Agenda and minutes

At this point, members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. No interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Group held on 7 September 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Group held on 7 September 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

                                    Councillor Merrett requested a number of amendments to the minutes and agreed to email the Democracy Officer with the in depth explanations, but the amendments were briefly as follows:

                                    Minute Item 2 Public Participation – be amended to state that the unanswered letters highlighted by the Speaker are to be replied to by Officers.

                                    Minute Item 4 – Green Infrastructure.

·  That it be made clear that once  Local Green Corridors are identified, they should form a constraint on planning.

·  That further information on Local Green Corridors and Local Green Wedges be brought to the LDF Working Group in Summer 2010.

·  That resolution (iii) be amended to include the additional areas highlighted by Members.

Minute Item 5 – Biodiversity Audit.

·  Railway owned land should be identified on the document as area’s of potential interest which warrant further investigation.

·  Parish Councils and other groups that would be interested in identifying further areas of ridge and furrow be consulted.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak, regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the remit of the Working Group, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 4.00pm on Thursday 31 December 2009.

It was reported that two people had registered to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Tom Hughes, from the Meadlands Area Residents Association spoke in relation to item 6. He queried why Green Belt Land was being included in the Core Strategy if the feedback from the City Wide Consultation indicates the majority of respondents want to save the land. He also queried the minutes of the last meeting, in particular the interest declared by Councillor Watson. He asked who the Client’s are that Councillor Watson represents as he understood the landowners were City of York Council and asked Councillor Watson to reply.

Mark Warters commented that he had not received a reply to his letters further to the meeting of the 7 September. He also made comments on item 6 of the agenda, City-Wide Leaflet feedback as he felt there had been inadequate consultation given the level of response.

This report outlines the position with the York Northwest area and sets our a programme of work to move the York Central project forward. Members are asked to note the progress with York Northwest and to endorse the approach outlined.

Members considered a report which outlines the current position with York Northwest and which sets out a programme of work to move the York Central project forward. Members were asked to note the progress with York Northwest and to endorse the approach outlined.

Officers introduced the report and updated Members on the progress made with the York Northwest Area Action Plan and outlined the intended joint approach with the York Central Consortium in order to identify a way forward. Members raised various comments and questions which were addressed by Officers.  These included:

Whether it was possible for Councillors to have access to the proposals mentioned in paragraph 14 of the report. Officers advised that the document is a Leeds City Council document but is a Public document and they can provide Members with an email link.

·                    Whether Officers had a ‘back up’ plan if the proposals for the York Northwest site encountered difficulties and what is being done in the wider LDF process. Officers advised that other sites are coming forward and that the Core Strategy would be flexible enough to deal with a large site not coming forward.

·                    Members queried the need to include a requirement for lifetime housing.

·                    A Member queried the impact on the City Centre should Option 4 ‘Residential with Retail at York Central’ be taken forward.

·                    Appendix 1 Option 2 – Members queried the educational facilities as the consultation identified a specific requirement to look at a Secondary School site. Officers advised that the Options in appendix 1 are not final solutions and educational facilities would be taken into account.

·                    Also in reference to Appendix 1 Option 2, members queried whether a school playing field on the site would mean that other open space provision would be taken out. Officers advised it is too early to comment on this.

·                    Members commented that further discussion is required concerning the provision for secondary school on the site, e.g.: if there are enough students in the combined areas for a new school.

·                    Officers advised that in order to understand why the procurement process had stalled they will be looking at why the bids were not acceptable. Educational facilities and other specifics would be looked into again. Officers asked Members to note that the contaminated land  may challenge parts of the site and the Land Use Model would be utilised in order to establish what is feasible.

Members queried when the LDF Working Group would receive a further update. Officers advised it would be mid February before any further details would be made public.

RESOLVED: (i)         That Members note the progress with the York Northwest AAP.

REASON:                  To ensure that work being undertaken for York Northwest is progressed.

RESOLVED: (ii)        That Members endorse the joint approach for York Central and the joint programme of work outlined in Appendix 2 to the Officers report.

REASON:                  To ensure the regeneration of the area is delivered which will meet the objectives for the area.       

This report outlines progress on the City Centre Area Action Plan (AAP). Following comprehensive consultation on the Issues and Options Report last year, it presents:-

• Appraisals of options emerging and preferred options
• Progress on ongoing consultation
• Progress on background documents and further work required
• Next steps in preparation of a Preferred Options document.

Members received a report which outlined the progress on the City Centre Action Plan (AAP). It presented the following; appraisals of options and emerging preferred options, progress on ongoing consultation, progress on background documents and further work required, next steps in preparation of a Preferred Options document.

Since the last report to Members in January 2009 Officers have been involved in the following areas of work:

·        Completion of the Options Appraisals (Annex A to report).

·        Progressed the evidence base.

·        Worked on the People Changing Places project alongside Beam

·        Progressed discussions on key projects such as the riverside, cultural quarter, Minster Piazza.

·        Ongoing consultation including a presentation to the Without Walls Board in March and York Civic Trust in September.

·        Production of a Vision Prospectus.

Members received a presentation from Officers, reminding them of the importance of the City Centre AAP, especially the importance of the City Centre to York’s economy due to tourist spend. The presentation also outlined the work completed to date.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Members queried the delay in the City Centre Plan Process. Officers advised that there had been some slippage, but they were now satisfied with the timetable. Officers advised that in order to move the City Centre AAP it is important to decide which of the Emerging Preferred Options should be taken forward as Preferred Options and invited Members to make comments. Members commented as follows, by reference to the Issues and Options Questions detailed in Annex A of the Officers report:

·        Question 4 – Members reiterated concern regarding retail at York Central.

·        Question 8 – Offices in the City Centre have declined and significant employment sites are being lost as a result. Members felt that Options 2 and 3 should be considered as preferred options to support the principle of Office Quarters. Concern was expressed over option 4 that change of use and loss of larger offices should be resisted as far as possible.

·        Question 9 – it was highlighted that the size of office development should be clearly specified and not referred to as ‘small or medium sized’.

·        Question 12 – Members requested that Options 2 and 3 be kept in.

·        Question 13 – The potential for Option 3 should be reviewed.

·        Question 15 – A Member noted that options 1 and 2 were potentially prejudiced by the proposed St. Sampsons Square Taxi Rank.

·        Question 17 – members commented that Officers should consider including an Archaeology policy.

·        Question 21 – Option 3 to still be considered.

·        Question 22 – Members queried Option 5 and which other areas were being looked at as potential foot streets. Officers advised that this is still being looked into and there is no definitive answer at the moment.

·        Question 23 – Members queried Option 4 and the provision of a children’s play area. Officers advised that there is specific allocation for a City Centre play area under the Playbuilder Scheme which will ensure provision in the City Centre.

·        Question 29 – Members commented that the wording of Option 2 should be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

This report is the first of two reports that will advise Members of the outcome of the Core Strategy Preferred Options consultation carried out in Summer 2009.

Members considered the first of two reports, which advises them of the outcome of the Core Strategy Preferred Options consultation, carried out in Summer 2009. Annex B to the report sets out the results from the Core Strategy Preferred Options City-wide leaflet consultation.

A wide range of methods were used as part of the Preferred Options Consultation and Annex A to the Officers report sets out the full range of consultation events held. The leaflet helped to ensure that all residents of York were aware of the consultation, whilst the specific events enabled more in depth discussion with interested parties.

Members received a presentation of the sample profile for postcodes following the Core Strategy Preferred Options City-wide leaflet consultation. Officers advised that the survey is just one aspect of the consultation process.

Members commented on the survey results as follows:

·                  It would be useful for Member’s to have the population figures for each postcode area in order to understand the response figures clearly in relation to each other.

·                 Whether the ‘not answered’ data was available. Officers confirmed any non-responses had been taken out of the data and could be made available if required.

·                 As some of the responses contradict each other, it was queried how much weight would be given to this survey further down the line. Officers advised that the results of the other methods of consultation such as Workshops, would also be taken into account, which should clarify any contradictions once all the data is brought together.

·                 Some Members asked their concerns to be recorded over the validity of the response to the housing questions given the wording of the question and responses received.

·                 Comments were made regarding the lack of support for the maximum development approved and for suggested retail on the York Central site.

·                 Whether the questionnaire included a question on the respondent’s demographics. Officers advised it did not but the consultation process would ensure that a wide range of views would be received.

·                 Members pointed out that there was a conflict in that the respondents wished for more jobs and homes in York but were reluctant to identify where they should be located.

RESOLVED:             That Members note the comments received from consultees in response to the Preferred Options city-wide questionnaire, and support their consideration in informing the production of the Core Strategy submission draft and, where relevant, other emerging LDF documents.

REASON:                  To help inform Members of the consultation responses ahead of the next stage of the Core Strategy production.