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.

At this point in the meeting Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Simpson-Laing declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda item 5 (Update on progress and draft Supplementary Planning Document for the former British Sugar Site ) as Treasurer of the Friends of Back Park and as she lived in one of the special areas mentioned in the report.

Councillor Merrett declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda item Agenda item 5 (Update on progress and draft Supplementary Planning Document for the former British Sugar Site) as he worked at premises situated on the York Business Park.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Group held on 4^th October 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Group held on 4 October 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

Minute 13 – LDF Core Strategy

Issue 1: The Level of Future Housing

                                    (iv) Potential sites – At the end of the fourth bullet point the addition of ‘, in an area of known open space deficiency’.

At the end of the final bullet point the addition of ‘It had been recognised with the original allocation in the draft Local Plan that we need to provide critical mass in terms of employment/shopping in locations like Monks Cross so that sustainable public transport alternatives could be provided’.

Issue 2: The Level of Future Employment Land Provision

In the first bullet point the addition of the words ‘up to’ prior to the word ‘approximately’.

In the second bullet point the addition of the words ‘and the redirection of government strategy towards supporting modern and export based industry,’ following the words ‘reduced financial sector,’

The final bullet point being amended to read ‘In respect of Land to the North of Hull Road (Area of Search C) it was agreed that the open area up to the ring road including the medieval furrow should be removed, to maintain the separation from Murton and the setting of York from the ring road’.

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 5.00 pm on Friday 22^nd October 2010.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The purpose of this report is to shape the policy approach for retail to be taken forward in the Core Strategy. The paper will inform Members when making decisions on the overall retail strategy for York throughout the LDF period to 2029 to be taken forward within the submission of the draft of the Core Strategy.

The Working Group considered a report which had been prepared to help shape the policy approach for retail to be taken forward in the Core Strategy and to assist in making decisions on the overall retail strategy for York throughout the LDF period to 2029.

It was reported that the approach to retail had been re-looked at by Officers in light of the consultation responses received on the Core Strategy Preferred Options, the impact of the recession on the retail market and the change in policy context brought about by the introduction of ‘Localism’.

Members pointed out that, in the past, when they had been required to consider large reports, annexes and background papers these had been sent out a fortnight prior to the meeting. This then gave members time to study the information and contact officers regarding any issues or points of clarification.

The Chair noted members concerns and asked officers to bear this in mind when sending out future documentation. ^1.

Members raised a number of points and questioned details of the approach taken and the findings and in particular:

• It was important the public were aware of the implications and phasing of retail development and that it was not hidden in the Core Strategy document. Officers confirmed that they would consider how the proposals could be made more accessible to the public to give them the opportunity to make any representations.
• Concern that there had previously been strong feeling against major retail development on the York Central site and the change in position.
• Additional information from the Economics Foundation had been passed to Officers by a Member, for addition to the evidence base, of a recent national report on retail vitality, which included a range of policy solutions and action to transform high streets.
• Confirmation that the work undertaken on the retail assessment by GVA Grimley had taken account of the recession.
• Concern in respect of the climate change framework it was anticipated that retail development would virtually double in the next decade and whether this was realistic or sustainable.
• It was vital that retail development on the York Central site complimented the city centre, it was not just a quantitative issue but also qualitative.
• Had figures for long-term growth taken account of increases in Internet sales to prevent over allocation. Confirmation that the increase in these sales had been built into the figures.
• Whether tram train and bus service allocation on the York Central site were sited close to the station for accessibility.
• Scale issues with retail/office buildings sited close to the listed station building.
• Confirmation that stringent standards would be imposed to ensure that the York Central area would not be car dominated.
• Need to underpin the city centre with a major retailer at Castle/Piccadilly prior to further development elsewhere.

The Chair confirmed that Officers would examine Members comments, which would influence the final document. Following further discussion it was

RESOLVED:      i)      That approval be given to the York Retail Topic Paper as set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

In March this year, Members agreed that the planning framework for York Northwest would be provided by policies within the Core Strategy and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD’s) for each of the two strategic sites within the area. This report outlines the strategic policy direction and evidence work on overarching York Northwest (YNW) issues in relation to the Core Strategy

Consideration was given to a report, which outlined the strategic policy direction and evidence work on overarching York Northwest (YNW) issues in relation to the Core Strategy and a draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the former British Sugar site.  The background work leading to the development of the draft Core Strategy policy  together with updates on the position of the proposed York Northwest Urban Eco Settlement and York Central were also provided.

Members were reminded that the planning approach for York Northwest agreed earlier in March, comprised of four key areas of work:

York Northwest Evidence Base work.

York Northwest Section of the submission draft Core Strategy.

The British Sugar Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for York Central.

The Chair confirmed that, at this stage, Members were only being requested to agree the approaches being made to each of the areas for public consultation and that no final decision on the draft Core Strategy or draft SPD was required at this time. In answer to requests Officers confirmed that hard copies of the various annexes would be forwarded to Members. They also agreed to take on board Members requests for future similar documents to be forwarded prior to the meeting and for hard copies of specific Appendices to be forwarded to Members that requested this. ^1.  

Consideration was then given to the individual documents and Members made a number of comments.

Appendix 1: Draft York Northwest Section of submission draft Core Strategy

Officers also circulated a Draft York Northwest Context Plan. This showed the proposed boundary of the York Northwest Corridor together with the main development sites (at the former British Sugar/Manor School and York Central) together with the existing City Centre boundary in the context of existing green infrastructure and developed areas. It was pointed out that the extended York Central site also included Holgate Park, Alliance House and the Thrall site and the former British Sugar site would include the former Manor school site.

Reference was made to the earlier plan showing the green travel linkages across the river. Officers confirmed that reference to green links and connections over the River Ouse would be included in the report.

Appendix 2: Transport Topic Paper

Page 18, Figures 9 and 10 - Concern that previous York Northwest documents had shown that Leeman Road residents would still be able to access the city centre via Marble Arch, this appeared to have disappeared from the proposals.

Page 19, Figure 10 - There appeared to be contradictions between open space and transport topic papers with regard to the proposed access to York Central from Water End (Millennium Green). Members felt that both documents should reflect the same proposals. 

Page 24, Figure 16 – Check siting of existing bus stops as there appeared to be omissions.

Page 38, Para.7.14 - Reference to the much larger area that would require servicing by public transport and the need for more frequent services to meet future demands.

Page 40, Para. 7.28 -  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.