provided and the report requested on the capacity of the Scrutiny Team to be considered.  On being put to the vote, this motion was lost.

Members highlighted the need to consider the effect that a Cultural Quarter would have on other areas of the city and proposed a number of revisions to the suggested remit, attached at Annex E of the report.

RESOLVED:            (i)            That it be agreed to proceed with a review of the topic;

                        (ii) That the suggested remit at Annex E of the report be agreed, with the following amendments:

                        a) To refer to the Cultural Quarter in inverted commas in the title of the topic and key objective ii.;

                        b) To add some additional wording to the overall aim, to read, “and to consider positive and any adverse effects on the city in doing so”;

                        c) To add some additional wording to key objective iii., to read, “including connectivity to other areas of the city”;

                        d) To add a key objective iv., to read, “To understand the implications for the whole city in terms of retail, its economy and other cultural or leisure based events within the city”;

                        (iii) That an ad-hoc Scrutiny Committee be established on a 2:2:1:1 basis.

REASON:      To allow the review to commence immediately in order to reach a conclusion prior to the submission of the Council’s business plan, in approximately 6 months.