Agenda and minutes

Members were invited to declare at this point on the agenda any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda – that is, the petition and notice of motion relating to Union Terrace Car Park. 

The following prejudicial interests were declared:

Cllr Looker left the Chamber at this point and took no further part in the meeting.

The following personal interests were declared:

At this point in the meeting, any member of the public who has registered to address the Council on a matter directly relevant to the business on this agenda may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Wednesday, 3 August 2011.

The Lord Mayor reported that a total of eleven members of the public had registered to speak at the meeting in relation to Union Terrace Car and Coach Park, one of whom would be presenting the petition referred to at agenda item 3A.  Each was invited to speak for three minutes, in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Dr Catherine Snape voiced the concerns of patients, doctors and staff at the Gillygate surgery that closure of the car park would prevent vulnerable patients from being able to see the doctor when they needed to.  She urged withdrawal of the proposed development or, at the least, a full impact assessment of its effect on local people and access to health care.

Mr Matthew Greenwood expressed the view that the information to be presented to Cabinet was of poor quality and stated that an independent expert on coach safety had advised that none of the proposed consultation options was feasible in terms of coach parking.

Mrs Jill Richards spoke as the co-owner of Wackers on Gillygate and a member of the Save the Union Terrace Car Park group.  She highlighted the importance of tourism to York’s economy and the number of jobs at risk and urged Members to vote for withdrawal of the planned sale.

Mr David Richards, also a co-owner of Wackers, expressed concerns about the five proposed consultation options in terms of their safety and potential to disrupt traffic.  He urged Members to abandon plans to sell any part of the site.

Mr John Cook spoke as the general manager of Barnitts, commenting on the detrimental effect that closure of the car and coach park would have upon Barnitts and other businesses in the city centre, which already had to contend with reduced parking facilities and competition from out of town developments.

Mrs Regina Longjaloux spoke as the proprietor of a tour guide company, highlighting the benefits of Union Terrace for coach tour operators and the effect that closure would have upon York’s reputation as a tourist destination.

Mr Mike Fisher commented that the proposal was based upon two false assumptions; firstly, that YSJU would continue to expand and secondly that it could expand only onto the Union Terrace site.

Mr Dennis Martin spoke in favour of exploring alternative options for the site in an objective manner, highlighting the drawbacks of Union Terrace car park in terms of occupancy, pedestrian safety and toilet facilities.

Mr David Chesser, Pro Vice Chancellor (Resources) at YSJU, gave a statement outlining the university’s reasons for wishing to expand onto the Union Terrace site, the cultural and economic contribution made by YSJU to York, and the work being done to address the concerns expressed by objectors to the sale.

Mr Trevor Fenwick, of the Save the Union Terrace Car Park group, raised concerns that the matter had been discussed at a Labour Group meeting to which objectors had not been invited and stated that the consultation proposals should include an option  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

A       Petition

To consider a petition signed by more than 1,000 people, objecting to proposals for the sale of Union Terrace Car Park.

B       Notice of Motion

To consider the following notice of motion submitted by Cllr     Runciman:

“Council notes the proposed sale of Union Terrace Car Park to York St John University and in light of the regrettable lack of public consultation and the widespread opposition to this scheme from across the city, calls on Cabinet to agree that the current proposal for the sale of this valuable asset be withdrawn.”

A         Petition

The petition presented by the last speaker on behalf of the Save Union Terrace Car Park group was debated by Members, in accordance with the Council’s agreed process for petitions signed by more than 1,000 people.  Following debate, it was

RESOLVED: That the petition be referred to the Cabinet meeting scheduled to follow the Extraordinary meeting of Council, for Cabinet to take into account when determining their decision in respect of the Union Terrace Car and Coach Park site.

B         Notice of Motion

It was moved by Cllr Runciman and seconded by Cllr Reid, that:

“Council notes the proposed sale of Union Terrace Car Park to York St John University an in light of the regrettable lack of public consultation and the widespread opposition to this scheme from across the city, calls on Cabinet to agree that the current proposal for the sale of this valuable asset be withdrawn.”

A named vote was then requested and taken on the motion, with the following result:

The motion was therefore declared LOST by 22 votes to 20 and it was

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion not be approved.