Issue - meetings

The Corporate Director of Health, Housing & Adult Social Care to present a report which sets out details of the Associate For Town Centre Management Purple Flag Scheme and asks the Executive to consider embedding the principles of the scheme within relevant high level strategies, including the Community Safety Plan.

Resolved   That Option 1 be approved and that:

(i)           the multi-agency work aligned to addressing issues relating to safety and economic growth within the city be continued, with a view to strengthening the relationship between Make It York, York BID, Safer York Partnership and the Health & Wellbeing Board and;

(ii)          the principles of the Purple Flag accreditation be embedded within relevant high level strategies, including the Community Safety Plan.

Reason:     Embedding the principles of the Purple Flag in the partners’ higher level strategies will boost the city’s economy and ensure that the city centre is safe.

The Assistant Director for Housing & Community Safety presented a report which set out details of the Association of  Town and City Management (ATCM) Purple Flag Scheme and asked Executive to consider embedding its principles within higher level strategic plans.

Purple Flag was an accreditation process, similar to the Green Flag for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches.  Purple Flag status was awarded by the ATCM to town or city centres that met or surpassed standards of excellence in managing the evening and night time economy.  The aim was to reduce crime and alcohol misuse, increase choice and enjoyment  for consumers and improve business volume and value. 

The following options were considered:

Option 1- continue the multi-agency work on safety and economic growth in the city and ensure that the Purple Flag principles were embedded in relevant high level strategies.  This was the recommended option, given the success of the current approach .

Option 2 – meet key organisations with an interest in the city centre to submit an application for Purple Flag status, at a cost of £3,150 with an annual renewal fee of £1,250. This was not recommended, as it was felt that such status would not add sufficient value in terms of improving community safety in York.

Resolved   That Option 1 be approved and that:

(i)           the multi-agency work aligned to addressing issues relating to safety and economic growth within the city be continued, with a view to strengthening the relationship between Make It York, York BID, Safer York Partnership and the Health & Wellbeing Board and;

(ii)          the principles of the Purple Flag accreditation be embedded within relevant high level strategies, including the Community Safety Plan.

Reason:     Embedding the principles of the Purple Flag in the partners’ higher level strategies will boost the city’s economy and ensure that the city centre is safe.